Media 100 to Release 844/X Version 3
Media 100 Inc., a leading provider of advanced media systems, will release the "Visual Effects" release--new version 3.0 software for 844/X in January 2004. The largest software expansion of 844/X since its inception in 2002, Version 3.0 advances 844/X with many new realtime, multi-stream capabilities:
- Advanced keying
- 3D digital video effects (DVEs)
- Shadow and glow effects
- XML-based metadata interchange
- New performance optimizations for editing longer-form, layer-intensive projects
The company recruited more than 30 844/X beta sites - the largest number to date - to test Version 3.0 and ensure both high performance and reliability.
"For the past year we have interacted daily with 844/X users around the world," said Rick Keilty, vp of product marketing at Media 100. "Version 3.0 is a direct result of their inspiration and input. This release takes advantage of the realtime in-stream effects and compositing speed, as well as the 10-bit image quality intrinsic to the GenesisEngine and our 844/X software architecture. The new keyer, for example, rivals any high-end keyer. Our multi-stream 3D DVEs add to the long list of effects we can handle, concurrently, in realtime, for incredible creative flexibility compositing layers.
"Version 3 exploits the parallel image processing pipelines of the GenesisEngine. Using numerous video/key streams simultaneously, we've been able to add complex yet lightning-fast multi-stream effects that creative users love and can't get elsewhere, such as glow and shadow effects."
Advanced 10-Bit Keying
844/X version 3.0 features a newly engineered 10-bit (1 billion colors) keyer that incorporates advanced spill suppression and matte-based key operations, such as erode and blur, allowing users to design sophisticated keys with the same precision as dedicated compositing systems.
The advanced keyer is powered by the multiple parallel image processing pipelines of the GenesisEngine. To create an advanced key and perform spill suppression, 844/X version 3.0 performs basic keying functions with one stream, while a second stream is used to generate an additional key to remove or color correct spill colors from the image without changing the output key.
The new version 3.0 keyer equips users with expanded keying controls, including R, G, B, luma, threshold, softness and transparency. Also new to version 3.0, chroma key controls add key color, tolerance, hue offset, softness and key thresholds. New spill suppression controls include hue offset, tolerance and YCbCr trim controls.
With XBLUR, the power of the new version 3.0 keyer increases further. The advanced keyer provides matte blur and matte erode functions to provide smooth edge gradients and further minimize the effects of spill on an image for exceptionally high quality keys, all generated in real time.
3D DVEs
844/X version 3.0 provides all-new 3D DVE processing for 844/X configurations with XBLUR. The powerful 3D effects expansion exploits the multiple PEPs (Programmable Effects Processors) onboard XBLUR to process 3D DVEs on up to eight streams simultaneously (four video/key pairs) in support of recursively processing unlimited visual effects layers without onerous host-based rendering.
The version 3.0 3D DVE processing builds on the prior geometrics capability of 844/X to include:
- Realtime adjustment of X and Y anchor point, position and scale;
- Realtime X, Y and Z rotation with perspective control;
- Realtime X and Y skew parameter;
- Sub-pixel cropping for superior edge definition.
XBLUR Integrated Filters
With version 3.0, XBLUR adds support for rapid creation of complex effects such as glows and shadows that are otherwise very slow to create and render (and re-render to edit).
These new visual effects capabilities are powered by the PEPs onboard XBLUR that also process real-time, multi-stream 80-pixel Gaussian blurs. They include drop shadows, inner shadows, DVE shadows, inner glows, outer glows, and channel glows. User controls for each effect provide content designers direct control over parameters including shadow color, strength, opacity, softness, offset, blur, geometrics and background/glow color.
Interoperability - XML Metadata Support
- Advanced keying
- 3D digital video effects (DVEs)
- Shadow and glow effects
- XML-based metadata interchange
- New performance optimizations for editing longer-form, layer-intensive projects
The company recruited more than 30 844/X beta sites - the largest number to date - to test Version 3.0 and ensure both high performance and reliability.
"For the past year we have interacted daily with 844/X users around the world," said Rick Keilty, vp of product marketing at Media 100. "Version 3.0 is a direct result of their inspiration and input. This release takes advantage of the realtime in-stream effects and compositing speed, as well as the 10-bit image quality intrinsic to the GenesisEngine and our 844/X software architecture. The new keyer, for example, rivals any high-end keyer. Our multi-stream 3D DVEs add to the long list of effects we can handle, concurrently, in realtime, for incredible creative flexibility compositing layers.
"Version 3 exploits the parallel image processing pipelines of the GenesisEngine. Using numerous video/key streams simultaneously, we've been able to add complex yet lightning-fast multi-stream effects that creative users love and can't get elsewhere, such as glow and shadow effects."
Advanced 10-Bit Keying
844/X version 3.0 features a newly engineered 10-bit (1 billion colors) keyer that incorporates advanced spill suppression and matte-based key operations, such as erode and blur, allowing users to design sophisticated keys with the same precision as dedicated compositing systems.
The advanced keyer is powered by the multiple parallel image processing pipelines of the GenesisEngine. To create an advanced key and perform spill suppression, 844/X version 3.0 performs basic keying functions with one stream, while a second stream is used to generate an additional key to remove or color correct spill colors from the image without changing the output key.
The new version 3.0 keyer equips users with expanded keying controls, including R, G, B, luma, threshold, softness and transparency. Also new to version 3.0, chroma key controls add key color, tolerance, hue offset, softness and key thresholds. New spill suppression controls include hue offset, tolerance and YCbCr trim controls.
With XBLUR, the power of the new version 3.0 keyer increases further. The advanced keyer provides matte blur and matte erode functions to provide smooth edge gradients and further minimize the effects of spill on an image for exceptionally high quality keys, all generated in real time.
3D DVEs
844/X version 3.0 provides all-new 3D DVE processing for 844/X configurations with XBLUR. The powerful 3D effects expansion exploits the multiple PEPs (Programmable Effects Processors) onboard XBLUR to process 3D DVEs on up to eight streams simultaneously (four video/key pairs) in support of recursively processing unlimited visual effects layers without onerous host-based rendering.
The version 3.0 3D DVE processing builds on the prior geometrics capability of 844/X to include:
- Realtime adjustment of X and Y anchor point, position and scale;
- Realtime X, Y and Z rotation with perspective control;
- Realtime X and Y skew parameter;
- Sub-pixel cropping for superior edge definition.
XBLUR Integrated Filters
With version 3.0, XBLUR adds support for rapid creation of complex effects such as glows and shadows that are otherwise very slow to create and render (and re-render to edit).
These new visual effects capabilities are powered by the PEPs onboard XBLUR that also process real-time, multi-stream 80-pixel Gaussian blurs. They include drop shadows, inner shadows, DVE shadows, inner glows, outer glows, and channel glows. User controls for each effect provide content designers direct control over parameters including shadow color, strength, opacity, softness, offset, blur, geometrics and background/glow color.
Interoperability - XML Metadata Support
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