REALVIZ S.A. has announced the availability of its MatchMover software
solution for animation and special effects professionals on Microsoft,
Windows, NT and GI IRIX platforms. Using MatchMover, computer-generated 3D
images can be easily integrated with video or film to create Simulated
Reality. Using computed 3D coordinates and geometric constraints,
MatchMover transforms original live-action footage into an accurate 3D
space. The transformed 3D live-action space can be precisely matched to 3D
animated scenes and new virtual 3D objects can be created or imported into
the space to compose a scene. By capturing 3D points from this scene and
exporting them to animation software, mattes can be accurately constructed
for occlusions. Using MatchMover, virtual 3D objects can be easily inserted
into live-action footage at the proper scale, position and orientation. In
addition, MatchMover captures 3D coordinates of moving real objects from
the original footage. Using these dynamic coordinates, computer-generated
3D objects can be attached and synchronized with moving real objects in the
original live-action footage to create special effects. With its fast,
accurate tracking features and robust editing features, MatchMover enables
animation and special effects personnel to create image sequences of mixed
live-action footage and computer-generated 3D animation. MatchMover can be
installed for an initial investment of $200 for the Windows NT platform and
$350 for the IRIX platform. Export keys can be purchased at $1,000 each or
$5,000 in packages of ten - Full Use Licenses may also be purchased for
$10,000. The Full Use License provides unlimited export of projects to
animation software. MatchMover fits into current production and
post-production software environments and workflows, as projects can be
directly exported to commonly-used animation software including 3D Studio
Max, SOFTIMAGE|3D, Maya and LightWave 3D.