Splice Vine Links #13

Software

Already?  I thought this was coming out in the fall.  Oh well, no better time than the present. Look for the details in their online launch on April 12. Adobe says that CS5 will be 64-bit and only run on Intel-Macs (and of course PCs).  Users will have to be running Snow Leopard if they want to take advantage of CS5s new 64-bit capabilities.  In the meantime, check out their demo video for a new feature in Photoshop CS5 that is causing intense discussion and debate across the industry and around the world.  It shows off the new "content-aware fill" feature for Photoshop.  According to Mac Rumors : The feature utilizes complex mathematical algorithms to analyze digital images and assist users in filling in areas of complex scenes where undesired content has been removed.  Translation:  It magically removes objects from your image as if they were never there.  The Adobe Advanced Technology Lab has been working with Princeton University and the University of Washington on this technology for a while.  It is a further advancement on the Patch Match concept that Adobe introduced a couple of years ago. If you don't want to pay for the upgrade just yet then try Retoucher by Akvis and Smart Fill by Alien Software.  These plug-ins already do a version of this type of seamless scene replacement. Also if you use GIMP the plug-in Resynthesizer recreates the effect very well.

Gear

Run, don't walk over to part 1 of Zacuto's Great Camera Shootout 2010.  Zacuto may have cemented their claim as the new standard in camera accessories.  The tension is palpable in this expertly crafted half-hour video that has the much heralded HDSLR's facing off against the gold standard of 35mm.  They are put through the paces by some of the top photographers, cinematographers and colorists working today.  I couldn't believe how well the footage coming from digital still cameras holds up against almighty film.  Great stuff.  Webisode 2 will go live on Apr 7th.

iPhone App

 

Their words:  Monle is a four track, non-linear audio editor for the iPhone and iPod touch. You can record new audio, import prerecorded audio, cut it up, rearrange it, add fades, set volumes, zoom in and out, mix everything down, share audio with other applications, and send the audio wherever you want.  My words:  Monle looks like a cool app to tied me over as a dream/wish/pray for a Soundtrack Pro iPhone app.

   Plug-In

The Canon DSLR plug-in for FCP is finally here.  Scott Simmons on the PVC blog takes the reader on a tour of the features and capabilities.  This plug-in will be a big time saver since you will no longer have to convert your DSLR footage in Compressor for use in FCP.  For now the newly released 550D is not being supported but I'm sure it will be in the future.  Hopefully a version of this plug-in for Premier will be announced soon after the new Adobe CS5 launch on April 12.

Workflow

In what could be a further step towards pro level remote collaboration for the masses, Tweak Software and Shotgun Software have joined forces and created RV.  It's an image and sequence viewer for VFX and animation artists combined with a flexible and scalable web-based project management system designed for digital production studios. They promise to make it fast and easy for content creators to track, organize, play, and review their work.  Legendary studios like WETA and Aardman have been using expensive versions of this for years but now a lot more people are going to be able to get in on the action. With license configurations ranging between $200 - $400 this is poised to take the middle market by storm.