lower thirds

Digieffects Announces Depth for Adobe After Effects Plugin Easily Converts Entire After Effects Comp into a Depth Map

My good friend, Robert Sharp from DigiEffects, made this announcement today.  They're doing some great things over there so I wanted to share some of the latest developments here at Lower Thirds.

Here's a link to a demo video:

 

Digieffects Depth Spot from digieffects on Vimeo.

 

And here's the official press release from the Company:

Wilmington, North Carolina - August 31, 2010

Digieffects(r), a developer of popular visual effects plugins,today announced that Depth is immediately available for purchase.Depth, a plugin for After Effects, easily converts an entire AfterEffects composition into a depth map. Available for $49 as a download,the plugin creates a grayscale depth map based on the position andorientation of layers in z-space. The results can be used inconjunction with other effects such as a lens blur.

According to Robert Sharp, president of Digieffects, "With thisannouncement, Digieffects is reaching an important milestone. Depth isthe fourth plugin we've launched that was derived from thevenerable Buena Depth Cue Package."

According to Mark Christiansen, author of The After Effects StudioTechniques books, and industry veteran who has worked on severalfeature films including Avatar, "Depth does just what the nameimplies, easily extracting 3D depth data for use with Digieffectsplugins such as Camera Mapper, Atmosphere and Falloff Lighting (alloriginally part of the same Buena Depth Cue package). I especiallylike it for lens effects that can use depth information to createbeautiful cinematic bokeh blurs."

Pricing & Availability

Depth has a retail price of $49 and is available immediately as adownload from Digieffects and its resellers.

About Digieffects 

Digieffects is a developer of popular software visual effects plug-ins for Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, Autodesk Combustion, Grass Valley Edius and Boris RED. The company has been in the business since thebeginning of the "plugin revolution" which dates back to 1996. Over the years, Digieffects has had great success with software products like Cinelook and Delirium and is proud to call thousands of film and video producers all around the world its customers and friends.

 

CineForm Announces Support for New Panasonic AG-3DA1 3D Professional AVCCAM Camcorder

Big news from CineForm today!

CineForm First Light™ Combined with Panasonic’s Newest Professional 3D Camera Enables One-Step 3D Batch Conversion of Left and Right Eye Source Files into CineForm 3D Files

Solana Beach, CA, August 18, 2010 – CineForm^®, Inc. (www.cineform.com), creators of high-fidelity compression-based workflow solutions for the post production marketplace, announced today it has teamed up with Panasonic to enable one-step 3D batch conversion into CineForm 3D files from separate left eye and right eye HD video files recorded using Panasonic’s new AG-3DA1 3D professional AVCCAM camcorder, the world’s first fully integrated HD 3D camcorder.  3D file conversion is enabled by CineForm's First Light software included with its Neo family of products, and will accelerate the 3D production-to-post workflow process for customers of Panasonic’s 3DA1.

Panasonic’s 3DA1 records separate left and right eye files on separate SDHC/SD memory cards.  After copying the folders to a PC or Mac, CineForm’s First Light 3D converter will batch-convert both the left eye and right eye AVCHD source files simultaneously into CineForm files and then multiplex (mux) the newly created files into new CineForm 3D files.  This process takes place faster than real-time on currently available hardware.  Converted files retain important metadata, including timecode, and are immediately ready for editing in the user’s preferred NLE, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer v5, or Sony Vegas.  

Making its debut at NAB 2010, the new AG-3DA1 is available in August .

“The Panasonic AG-3DA1 represents a watershed moment for the 3D camera and production market, and CineForm is proud to be a part of it,” said David Taylor, CEO and co-founder of CineForm.  “We’ve been privileged to participate in many ‘firsts’ in 3D production, and have worked hard to develop transformative solutions that truly enhance 3D production and post workflows.  Our collaboration with Panasonic is representative of what CineForm is capable of at the camera-level for evolving 3D workflows.”

