Primagraphics Ltd of Royston, Hertfordshire has launched an adaptor card that enables the company’s Topaz graphics modules to be installed in Sun Microsystems workstations, giving Sun users access to Topaz image manipulation in both video and high resolution modes. When used with the company’s TV display controller, the system provides full colour frame grabbing and a 24-bit frame store at 768 by 575 pixel resolution. With the high resolution display controller the card provides an 8-bit frame store at 1376 by 1072 resolution. Hardware panning and scrolling are provided within the 2Mb on-board memory. Prices start at UKP5,000. Previously, Primagraphics has sold the Topaz modules on its own workstations using bit-slice graphics processors, which it claims offer higher performance, but it is now looking to capture a wider market, including US sales. Ships have already been made, with London-based graphics specialists CAL Videographics Ltd as one of the first customers for the card.
