Vizrt will unveil updates to its powerful Viz Curious Maps Clients mapping software, Version 8.0, at NAB in April.
Vizrt is a leading provider of real-time, integrated broadcast graphics software.
Viz Curious Maps is a template-based software solution that enables users to create branded maps and geographic animations.
The Viz Curious Maps can be extended to a server edition that can provide real-time, branded map imagery to several clients embedded within Vizrtâs control applications.
Templates created within Viz Curious Maps can be dynamically accessed through Viz Trio character generation software and Viz Content Pilot workflow solution for journalists.
In this new version, Viz Curious Maps acts as both a creation tool and a server platform.
Maps or templates first prepared using Viz Curious Maps and Viz Artist design software are stored within a Viz Curious Maps server that can be accessed by any number of users throughout an organization.
The enhancements within Viz Curious Maps, Version 8.0, greatly strengthen connectivity between programs through the Viz Curious Maps server.
Users can seamlessly create branded, animated maps and add them to graphic templates or directly to a 3D scene.
Another significant enhancement to Viz Curious Maps Clients is within its labeling feature.
Journalists or operators can now easily separate labels that were previously too close together to be read.
For example, on a map that shows the eastern coast of the United States, labels for New York and New Jersey may overlap.
In Viz Curious Maps Clients 8.0, users can move those labels apart and still have them point to the correct place on the map. 3D labels can also be saved for use in other scenes.
Improvements have also been made to Viz Curious Maps Clients' animation capabilities. With Viz Curious Maps Clients 8.0, operators can incorporate unlimited camera movements through animations within the map -- from any point to any point on the globe.
Movements between multiple destinations are also possible.
Users can zoom in from an overall country view or down to that of a particular county or even city. This feature is particularly beneficial for weather and news applications because it provides viewers with a better frame of reference.
Further enhancing the functionality of Viz Curious Maps Clients, Vizrt has enriched the way the mapping software handles map layers.
Separating map elements into layers not only offers added design flexibility, it increases the mapâs detail.
For example, weather maps can contain a base map as one layer, a radar loop as another layer, and the state or country borders as a third layer.
Templates can now be designed using Viz Curious Maps Clients to show the terrain of a particular area automatically.
The 3D terrain elements can be placed according to geographical references on a globe and incorporated on the map. The detail and height of the 3D terrain can be adjusted as needed.
Viz Curious Maps Clients is fully integrated with the newest version of Viz Artist â Version 3.1.
Among the many advances inherent in Version 3.1 are: RTT Advanced Materials plug-ins for photo-realistic rendering of 3D objects and materials, new Visual Data Tools (VDT) plug-ins for increased financial and statistical database functionality, and enhanced interactivity with touch screen devices.
NAB is at Las Vegas Convention Center, and Vizrt is scheduled to be in booths #R129/SL4805.