“We are excited about the launch of our groundbreaking 3D camera,” said Tadao Shimozuru, Director of Professional AV Systems Business Unit, Panasonic.  “We are also pleased with CineForm’s contributions to the 3D post production workflow; specifically, their innovative approach to instant batch conversion for left-eye, right-eye clips.  This capability is the perfect compliment to the 3DA1, because together we can simplify the shooting process along with the post production process, so we are very pleased the new software is available as we launch our newest 3D camera.  We are confident that our new 3DA1 camera, combined with CineForm’s 3D technology will have a dramatic impact on professional and prosumer adoption of 3D production and editing.“

About the Panasonic AG-3DA1

The Panasonic AG-3DA1 is the world’s first professional quality, fully-integrated Full HD 3D camcorder that records to SD card media.  The twin-lens system adopted in the camcorder's optical section allows the convergence point to be adjusted.  Functions for automatically correcting horizontal and vertical displacement are also provided.  Conventional 3D camera systems require these adjustments to be made by means of a PC or an external video processor. This new camcorder, however, will automatically recalibrate without any need for external equipment, allowing immediate 3D image capture.  

For more information, visit http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/3d/

About CineForm

CineForm develops compression-based workflow solutions for film and video acquisition, post production, and archive applications. Offering the industry’s highest-fidelity compression, CineForm software products are used by discerning film studios, television producers, and digital media artists to enhance their file-based workflows. CineForm products are available for both end users and OEM integrators, offer cross-platform compatibility, support most camera and file-based sources, and enable 2D and 3D editorial workflows with spatial resolutions up to 8K. www.cineform.com

Cinedeck LLC Expands Global Presence

 

Cinedeck LLC Expands Global Presence, Appoints Asia Media Products as its Channel Representation in the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific Region 

Expert in Building Global Channels, Asia Media Products to Provide Worldwide Access To Cinedeck EXTREME Ultra Portable Recording, Monitoring and Playback Device

NEW YORK, NY (August 17, 2010) -- Cinedeck LLC (www.cinedeck.com) today announced it has appointed Asia Media Products (www.asiamediaproducts.com) as its manufacturers representative in the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific regions, and is chartered with assisting the Company in building a world-class sales and support infrastructure to market Cinedeck EXTREME.  

Cinedeck LLC will leverage Asia Media Products’ expertise in production, post production and digital media technologies, and the hands on experience of their executive team, to meet the rapidly growing global demand for Cinedeck EXTREME, the industry’s first ultra-portable recording, monitoring and playback device designed for the rigors and challenges of production in the field.

“The appointment of Asia Media Products represents a significant milestone for Cinedeck, and it also sends a strong message to our customers and prospective customers throughout the world,” said Matthew Bannister, chief executive officer of Cinedeck LLC.  “We’re humbled by the astounding reaction we’ve received to date from around the globe for Cinedeck EXTREME, and we’re responding by ensuring that  there is a world-class infrastucture in place to serve the needs of our customers. The global reach of Asia Media Products makes them the ideal partner to help us do that, quickly and effectively.”

Robert Stacy, founder of Asia Media Products, is leading the team and is acting as Director of Worldwide Sales on behalf of Cinedeck.  Grady Sellards, Chief Technology Officer of Asia Media Products is charged with managing the sales infrastructure development in US western region, from west of the Mississippi River to Los Angeles and will act as the Director of Systems Engineering on behalf of Cinedeck.

 Asia Media Products’ Global Charter: Cinedeck EXTREME

Out of the gate, AMP is chartered with building the global sales and support channel to deliver Cinedeck EXTREME to customers worldwide.  The team is focused on delivering on the promise of Cinedeck EXTREME, which includes a number of features combined in a unique, ultra portable footprint that delivers highly-desired capabilities for anyone who has endured production in the field using unwieldy, expensive and unreliable equipment.  These features include:

• Monitor: Cinedeck EXTREME monitors video in real-time, much like a standard on-camera focus monitor and possesses a collection of image analysis tools such as on-screen histogram/waveform/scopes for ensuring proper exposure.  Audio is monitored via on-board headphone jack and recording levels can be viewed on-screen.

