Beamtracer
02-08-2003, 09:42 AM
I have copied this thread from the old Newtek forums. I thought it may be useful for the thread to remain active so people can share their experiences.
It's about installing some cool image manipulating software called FilmGimp, onto Mac OS X.
What is so special about FilmGimp?
It's an image editor / paint program similar to Photoshop. However FilmGimp differs in that it is designed to handle 16-bit-per-channel (bpc) and floating point images. It is also designed to work with image sequences.
What is Gimp?
Gimp is a different application designed to handle 8bpc images. It is not the same application to FilmGimp.
What is wrong with Photoshop?
Photoshop is not very suitable for professional video or film work, as it only really can edit 8bpc images. You can load up a 16bpc image in Photoshop, but you can't use masks, layers or most of the filters. This makes it practically useless. Film work demands 16bpc images to take advantage of the full dynamic range of film. Video work requires 16bpc as if you create 8bpc images with soft gradients they may look OK on your computer monitor, but when you transfer them to Y-UV video you'll get ugly banding artifacts every time. For this reason, Photoshop should be avoided.
So if you are working with video or film, ditch Photoshop and go with FilmGimp. Scroll down for my instructions on how to install FilmGimp on Mac OS X 10.2.3 (Jaguar). You may also want to cross-reference an article which has just been posted on Creative Mac magazine, which describes a similar process:
http://www.creativemac.com/2003/01_jan/tutorials/filmgimpx11030109.htm
One day the installation of FilmGimp will be simpler than what it is now. Later in the year there will be a version of FilmGimp released than runs natively in OS X's Aqua interface. However, until that happens, you'll need to do it the hard way and run it in Apple's X11 environment.
This is the most difficult installation I've tried, and it cannot be described as easy. Anyone who tries this should have a cable or DSL modem (rather than a dial-up internet connection), Mac OSX 10.2.3 (Jaguar) + Developer Tools, as well as many hours of free time. This will take hours. Also, all important data on your hard drive should be backed up, as it is beta software you are installing.
There are 6 components you'll need to install on your computer:
Apple Developer Tools
Xfree86 4.2
Xfree86 4.2.1.1 updater
Fink
MacFilmGimp
X11
You must install these components in the order that I list below. This is because the installation of some components destroys other components. For example, installing Xfree86 will overwrite essential components of X11 and vice versa. It will also overwrite any previous installations of FilmGimp. So if you installed FilmGimp or X11 first, they would need reinstalling later in the process. If you have previously installed any of the above components, or are doing this for the second time, erase the installations and start again.
Step 1
OK, here we go. The first thing to do is install a new version of Apple Developer Tools. This exists as a separate disk in the box that Jaguar came in. You must use the new version of Developer Tools. I tried this with the Developer Tools that came with the original Mac OSX (10.0) and it prevented the installation of FilmGimp.
Step 2
The next thing to download and install is Xfree86. You can get it from here:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/xonx/XInstall_10.1.sit
Note: This is a 53MB download, so it may take a while.
Step 3
After installing Xfree86 4.2, you need to update it to 4.2.1.1. The 4.2.1.1 updater can be found here:
http://www.xdarwin.org/files/XFree86_4.2.1.1.zip
This link will immediately start downloading the file, which is a couple of MB in size. Download and install it.
Step 4
Download and install Fink. You can get it from here:
http://fink.sourceforge.net/download/index.php
If you want to find out more information about Fink, there are some FAQs here:
http://fink.sourceforge.net/faq/index.php
Step 5
After installing Fink, launch the Terminal application, which is located in the Utilities folder on your hard drive.
Step 6
In the Terminal window, type the following:
pico .cshrc
Note the space in the middle. You may want to copy and paste it. Press the Return key. This will bring up the text editor window.
Step 7
If there is any text in the text editor window first clear it by using the arrow and delete keys, then type the following (but do not hit Return yet):
source /sw/bin/init.csh
Note the space after 'source'.
Step 8
To get out of the editor, press control-O, return, control-X. Quit the Terminal application.
Step 9
Download the MacFilmGimp from this address:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=57007
I downloaded the 'binary' version called:
MacFilmGimp-0.13-1.dmg.gz
(NOTE: MacFilmGimp will have been updated to a newer version by the time you read this.)
The installation may also work with the source version, though I haven't tested it. The FilmGimp application has a blue aqua-style icon. Drag it to your applications folder, or wherever you want to keep it.
Step 10
Launch the Terminal application again, then launch the FilmGimp by clicking on its blue icon. This is the crazy bit. It initiates an incredibly long download and installation process which takes at least an hour, maybe two hours or more. The terminal window will keep spewing out endless text. At one stage it will stop and ask if you want to install more things (Y/N?). Hit the y key (yes) and return. It will continue for another half hour or so. If all went to plan, this will finish with the line "setting up filmgimp (0.13-1)".
Step 11
Download and install Apple's new X11 beta software. You can get it here:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/x11/download/
You have to give Apple an email address before it'll let you download, but you can enter anything if you like.
Step 12
Launch X11. In the Xterm window, type the following:
filmgimp
Then hit return. If the Xterm window doesn't show up, you may need to install X11 again.
Step 13
Launch FilmGimp and select X11 in the dialog box that comes up. It will ask you to install some extra stuff... say yes and install it.
Done! Hopefully you now have FilmGimp working on your Mac. FilmGimp has more windows and menus than is first obvious, so spend some time exploring it! Post your experiences below on this thread.
Note:
Arnie Cachelin from Newtek wrote the following suggestion...
I think you could replace steps 6, 7, and 8 with:
In the Terminal window, type the following:
echo >.cshrc "source /sw/bin/init.csh"
And hit return.
