Paul Younghusband's Recent Posts

Autonomous Effects recently released a new version of their SceneGenie plug-in suite for match-moving and combining live-action footage with CGI. The new version is available now, and boasts features like 3D tracking, an easy to use interface, faster tracking tools, optimizations and much more. Priced at US$995, SceneGenie 1.2 is available as a plug-in for 3D Studio MAX 2.5, 3.0 and 3.1.

Versions of Boris Graffiti LTD and Boris FX LTD are now bundled with selected Avid Xpress DV non-linear video editing and delivery systems. Graffiti LTD, one of the most flexible title animation toolsets available, provides superior creativity and workflow for Avid system users by extending the titling capabilities in Avid Xpress DV. Boris FX LTD enhances the Avid Xpress DV toolset with the same dynamic special effects found in the award-winning Boris FX.

A new Switzerland-based company, CHROME Imaging, recently announced their

solution to the wonderful world of post-production Photonyx 1.5 is now

shipping. CHROME claims that the software, which is priced at a mere

US$675, was designed to address the high-end post-production market. The

program features RealTools, a painting palette which simulates real world

tools such as crayons, airbrush and charcoal. But moving on to compositing,

Photonyx features "Virtual Screens" technology which offers realtime zoom

ICE, the developers of ICE Tools for After Effects and Media Cleaner, haverecently announced shipment of BlueICE SDI Video, an add-on daughter cardto ICE's BlueICE hardware for real-time, uncompressed, frame-accurate videocapture, playback and print to tape. BlueICE SDI Video allows Adobe AfterEffects users, to digitize, preview and layoff to tape in real time - allwhile remaining in the same After Effects environment in which theycomposite and create visual effects. BlueICE is available in both PAL and

SOFTIMAGE|Avid's Sumatra, which is set to redefine computer animation, hasrecently been used in a UK production for the BBC called "Everyman." Theanimation system, which is currently in beta, was used by Aldis Animationto create the 20 second title sequence of the show. Kim Aldis, the founderof Aldis Animation said that Sumatra increased the company's productivity,while at the same time giving them "more flexibility to experimentcreatively." Sumatra is due to be released at the end of the first quarter,

LIPSinc. recently announced that they have released a version ofVentriloquist, their lip-synchronization plug-in, for 3D Studio MAX version3. Ventriloquist is a voice-recognition lip-synching system which drivesthe animation based on the input of audio files. Timing and keyframe datawithin Ventriloquist for MAX are linked together automatically, providingeasy access and manipulation for animators who feel the need to 'tweak'Ventriloquist's work. The voice recognition system is based on LIPSinc.'s

Crater Software recently made an agreement with Chromacolour Internationalwhich will see Chromacolour's industry leading colour palettes incorporatedinto Crater Software's popular CTP animation system. CTP is alreadyproviding animation studios with a cost effective solution to 2D celanimation and cartoon production, however, the software will benefit evenfurther from having such a well known and widely used colour paletteavailable for artists and animators to utilize. For more information on CTPand Crater Software visit www.cratersfotware.com.

A new upgrade to Ulead's popular video editing software MediaStudio wasrecently announced, with an interesting list of new features. The newversion will feature an integrated editing, painting, audio, and titlingtool in the one package. Ulead are also expanding MediaStudio'scompatibility and output features by announcing support for DV, MPEG-2, VFWand WDM capture drivers, and IEEE-1394 support. More drag and drop effects,filters and transitions will be present in the new version, along with new