• Record: Cinedeck EXTREME captures edit-ready, 10-bit 4:2:2 or 12-bit 4:4:4 CineForm files in MOV format, as well as other industry standard codecs and formats, that eliminate time-consuming ingest and transcoding when entering post-production.  Ingest occurs via HDSDI or HDMI and files are recorded to highly reliable, rugged standard 2.5” solid state drives for maximum compatibility, reliability and cost effectiveness.

• Playback/Review: Cinedeck EXTREME plays back shots instantly via on-screen transport controls. Gestural-based touch screen controls enable selected playback of just the portion of the clip to be reviewed.

Cinedeck EXTREME currently provides support for the following formats and frame rates: 

• 8/10 bit 4:2:2 recording via HDMI/HDSDI 
• 10bit 4:4:4 recording via dual link 1.5G HDSDI or single link 3G HDSDI
• HD Format Support: 720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60, 1080PsF23.98, 1080p23.98, 1080PsF24, 1080p24, 1080PsF25, 1080p25, 1080PsF29.97, 1080p29.97, 1080PsF30, 1080p30, 1080i50, 1080p50, 1080i59.94, 1080p59.94, 1080i60, and 1080p60.
• SD Format Support: 625/25 PAL, 525/29.97 NTSC, 525/23.98 NTSC and 480p (plus realtime up/down conversion with hardware de-interlacing and 3:2 pulldown removal, and 23.98 --> 59i on playout options)

*Not all frame rates available in all codecs/quality settings, and results may vary depending on recording media.

About Asia Media Products

Based in Burbank, California, and founded in 2004, Asia Media Products specializes in helping small to medium-sized manufacturers in the professional video space build international sales and marketing channels for their products.  With multiple offices internationally, Asia Media Products is able to quickly bring global strategy to companies wishing to expand their geographic reach.  For more information about Asia Media Products, please visit: http://www.asiamediaproducts.com.

About Cinedeck LLC

Founded by cinematographers in the heart of New York City, Cinedeck is redefining mobile, digital cinematography by delivering the industry’s first extremely portable, affordable camera-mountable cinema-grade recording and monitoring device, Cinedeck EXTREME.  Cinedeck was recently honored at NAB 2010, winning both the “2010 TV Technology STAR Award” and the “2010 Vidy Award.” For more information, please visit www.cinedeck.com.

IRIDAS Announces Industry’s First Stereoscopic Native Workflow for New ARRI ALEXA Cameras

  

This is big news from IRIDAS this morning; anyone using ARRI ALEXA - or shopping one - and looking for a 3D production workflow, you're going to like this news!  This crossed the wires this morning:

IRIDAS DualStream NX Stereo Workflow Technology Enables Instant Review of Native ALEXA Stereo Footage Using SpeedGrade and FrameCycler

Munich, DE (August 9, 2010) -- IRIDAS (www.iridas.com) today announced the industry’s first stereoscopic native workflow optimized for the ARRI ALEXA.  Tapping IRIDAS’ DualStream NX stereoscopic review technology, integrated within IRIDAS’ SpeedGrade and FrameCycler 2010 family, users are now able to instantly review ALEXA stereo footage in the field and experience real-time geometry alignment and color match in a true stereoscopic timeline.  

This new development represents a significant opportunity for IRIDAS customers considering the ALEXA - or currently using ALEXA - for their 3D/stereoscopic production workflow requirements, and is testament to the 3D production advancements inherent to IRIDAS’ DualStream NX technology.

“It’s no surprise that the demand for 3D content - from Hollywood blockbuster movies to immersive television documentaries - is becoming a major driving force in our industry today.  However, while the demand for content is there, access to effective, efficient and affordable technologies to create that content has been elusive,” said Lin Sebastian Kayser, CEO of IRIDAS.  “This feature represents the culmination of years of engineering and stereoscopic development expertise that has enabled a 3D production workflow that works flawlessly with the equipment our customers most want to work with, like the innovative new ALEXA cameras.”