I haven't tested Arnie's method, so I don't know if it works or not.
It's about installing some cool image manipulating software called FilmGimp, onto Mac OS X.
What is so special about FilmGimp?
It's an image editor / paint program similar to Photoshop. However FilmGimp differs in that it is designed to handle 16-bit-per-channel (bpc) and floating point images. It is also designed to work with image sequences.
What is Gimp?
Gimp is a different application designed to handle 8bpc images. It is not the same application to FilmGimp.
What is wrong with Photoshop?
Photoshop is not very suitable for professional video or film work, as it only really can edit 8bpc images. You can load up a 16bpc image in Photoshop, but you can't use masks, layers or most of the filters. This makes it practically useless. Film work demands 16bpc images to take advantage of the full dynamic range of film. Video work requires 16bpc as if you create 8bpc images with soft gradients they may look OK on your computer monitor, but when you transfer them to Y-UV video you'll get ugly banding artifacts every time. For this reason, Photoshop should be avoided.
So if you are working with video or film, ditch Photoshop and go with FilmGimp. Scroll down for my instructions on how to install FilmGimp on Mac OS X 10.2.3 (Jaguar). You may also want to cross-reference an article which has just been posted on Creative Mac magazine, which describes a similar process:
http://www.creativemac.com/2003/01_jan/tutorials/filmgimpx11030109.htm
One day the installation of FilmGimp will be simpler than what it is now. Later in the year there will be a version of FilmGimp released than runs natively in OS X's Aqua interface. However, until that happens, you'll need to do it the hard way and run it in Apple's X11 environment.
This is the most difficult installation I've tried, and it cannot be described as easy. Anyone who tries this should have a cable or DSL modem (rather than a dial-up internet connection), Mac OSX 10.2.3 (Jaguar) + Developer Tools, as well as many hours of free time. This will take hours. Also, all important data on your hard drive should be backed up, as it is beta software you are installing.
There are 6 components you'll need to install on your computer:
Apple Developer Tools
Xfree86 4.2
Xfree86 4.2.1.1 updater
Fink
MacFilmGimp
X11
You must install these components in the order that I list below. This is because the installation of some components destroys other components. For example, installing Xfree86 will overwrite essential components of X11 and vice versa. It will also overwrite any previous installations of FilmGimp. So if you installed FilmGimp or X11 first, they would need reinstalling later in the process. If you have previously installed any of the above components, or are doing this for the second time, erase the installations and start again.
Step 1
OK, here we go. The first thing to do is install a new version of Apple Developer Tools. This exists as a separate disk in the box that Jaguar came in. You must use the new version of Developer Tools. I tried this with the Developer Tools that came with the original Mac OSX (10.0) and it prevented the installation of FilmGimp.
Step 2
The next thing to download and install is Xfree86. You can get it from here:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/xonx/XInstall_10.1.sit
Note: This is a 53MB download, so it may take a while.
Step 3
After installing Xfree86 4.2, you need to update it to 4.2.1.1. The 4.2.1.1 updater can be found here:
http://www.xdarwin.org/files/XFree86_4.2.1.1.zip
This link will immediately start downloading the file, which is a couple of MB in size. Download and install it.
Step 4
Download and install Fink. You can get it from here:
http://fink.sourceforge.net/download/index.php
If you want to find out more information about Fink, there are some FAQs here:
http://fink.sourceforge.net/faq/index.php
Step 5
After installing Fink, launch the Terminal application, which is located in the Utilities folder on your hard drive.
Step 6
In the Terminal window, type the following:
pico .cshrc
Note the space in the middle. You may want to copy and paste it. Press the Return key. This will bring up the text editor window.
Step 7
If there is any text in the text editor window first clear it by using the arrow and delete keys, then type the following (but do not hit Return yet):
source /sw/bin/init.csh
Note the space after 'source'.
Step 8
To get out of the editor, press control-O, return, control-X. Quit the Terminal application.
Step 9
Download the MacFilmGimp from this address:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=57007
I downloaded the 'binary' version called:
MacFilmGimp-0.13-1.dmg.gz
(NOTE: MacFilmGimp will have been updated to a newer version by the time you read this.)
The installation may also work with the source version, though I haven't tested it. The FilmGimp application has a blue aqua-style icon. Drag it to your applications folder, or wherever you want to keep it.
Step 10
Launch the Terminal application again, then launch the FilmGimp by clicking on its blue icon. This is the crazy bit. It initiates an incredibly long download and installation process which takes at least an hour, maybe two hours or more. The terminal window will keep spewing out endless text. At one stage it will stop and ask if you want to install more things (Y/N?). Hit the y key (yes) and return. It will continue for another half hour or so. If all went to plan, this will finish with the line "setting up filmgimp (0.13-1)".
Step 11
Download and install Apple's new X11 beta software. You can get it here:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/x11/download/
You have to give Apple an email address before it'll let you download, but you can enter anything if you like.
Step 12
Launch X11. In the Xterm window, type the following:
filmgimp
Then hit return. If the Xterm window doesn't show up, you may need to install X11 again.
Step 13
Launch FilmGimp and select X11 in the dialog box that comes up. It will ask you to install some extra stuff... say yes and install it.
Done! Hopefully you now have FilmGimp working on your Mac. FilmGimp has more windows and menus than is first obvious, so spend some time exploring it! Post your experiences below on this thread.
Note:
Arnie Cachelin from Newtek wrote the following suggestion...
I think you could replace steps 6, 7, and 8 with:
In the Terminal window, type the following:
echo >.cshrc "source /sw/bin/init.csh"
And hit return.
I haven't tested Arnie's method, so I don't know if it works or not.