Los Angeles, CA -- SilhouetteFX LLC  announces the release of Silhouette V5. Already considered the gold standard in stereo roto, paint and keying, Silhouette is greatly enhanced by an innovative raster / vector hybrid paint system, semi-automatic 2D to 3D conversion, a fresh look at shape-based warping and morphing, and the inclusion of Academy Award-winning planar tracking technology from Imagineer Systems’s mocha Pro. These are just four of the upgrades from an extensive list of new features.

SilhouetteFX, first launched in 2004, is a dominant player in high-end roto and paint for visual effects. More recently, Silhouette has become an important tool in the 2D to 3D conversion workflow. Version 5 is the single largest upgrade in the product’s history and incorporates hundreds of upgrades as well as brand new features.

Magno Borgo of Boundary Visual Effects says “Silhouette V5 is a mandatory update. When everyone thought that roto software can't improve anymore, Silhouette comes along with impressive new tools.”

At least three of these new capabilities have the potential to be transformative in the visual effects industry.

Silhouette has been deeply entrenched in paint for post-production for many years. Auto Paint, new in V5, is a breakthrough innovation providing the speed and detail of raster-based paint systems with the repeatability and animation capability of vector-based paint systems.

Never before have the benefits of raster-based and vector-based paint been combined as seamlessly as in Silhouette V5. The raster-based nature of each stroke is logged into a database, available to be instantly played back using keyframes or trackers in a manner similar to vector-based paint systems. Visual effects artists finally get a lightning-fast raster paint system that can automatically tween or repaint over modified footage.

Jeremy Cho, rotoscoping and paint supervisor on Ted, says of Silhouette V5 and Auto Paint "The new Silhouette offers enhanced features and tools to tackle complex rotoscoping and painting tasks with greater efficiency. When it comes to frame-by-frame painting, the best of both worlds combine within this package: the speed of rasterization and the flexibility of non-destructive painting. Silhouette is a vital rotoscoping and paint tool here at Tippett Studio."

Silhouette was the first roto and paint system to offer a full stereo workflow. More recently, Silhouette has become an important part of the 2D to 3D conversion process. New in V5 is the optional S3D node incorporating RealityTools technology from 3D Impact Media, a new strategic partner.

An option available at an additional cost of $3,995 (for a limited time – regularly $5,995), the S3D node facilitates 2D to 3D conversion and stereoscopic processing in six ways:

• Silhouette’s roto tools have become depth-enabled (in the S3D option). Every shape has a depth that can be keyframed.
• New roto tools such as ramps, hallways, tunnels and more have been added.
• Depth maps can be built semi-automatically from both mono (non-stereo) as well as stereoscopic images.
• Existing stereoscopic content can be depth analyzed and re-rendered for different display sizes taking into account the 3D geometry of the target display.
• Parallax and convergence can be finely adjusted during post-production.
• The S3D node can generate virtual camera views using a specialized warper required for auto-stereoscopic, multi-view and plain stereoscopic displays.

The integration of RealityTools into the Silhouette framework makes for a comprehensive stereoscopic solution.