Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546154
BITS & PIECES ADOBE TO ACQUIRE TOPAZ LABS SAN JOSE, CA — Adobe (adobe.com) has entered into a definitive agree- ment to acquire Topaz Labs, an AI company specializing in video and image enhancement models. Adobe's AI portfolio includes Firefly, the all-in-one creative AI studio, and Creative Cloud applications such as Photoshop, Lightroom and Premiere. Topaz Labs (www.topazlabs.com) provides a broad array of advanced AI models for video and image enhancement that analyze and improve existing visual content by sharpening detail, removing noise, restoring footage and increasing resolution. "Adobe Firefly, Firefly Services and Creative Cloud offer the industry's best creative tooling and top AI models for creators and brands, and we're excit- ed to build on the strong demand for these products with Topaz Labs," says David Wadhwani, president of the creativity & productivity business at Adobe. "Creators are creating more content by mixing captured and generated images and video, and with Topaz Labs we will give every creator the quality and con- trol to easily produce that content at higher quality and resolution." "Building technology to make images and videos look their absolute best has been our life's work for more than 20 years," adds Eric Yang, CEO of Topaz Labs. "We've always believed that technology should serve human creativity, rather than replace it — and so has Adobe. Together, we believe we can dra- matically expand what's possible for filmmakers and creators everywhere." With millions of customers, Topaz Labs and its Emmy Award-winning AI technology will be integrated across Adobe's creative AI portfolio, giving creatives the ability to enhance footage, restore & remaster archival content, and blend AI-generated and traditionally-captured content into seamless final productions. Topaz Labs will also bring its proprietary Neurostream technology that enables large, complex AI models to run locally on consumer devices. After the transaction closes, Topaz Labs customers of all sizes can expect continued support and investment in future innovation. Topaz Labs products will remain available as standalone offerings through the company's website. Upon close, Topaz Labs CEO Eric Yang will continue to lead the Topaz Labs team. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. BORIS FX ADDS IZOTOPE TO PORTFOLIO BOSTON — Boris FX (https://borisfx.com) founder and CEO Boris Yamnitsky announced the company's acquisition of Izotope, the audio tool developer behind RX and Ozone. "If you work in post production, there's a good chance Izotope is already part of your daily toolset," notes Yamnitsky. "RX is the industry-standard repair tool editors and audio engineers reach for when deadlines loom and the dia- logue isn't quite ready. But RX is just the beginning. Izotope builds intelligent tools across all of audio production, including Ozone for mastering, and a full suite for mixing, vocal processing and metering. Bringing Izotope into Boris FX means the tools you use to finish a project — both picture and sound — are now built under the same roof by people who sweat every frequency and every pixel." Boris FX's video tools include Continuum, Sapphire, Mocha Pro, Silhouette and SynthEyes, and Yamnitsky says the company is not pivoting away from VFX or video editing. "We're expanding our mission into the other half of post production," he explains. "A stronger, bigger Boris FX means more investment in everything we make." Izotope's VP of product, Todd Baker, says the companies' shared DNA makes it a natural fit. "Smart, assistive technology that handles the technical hurdles so you can stay focused on the creative work, and a deep commitment to education that helps you master your craft," Baker explains. "This is two teams with the same obsession joining forces." There will be no interruptions to plug-in development, and the talented engi- neers behind RX, Ozone, Neutron, Nectar and the rest of the Izotope lineup are continuing their work. "This move provides the resources and focus needed to supercharge our roadmap of next-generation plug-ins," Baker concludes. Composer Haim Mazar wrote approximately 60 cues for Paramount Pictures' Scary Movie, representing about 63 minutes of music across the film's 95-minute run time. "One of the biggest challenges on a comedy is that editorial timing is constantly being refined," says Mazar. "Small picture changes can have a major impact on how a joke lands, which means the music often needs to be adjusted, reworked or completely rethought as the edit evolves."