“In many ways, our new ALEXA cameras are a technological breakthrough and are redefining the limits of motion picture capture and real time workflows,” comments Adrian Widera, Strategic and Business Development, ARRI. “One of the ways we achieve our vision is by working with a network of partners who we know can extend the ALEXA experience, ultimately delivering a complete, powerful digital production workflow. IRIDAS is a proven partner and provides a complement to enhance the real time stereoscopic production workflow that is in such high demand from our customers.”

IRIDAS DualStream NX and the Native Stereo Workflow for ALEXA

The IRIDAS DualStream NX real time 3D production toolset enables a seamless, instant stereo workflow for the ALEXA, which translates to significant workflow efficiencies so critical in today’s time and budget constrained production environments.  Here is a snapshot of how it works:

• ALEXA shoots ProRes 4444 12 bit files to Sony SxS cards;
• IRIDAS SpeedGrade and FrameCycler 2010 solutions decode two streams of ALEXA ProRes 4444 material in real time, which means they are available for instant playback and review;
• As a result of the advancements in IRIDAS DualStream NX technology, users can instantly review these stereo streams and, with the push of a button, geometrically align and color match in a true stereoscopic timeline.  This is a first in the industry.
• Material can be rendered for offline dailies or directly edited in Final Cut Pro and Avid systems, then conformed from EDLs for final color grading and depth grading;
• For users working with other workflows, ProRes 4444 files can also be transcoded to frame formats, including DPX, in full 12-bit bit depth.  For those in need of batch transcoding, IRIDAS MetaRender is tightly integrated with SpeedGrade and FrameCycler products, with its UI built into both products for a seamless extension of the workflow.

About DualStream NX: A 3D Production Breakthrough

IRIDAS has been on the forefront of stereoscopic review since it first developed its groundbreaking DualStream technology in 2003.  Now in its 4th generation, IRIDAS has refined its innovative stereoscopic 3D toolset to meet the requirements of today’s burgeoning production, post production and 2D-to-3D conversion market opportunities.  IRIDAS’ DualStream NX technology includes advanced features for work on stereoscopic movies and is based on the native stereo timeline already integrated into all IRIDAS products.  

DualStream NX adds sophisticated tools to automatically correct geometric misalignment and eliminate color differences between left and right eye streams - this is a breakthrough and a first in the 3D production market.  DualStream NX adds even more value for users as it also includes a full suite of creative S3D tools, such as keyframeable parallax adjustments, floating window and a complete stereoscopic color grading feature set.  Additionally, DualStream includes comprehensive S3D workflow functions, such as stereo conform and automatic and manual handling of left/right eye assignments.

The IRIDAS SpeedGrade and FrameCycler 2010 family of 3D production solutions are available immediately.  For more information, please visit www.iridas.com.

About IRIDAS

For over a decade, IRIDAS has become world renowned for its innovations in the digital filmmaking industry, redefining the way artists view, manipulate, enhance and produce their digital creations.  As the industry’s earliest pioneers of stereoscopic review solutions and real-time color grading and manipulation techniques, IRIDAS taps its legacy of engineering expertise to streamline production and post production workflows, from onset to finishing, and is making stereoscopic moviemaking an everyday reality.  For more information, please visit www.iridas.com. 

Imagineer Systems Announces its Third Annual Video Tutorial Contest

 

Imagineer Systems Continues the Success of its Customer Tutorial Development Program, Tapping Again the VFX, Editorial Community with Challenge to Create New Series of Tutorials for Imagineer Systems VFX Tools

GUILDFORD, UK (August 3, 2010) Imagineer Systems (www.imagineersystems.com), creators of next-generation VFX tools, today announced the Third Annual Video Tutorial Contest, again extending a challenge to Imagineer Systems customers and the entire VFX, content creation and post production community, to create the next great series of video tutorials for Imagineer Systems VFX tools.  Continuing its spirit of listening to, and learning from its customers, the Company is challenging users to create video tutorials that best educate new users of Imagineer VFX solutions on the workflow features of its tools.  

