Understanding metamedia
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program will generate the desired result. Another example of this higher-level automation is interpolation of key values offered by animation software. In a twentieth-century animation production, a key animator drew key frames which were then forwarded to human in-betweeners who created all the frames in between the key frames. Animation software automates the process of creating in-between drawings by automatically interpolating the values between the key frames. Thus, although users may not care that one software tool does something that was not possible before digital computers while another tool simulates previous physical or electronic media, the distinction itself between the two types is something users experience in practice. The tools that belong to the first type showcase the ability of computers to automate processes; the tools that belong to the second type use invisible low-level automation behind the scenes while requiring users to direct them manually.
Filter > stylize > wind Having established two sets of categories for software techniques (media-independent vs. media-specific; simulation of the old vs. new), let us now test them against the Photoshop commands. Before starting, however, it is important to note once again that the two proposed schemes are intended to serve only as provisional categories. They provide one possible set of directions—an equivalent of North, South, West and East for a map where we can locate multiple operations of media design software. Like any first sketch, no matter how imprecise, this map is useful because now we have something to modify as we go forward. Our goal is not to try to fit everything we will look at into the categories of this initial map, but rather to discover its limitations as quickly as we can, and make modifications. We will start with Photoshop filters—i.e. the set of commands that appear under the Filter menu. (Note that a large proportion of Photoshop filters are not unique to this program but are also available in other professional image editing, video editing and animation software—sometimes under different names. To avoid any possible misunderstanding, I will be referring to the Photoshop versions of these commands as implemented in Photoshop CS4,