News Stories

Wacom previews Unlimited Multi-touch Screen

1.10.2010

Wacom is offering an interactive demo of its unlimited multi-touch screen prototype.

wacomThe system uses a 21-inch LCD monitor and version 1.8 of Nuiteq’s Snowflake Suite software running on Windows 7.

The company confirmed that it is in talks about visual effects and animation, as well as casinos, as potential applications.  It also could find applications for meeting and collaborative tasks.  “In the future, this could also be larger and something everyone could collaborate with,” said company spokesperson Doug Little.

The technology is at least a year away from shipping, he said.

Dolby focuses on Audio for HD and 3D

1.10.2010

Dolby used CES as a platform to demonstrate how to enhance viewing of 2D or 3D with its audio lineup.  “When you combine HD and 3D, it is screaming for the audio experience,” commented Ramzi Haidamus, Dolby’s executive vp, sales and marketing.

Dolby is talking Dolby Volume, including use with new Motorola digital set-top boxes.

Dolby-Volume-Diagram

Dolby also showcased new devices and media that support Dolby Digital Plus high-definition audio, including VUDU.  The service uses Dolby Digital Plus to deliver 5.1 surround sound.  For Blu-ray, it supports primary 7.1-channel audio as well as multichannel secondary audio support.

Dolby reported that Dolby TrueHD, a lossless compression technology developed for HD disc-based media, has been used for more than 560 Blu-ray Disc movie titles, including Paramount’s “Star Trek,” which was highlighted at CES.

The company also featured Dolby Pro Logic IIz, the company’s matrix decoding audio technology that supports 7.1- or 9.1-channel audio.

When asked about 3D video for the home, Haidamus said Dolby was in the R&D phase.

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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