The winners will be judged on creative content, video quality, technical quality of audio and video and instructional clarity and completeness.  Additionally, the top winner will receive a comprehensive Imagineer Systems VFX software suite which includes:

• One seat of mocha (full version) valued at $1095;
• One seat of monet, valued at $3295;
• One seat of mokey, valued at $3295;
• One seat of mocha shape for After Effects, valued at $110;
• One seat of mocha shape for Final Cut, valued at $110:

Winners will be formally announced by the Company to the industry press, and the winning entry will be highlighted on www.imagineersystems.com. 

Chris Heuer from Freefall FX took home the coveted prizes from the second tutorial contest last summer with his tutorial on mocha and his pioneering 2D - 3D conversion work he completed on the classic horror film, Nosferatu.  Chris had this to say about his experience:

"During testing, I was shocked to see mocha track through this old footage.  The original footage jumped almost every frame, had tons of noise, dirt and damage, AND had random exposure changes.  mocha tracked it flawlessly, just like it was pristine digital footage.  I could not have done this film without mocha... it would have taken years instead of months.  When I learned of Imagineer’s tutorial contest, I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to show my colleagues in the industry how mocha can tackle seemingly insurmountable workflow challenges."

Heuer continued, "Winning the contest was a huge surprise.  I wanted to do a roto tutorial that went a bit more in depth than others I'd watched.  Hopefully this will help others get a firm grasp on this amazing software!"

Contest Details

The Imagineer Systems Video Tutorial Contest is open to everyone, and participants must follow these guidelines:

• Video Tutorial Topics/Products: Imagineer Systems’ mocha, mocha for After Effects, mocha for Final Cut, monet, or mokey. Topics may cover motion tracking, rotoscoping, rig removals or stabilization and can be designed for beginning or advanced users.

• Format: Participants should use screen recording software, such as Screen Flow, Camtasia or iShowU;

• Files: Video files should be compressed for good viewing resolution, e.g., Quicktime H.264;

• Deadline:  All entries must be submitted to Imagineer Systems by September 20th, 2010

• For detailed information on contest rules and technical specs please visit: www.imagineersystems.com/contest

Winners will be announced in October, 2010. 

About Imagineer Systems 

Imagineer Systems Ltd innovates and markets next-generation visual effects solutions for film, video and broadcast post production markets.  Imagineer Systems has made its mark on such marquee Hollywood blockbuster productions as Alice in Wonderland, Iron Man 2, Shutter Island, Invictus, G-Force and the Harry Potter series. Imagineer’s desktop product line consists of monet - placement station, mokey - removal station and the mocha family of tracking and roto products: mocha, mocha for After Effects and mocha for Final Cut.  Imagineer Systems was founded in 2000 and its headquarters is located in Guildford, United Kingdom.  For more information visit www.imagineersystems.com.  

Cinedeck EXTREME: File Management

Here's the second video in my series, this one focusing on the file management capabilities of the Cinedeck EXTREME.  Check it out:

IRIDAS Teams Up with Channel Partner, MelroseMAC, at SIGGRAPH 2010 to Demonstrate Newest Stereo 3D Playback Innovations

  

IRIDAS Executives On-Hand in the MelroseMAC Booth #1113 to Showcase 

4th Generation Stereo 3D Toolset, DualStream NX

Munich, DE (July 26, 2010) -- IRIDAS (www.iridas.com) today announced it has teamed up with its channel partner in the LA-area, MelroseMAC, to demonstrate IRIDAS’ newest advancements in stereo 3D workflow in the MelroseMAC booth #1113 at SIGGRAPH 2010 this week in Los Angeles.

During the conference, IRIDAS director, Steve Crouch, will be available to attendees to demonstrate the Company’s acclaimed 4th generation stereo 3D toolset, DualStream NX, which debuted at the recent NAB 2010 show in Las Vegas.  DualStream NX represents a significant advancement beyond basic playback and stereo adjustments and includes automatic alignment and color matching; this 3D production breakthrough greatly simplifies the creation of stereo dailies on location and the task of prepping footage for offline.

