Products - 7/04 - Part 2
Issue: Volume: 27 Issue: 7 (July 2004)

Products - 7/04 - Part 2



WinMac Alias has announced the availability of its pen-driven sketching and annotation software, SketchBook Pro, for Mac OS X operating systems. Alias SketchBook Pro Version 1.1 sports Mac compatibility, 26 hotkeys, a single layer copy tool, a redesigned brush editor, and more. The latest edition is available for download from Alias's Web site at a cost of $179 or on CD-ROM for $199. Current users of SketchBook Pro 1.0 for Windows can upgrade to Version 1.1 for free. Alias; www.alias.com

VIDEO

Win Allegorithmic has released MaP|Time, a new plug-in for use with Adobe's After Effects and Discreet's Combustion. Reported to be the industry's first fully editable, heterogenous video filter designer, MaP|Time enables digital artists to create and edit complex animated patterns, effects, and transitions. Available now at a cost of $990, the MaP|Time plug-in incorporates more than 350 preset visual effects. Among them are non-photorealistic rendering filters and effects and image distortion, color manipulation, and temporal effects. MaP|Time also provides compatibility with Allegorithmic's MaP|Zone texture modeling software. Allegorithmic; www.allegorithmic.com





Win Profound Effects has debuted Version 1.5 of its Useful Assistants workflow en-hancer for Adobe's After Effects. As well as compatibility with After Effects 6.5, Useful Assistants 1.5 boasts 28 new and updated assistants, bringing its total to more than 110. These assistants are designed to automate repetitive and difficult tasks, simplifying and speeding work flow. Useful Assistants 1.5 carries a $195 suggested retail price; yet, owners of previous versions can download the upgrade at no cost from the Profound eXchange, an online community on the Profound Effects Web site. The company also upgraded its Useful Things effects plug-in to Version 1.6. The latest version adds nearly limitless CHOPs (channel operations) potential, support for After Effects 6.5, and updates to more than 50 existing effects. Useful Things 1.6 is priced at $295 for new users and free to owners of previous versions. Profound Effects; www.profoundeffects.com

Win Canopus has unveiled Edius 2.5, an up-graded version of its NLE software solution. Version 2.5 includes a new cropping, scaling, and repositioning tool and an Edius keyboard customization applet. Users of the new version also gain the ability not only to select, move, and apply filters and transitions to multiple clips simultaneously, but also to merge Edius projects. Edius 2.5 enables the importation of Canopus Imaginate 2.0 projects, as well as AIFF and Ogg Vorbis audio files, and the use of VST audio plug-ins. The upgraded application sports Inscriber TitleMotion Pro for Canopus, a titling tool for creating broadcast-quality text, graphics, and effects. Now available, Edius 2.5 is priced at $599. Canopus; www.canopus.com

DISPLAYS

Samsung has released its latest large-screen, plasma displays for commercial and professional applications, including digital signage, multimedia presentation, and professional video. Offering 1024x768 resolution and a 3000:1 contrast ratio, the 42-inch PPM42H3 achieves high-definition output by matching the 720P HDTV format pixel-by-pixel. The PPM42S3Q is a 42-inch display capable of 1366x768 resolution and featuring 852x480 resolution. The 50-inch PPM50H3Q is well suited to presentation and digital signage applications, whereas the 63-inch PPM63H3Q can replace front and rear screen projectors. Samsung's latest generation of plasma displays incorporates the company's Digital Natural Image enhancement (DNIe), Anti-Burn technologies, variable aspect ratios, and Picture-by-Picture functionality. Samsung; www.samsungusa.com/plasma





PROJECTOR

Sony has amended its product line with two new 4K projectors for the digital cinema market, the SRX-R110 and SRX-R105. The SRX-R110 is a 10,000 ANSI lumen model well suited to screens of up to 40 feet wide, whereas the SRX-R105 is a 5000 ANSI lumen edition targeted at screen widths of up to 25 feet. Both devices offer 4093x2160 pixel resolution, thanks to the use of a Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD), and a high contrast ratio. Sony; www.sony.net

WORKSTATIONS

Alienware has introduced ALX, a new brand of high-performance computer systems. Desktop, notebook, and professional systems that fall under the Alienware ALX brand incorporate the company's liquid cooling technology, including a specially mixed coolant and gold-plated, pure copper coolers. ALX customers can have CPU, memory, and video card settings overclocked by Alienware. In addition to the AlienCare Service Program, ALX users will receive one-on-one attention from Alienware's staff, the option of speaking with their system's assembler, and the ability to have up to three of their favorite games installed, updated, and optimized on their system at no charge. Alienware; www.alienware.com


Stock Options

Producer of royalty-free video footage and video FX, Reelhouse recently released the Film Leader FX Library. Film Leader FX Library is the latest offering in the company's collection of stock videos, backgrounds, and effects offered in network-quality NTSC and PAL formats. The new offering by Adam Roe includes two Mac and PC-compatible DVDs housing a total of more than 200 film leaders and FX built from rare 16mm and 35mm sources. Film Leader FX Library is priced at $399. Also new from Reelhouse is 8mm Mask Kit, a collection of 25 mask films priced at $299. The cross-compatible DVD provides masks, suitable for use in combinations or alone, for creating film flickers, scratches, and melts. The company also has launched Reelhouse.com, said to be the world's largest royalty-free film FX library for video professionals and the result of six years of compilation work. Reelhouse; www.reelhouse.com