disguise Launches new Previz Integration with their Cloud Platform
disguise released a major upgrade to its Cloud platform that streamlines the content review process for distributed teams working with 3D in media and entertainment. Featuring the successful incorporation of Previz—a web-based app used to import, previsualize, and share 3D interactive scenes of any production, the new solution will make it easier than ever before for creatives to iterate and collaborate, no matter where they are located.
“With more people working remotely, and productions being global, we wanted to enable production teams to share more accurate representations of their creative vision and execution with their clients,” says Niall Thompson, disguise’s Head of Cloud Solutions. “This seamless workflow for sharing files and projects as well as collaborating simultaneously opens up new possibilities for working together in media and entertainment.”
The disguise Cloud Platform is a production hub designed for the media and entertainment industry and it will continue to expand in the upcoming months. With a direct integration, Previz is now connected with disguise Drive, allowing users to conveniently share their 3D visualizations and preview models from all angles and easily make changes while storing, viewing and managing assets in disguise Drive.
Creatives can also leverage a new feature called Share to Previz, which enables users of disguise’s Designer software to export a model of a 3D LED stage, including geometry, textures and a baked version of the timeline, into a shareable link that uploads to their disguise Drive for teams and clients to then preview and comment on.
“The introduction of Previz to disguise Cloud for 3D visualization has allowed us to communicate ideas and concepts in a meaningful and visual way that is simple to use and straightforward to create and share,” comments Troy Fujimura, Centerstage Head of Design and Technology and disguise Cloud user. “Working with this tool will increase the speed and efficiency of the iterative design process.”
Previz is now available as part of the disguise Cloud Pro and Studio subscriptions. disguise is currently offering a free 14-day trial for users to get started with Previz. Here’s a video overview to learn more: www.plsn.me/PrevizDemo.
www.disguise.one
Brompton Technology: Tessera G1 Receiver Card
Brompton Technology has released its new receiver card, the Tessera G1, which supports 10Gb fiber connections direct to the LED panel. It is also capable of supporting one-million-pixel capacity for the new generation of ultra-fine pixel pitch panels, or up to 1,000 Frames Per Second. This is made possible by a 20x increase in computing power compared to the existing Tessera R2+ receiver card.
Cesar Caceres, Brompton’s Product Lead, emphasizes that the company’s Tessera R2+ receiver card is still positioned to deliver exceptional performance for a vast majority of LED panels. The G1 is the choice for next-generation panels. “We are definitely not forsaking the R2+ card and all its impressive capabilities,” Caceres explains. “We are simply recognizing the rapid advancements of LED video technology. As a company, we are proactively positioning ourselves to meet and exceed the future demands of our industry.”
Already in talks with panel manufacturers, Brompton is working to integrate the new receiver card with the next generation of LED screens. The benefits are not only about the substantial increase in pixels that can be processed thanks to the new card, but that it will also facilitate the integration of additional calibrated channels, which Brompton defines as RGBW, Red, Green, Blue, and Whatever. This is future planning keeping the possibilities open for extra emitters. One of the most useful colors Brompton anticipates panel manufacturers will want to incorporate is white. Adding a white channel provides an improved spectral output for the panels. And the G1 has the necessary power to cope with the complex algorithms necessary to maintain color-accurate calibration and control with extra emitters. When it comes to in-camera visual effects, LED panels often contribute to lighting the scene, so having additional light emitters in the LED panel represents a significant leap in color-rendering accuracy on skin tones and foreground elements blending with virtual environments.
Another pioneering feature of the G1 receiver card is its capability to support a 10 gigabit connection, thus providing tenfold the bandwidth of the current R2+ card and positioning the G1 as a ‘future-proof’ solution.
www.bromptontech.com
Green Hippo: Hippotizer v4.8.0
Show Manager, a major enhancement in the now available Hippotizer v4.8.0, facilitates control of multiple productions and installations at once. Users can save and load various shows on one Hippotizer Media Server, simplifying show management and switching between events. Shows can be duplicated to enable quick modifications without affecting the primary show data, and each show can be easily labeled. For multiple users of one machine, shows can be locked to protect them from any unwanted edits; HippoLauncher can now be controlled by TCP Commands allowing to start up or switch into the designed show. TimelinePlus has been upgraded so pre-recorded looks can be transferred onto the Preset Timeline for quick show programming. Hippotizer 4.8.0 is available for download.
www.green-hippo.com
Epson: PowerLite L570U 3LCD Laser Projector
The PowerLite L570U laser projector, with 3-chip 3LCD technology, is a compact projector offering native WUXGA with 4K Enhancement and 5,200 lumens of brightness. The flexible display can switch between a variety of aspect ratios, including standard 16:10 up to 500” diagonally, plus ultra-wide 21:9. Features include wide lens shift, 1.6x optical zoom, built-in edge blending and geometric correction tools via on-screen menu or Epson® Professional Projector Tool software for Windows® and macOS®. This projector features a 20,000-hour virtually maintenance-free laser light source and air filter. Simplify complex multi-projector applications with the optional attachable PixAlign™ camera. Connectivity options include HDBaseT®, 2x HDMI® inputs, HDMI output, RJ-45, RS-232 and control management tools.
www.epson.com
Real-Time Video Content For Virtual Production & Live Entertainment
Laura Frank is a creator advocate and founder of the creative video community and resource, frame:work. As a highly regarded Screens Producer, she works worldwide on many of the most prestigious live entertainment events. Frank is also an author and recently released her newest book, Real-Time Video Content For Virtual Production & Live Entertainment. The subtitle, A Learning Roadmap for an Evolving Practice, is a key to the book, which Frank hopes inspires people to learn the details of the tools necessary to do this work; to learn more about this work and the industry. The book is an engaging read that lets you join Frank as she discovers the layers of an ever-evolving discipline; offering historic context while encouraging the reader to see future possibilities with new eyes. It contains a number of case studies where Frank brings those creators into the book as contributors. Some of the case studies include background replacement tool sets, whether it’s for green screen or LED; interactive installation work; one from Bild Studios and their project at Dubai’s international Expo, Al Wasl Dome, the world’s largest interactive installation; museum installations; brand activations; and content creation for concert tours.
Real-Time Video Content for Virtual Production & Live Entertainment, A Learning Roadmap for an Evolving Practice by Laura Frank, published by Focal Press, an imprint of Routledge, can be purchased at Amazon and Routledge.
Read an interview with Frank about this book in the Feb 2023 issue of PLSN: www.plsn.me/LauraFrankBook.