DualStream NX: A 3D Production Breakthrough

IRIDAS has been on the forefront of stereoscopic review since it first developed its groundbreaking DualStream NX technology in 2003.  Now in its 4th generation, IRIDAS has refined its innovative stereoscopic 3D toolset to meet the requirements of today’s burgeoning 3D production, post production and 2D-to-3D conversion market opportunities.  IRIDAS’ DualStream NX technology includes advanced features for work on stereoscopic movies and is based on the native stereo timeline already integrated into all IRIDAS products.  DualStream NX adds sophisticated tools to automatically correct geometric misalignment and eliminate color differences between left and right eye streams - this is a breakthrough and a first in the 3D production market.  DualStream NX adds even more value for users as it also includes a full suite of creative S3D tools, such as keyframeable parallax adjustments, floating window and a complete stereoscopic color grading feature set.  Additionally, DualStream includes comprehensive S3D workflow functions, such as stereo conform and automatic and manual handling of left/right eye assignments.

About MelroseMAC

MelroseMAC is a family owned business located in both Hollywood and Burbank, California, the epicenter for the creative community. MelroseMAC is an Apple Authorized Sales and Service Center, and we have a working staff of Audio/Video Professionals. We carry the Specialist moniker from Apple, which means that we abide by the highest standards mandated from Apple to bring you the highest level of service available. We specialize in catering to the Pro Audio, Video, and Graphics Community. Our specialists are highly trained individuals in their respective fields to bring you a premier level of product, service, and knowledge.  Our mission is clear, to provide the greatest, most innovative beautiful piece of technology at a great price and above all, with unbeatable service.  For more information, please visit www.melrosemac.com. 

About IRIDAS
With the introduction of FrameCycler in 2001, IRIDAS redefined the way artists viewed digital footage. In 2002, IRIDAS introduced the first stereoscopic review tools for the post industry. In 2003, SpeedGrade, the first GPU-based color grading application, brought new levels of performance to color correction and a unified way to communicate color in production workflows. The introduction of RealTime RAW in 2007, brought instant playback and color correction to RAW camera pipelines. Today, IRIDAS aims to streamline production and post from on set to finishing, and helps make stereoscopic moviemaking an everyday reality.  For more information, please visit www.iridas.com. 

Cinedeck EXTREME: Shooting Tools

This is part one of a four-part series focusing in on some of the key features of Cinedeck EXTREME.  This week, we're taking a closer look at shooting tools.  Check it out:

Headed to SIGGRAPH 2010 Next Week? Check Out Imagineer Systems

 

So if you're headed to SIGGRAPH next week in LA, be sure to check out Imagineer Systems' mocha:

SIGGRAPH 2010: Booth #138

For Immediate Release

Imagineer Systems To Demonstrate mocha Planar Tracking Solutions at SIGGRAPH 2010

Attendees to See Firsthand Benefits of mocha’s Planar Tracking, Seamless Export to Nuke, Innovative 2D-to-3D Conversion Workflows, Significant Performance Gains While Working with Multi-Layer Film Resolution Projects

GUILDFORD, UK (July 15, 2010) -- Imagineer Systems (www.imagineersystems.com) today announced it will demonstrate the newest version of its award-winning planar tracking and roto solution, mocha, at SIGGRAPH 2010 later this month in Los Angeles.  During the conference, Imagineer Systems will demonstrate for the filmmaking, VFX design and post production community the numerous benefits of mocha, including seamless export capabilities to Nuke, drastically improved performance and support for multi-layer film resolution projects, as well as insight into mocha and its role in 2D-to-3D conversion workflow, increasingly in demand in Hollywood, India, and other 3D conversion hot-spots.  

Executives from Imagineer Systems will be on hand in booth #138 to demonstrate mocha v2.0.2 and its latest performance gains and features most important to the SIGGRAPH community, including 64-bit support, a newly enhanced, streamlined user interface, improved licensing activation, and support for Nuke 6.0, Nuke X and Apple Motion.

