Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/309120
48 CINEMONTAGE / MAY-JUN 14 48 CINEMONTAGE / MAY-JUN 14 unusual manner. Barrier splines should also be used to restrict areas you do not want to distort when warping. Silhouette also gives you the ability to vary the rate that source and target splines morph on a per-shape basis, instead of the entire morph happening at once. This helps to make things look more natural. The morphing features in Silhouette are not only enticing, but feel very interactive, and I would recommend getting the software for this reason alone. Morphing is back and let's hope, this time, it's here to stay. ON THE RIGHT TRACK The ability to track is an important feature that can really help to speed things up when doing rotoscoping work. Both point and planar tracking can be found in SilhouetteFX. Planar tracking allows you to track an entire plane of shapes at once, making all the masks on the plane fit throughout the shot with very few keyframes needed. Now, Silhouette V5 includes Imagineer Systems' award-winning planar tracking technology from mocha Pro, the addition of which improves planar tracking in the application. PAINTING Silhouette also has an advanced painting environment that allows you to paint non-destructively on your frames, allowing you to correct problems, remove rigs and fix facial blemishes. Painting in V5 has been thoroughly upgraded. Auto Paint, an important new development, provides the speed and detail of raster-based paint systems with the repeatability and animation capability of vector-based paint systems. The hybrid raster and vector painting capability will capture each paint stroke into a database and can then use that data to paint over all the frames in a sequence. This newly engineered painting engine will save you hours of work. Note that paint strokes can also be tracked with the motion tracker (see Figure 5). STEREO EFFECTS The already existing 3D stereoscopic capabilities found in Silhouette have made it an important tool in the 2D-to-3D motion picture conversion. Version 5 of Silhouette now contains an optional S3D node for those working on 3D films that incorporate Reality Tools technology from 3D Impact Media, a new strategic partner to SilhouetteFX (see Figure 6). For an additional cost, the S3D node will depth-enable Silhouette's rotoscoping tools. Also, new roto tools such as ramps, hallways and tunnels have been added. Depth maps can be created in Silhouette from both mono (non-stereo) as well as stereoscopic images. Other important upgrades to the stereo features include the ability to finely adjust parallax and convergence during post-production, as well as the ability to generate virtual camera views. FINAL THOUGHTS Silhouette is a highly effective and very well- engineered tool with an accessible user interface. If you do a lot of roto work, its comprehensive rotoscoping toolset will appeal to you. In addition, the planar tracking and new hybrid paint system make the software even more compelling. Silhouette V5's stereoscopic abilities are also very robust. This has caused it to carve out a niche for itself as an important tool for those involved in the conversion of 2D movies to 3D. Last, but not least, the morphing capabilities of the program are outstanding and may be the best available on the market today. This is one of the features of the application that appeals to me most. For more information about Silhouette, and to check the latest pricing, visit the Silhouette website at www.silhouettefx.com. f Top, Figure 4: Odo, from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Courtesy of Para- mount Television Middle, Figure 5: There's a new raster/ vector paint system in Silhouette V5. Bottom, Figure 6: Sil- houette stereoscopic has a very robust 3D stereoscopic toolset. CineMontage_May-Jun_14-3b.indd 48 4/16/14 2:40 PM