World renown master trainer, Steve Wright, has been delivering visual effects compositing, Nuke and Shake training for artists in the VFX industry around the world for over 20 years and has become known world-wide as the leading expert on Nuke. Steve travels to VFX facilities around the world to train the staff in skills and compositing techniques gleaned from those years of production experience as well as to improve the facility's 2D/3D production pipeline productivity.  Steve recently added mocha to his took kit and had this to say about its impact on his work:

“After 20 years of VFX production doing roto by hand, I was blown away by mocha and its planar tracker that has revolutionized the roto process. Each roto shape ‘rides on the back’ of an amazingly effective planar tracker which gives the shape an initial smooth and accurate motion. The roto artist just has to refine the shape's control points here and there. Exporting either tracking data or the roto shapes themselves to Nuke is a snap. mocha is a major improvement in both productivity and quality for all my Nuke compositing.”

"SIGGRAPH 2010 will be an important show for Imagineer Systems as it gives us an opportunity to personally connect with VFX design artists and filmmakers and talk to them about the issues that are most important to them,” said Ross Shain, chief marketing officer for Imagineer Systems. “We’re seeing significant increase in demand for mocha world wide in several hot new areas in production and post production today, including 3D conversion workflows and high demand for integration with applications like Nuke.  We’re going to show the SIGGRAPH community all the benefits that mocha brings to the table for all the workflow challenges they face."

Built on Imagineer’s award-winning 2.5D planar tracking technology, mocha has earned a reputation in Hollywood and throughout the VFX industry as an innovative must-have solution for solving complex, labor-intensive tracking and roto challenges and has quickly become the industry’s most popular and powerful stand alone tracking and roto station with over 25,000 registered users worldwide.  Designed to complement any compositing and finishing environment. mocha's unique planar tracker and streamlined interface allows artists to easily track shots where point trackers fail: shots with noise, shots with motion blur and shots that go offscreen or are obscured. 

Additionally, as demand for 3D content has been steadily rising, there has been a subsequent steady stream of 3D films driving an accelerated 3D production schedule for new films, as well as uncovering new opportunities to take existing film libraries for conversion from 2D to 3D.   As isolating and extracting objects is at the heart of all visual effects compositing and 2D to 3D conversion projects, mocha's advanced ability to create accurate roto shapes with less manual keyframing greatly aids the complex 3D conversion process.  mocha’s powerful planar tracking and roto capabilities make it the ideal utility to assist all VFX post productions, from feature films to broadcast television productions.

Pricing and Availability:

mocha v2 is available immediately and supports Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. Pricing is as follows: 

• Upgrade pricing: Upgrades to mocha v2 for existing owners of any Imagineer product are priced at $499 for nodelocked licenses.  
• New nodelocked licenses are priced at: $1095
• Cross platform floating licenses are also available at additional cost.

During the month of July, 2010, Imagineer Systems is offering a 20% discount on mocha, and is offering mocha shape plug-ins free, as part of this special promotion.  Imagineer Systems also offers educational discounts for students and schools. 

For more information, please visit www.imagineersystems.com.  

About Imagineer Systems 

Imagineer Systems Ltd innovates and markets next-generation visual effects solutions for film, video and broadcast post production markets.  Imagineer Systems has made its mark on such marquee Hollywood blockbuster productions as Alice in Wonderland, Iron Man 2, Shutter Island, Invictus, G-Force and the Harry Potter series. Imagineer’s desktop product line consists of monet - placement station, mokey - removal station and the mocha family of tracking and roto products: mocha, mocha for After Effects and mocha for Final Cut.  Imagineer Systems was founded in 2000 and its headquarters is located in Guildford, United Kingdom.  For more information visit www.imagineersystems.com.  

IRIDAS Announces Immediate Availability of SpeedGrade OnSet 2010

I've known the guys from IRIDAS for a couple of years now, watching them as they continually innovate and develop some very impressive workflow solutions for the marketplace.  So I'm very pleased to be working with them now to help them spread the word far and wide.  With all that's going on these days with 3D, stereoscopic, etc, you can be sure that IRIDAS will be leading the pack with some impressive new solutions.  So stay tuned in the coming weeks and months; there's more to come -- much more!

Today, IRIDAS announced the immediate availability of SpeedGrade OnSet 2010.  The debuted at NAB this year to high acclaim, and now it's available! Here's the press release that crossed today:

Media Contact:

Kevin M. Bourke, BourkePR

508.259.6018

kbourke@bourkepr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IRIDAS Announces Immediate Availability of SpeedGrade OnSet 2010 

Newest Version Adds Support for TCube Fig, Enabling DPs, DITs to Pull Reference Images from Live HD-SDI Feeds; Interactively Design, View Looks During Production in Real Time

Munich, DE (June 30, 2010) -- IRIDAS (www.iridas.com) today announced the immediate availability of SpeedGrade OnSet 2010.  Making its industry debut at NAB 2010, SpeedGrade OnSet 2010 adds significant previs innovations with new support for TCube Fig, which enables real-time, interactive color manipulation of HD-SDI signals.  Since its introduction to the market in 2006, SpeedGrade OnSet has become one of the most widely used previs solutions for cinematographers and production crews worldwide.

With this announcement, SpeedGrade OnSet 2010 also adds a new user interface based on the Merula display engine, and updated file format support for RAW cameras, including the ARRI Alexa, RED M-X , Silicon Imaging SI-2K and SI-3D and WEISSCAM HS-2 RAW formats. Additionally, through CinemaDNG, SpeedGrade OnSet now supports the Ikonoskop A-Cam DII camera.  To optimize workflows on the production set, IRIDAS continues to leverage its partnership with Cine-tal and the Cinemage monitor series, enabling SpeedGrade OnSet users with direct preview and interactive manipulation of looks on a live video signal.

“In many ways, SpeedGrade OnSet 2010 represents so much of our mission at IRIDAS - to provide our customers with innovative solutions that streamline their production workflow, and transform it to a real-time, interactive experience,” said Lin Sebastian Kayser, CEO of IRIDAS. "We work closely with industry leaders like Tcube and Cine-tal to make SpeedGrade workflows viable for even more productions. SpeedGrade OnSet is all about communicating the DP's creative vision to stakeholders on set and onto post. We believe that SpeedGrade OnSet 2010 is a significant milestone in this regard."

SpeedGrade OnSet 2010 and TCube Fig; Streamlining the Production Workflow

By simply connecting the TCube Fig device to any laptop running SpeedGrade OnSet 2010, DPs and DITs can instantly pull reference images from live HD-SDI feeds directly into the application and interactively design intended looks, in real time. The creative decisions are then saved to the IRIDAS' .Look format, which is natively interpreted by all IRIDAS applications and has been widely adopted by third party software. While the look is designed, SpeedGrade OnSet 2010 automatically updates the 3D LUT in the Fig device, and color changes are reflected in the live HD signal.  Since the LUT is non-destructively applied, the production team can record the unprocessed material to preserve the optimum latitude for post, while still watching the creatively graded materials live on their monitors during the shoot.

Pricing and Availability

SpeedGrade OnSet 2010 is available immediately on both the Mac OS X and Windows platforms, and is priced at $750.00 US ($99.00 upgrade).  For more information, or to purchase SpeedGrade OnSet 2010, please visit www.iridas.com. 

About IRIDAS
With the introduction of FrameCycler in 2001, IRIDAS redefined the way artists viewed digital footage. In 2002, IRIDAS introduced the first stereoscopic review tools for the post industry. In 2003, SpeedGrade, the first GPU-based color grading application, brought new levels of performance to color correction and a unified way to communicate color in production workflows. The introduction of RealTime RAW in 2007, brought instant playback and color correction to RAW camera pipelines. Today, IRIDAS aims to streamline production and post from on set to finishing, and helps make stereoscopic moviemaking an everyday reality.  For more information, please visit www.iridas.com.