Science.D.Visions Announces Release 2 (R2) of 3DEqualizer4—Industry-Standard Matchmoving Software

Dortmund, Germany (PRWEB) July 31, 2012

Science.D.Visions today announced Release 2 (R2) of its matchmoving software, 3DEqualizer4. Winning an Academy Award® in 2002 for Technical Achievement, 3DEqualizer site licenses are installed in four of the world’s top ten Visual Effects (VFX) production houses, including Double Negative, Cinesite, Weta Digital, and the Moving Picture Company (MPC). 3DEqualizer helps visual effects and post-production artists measure, merge and ‘matchmove’ live action film sequences and plates with virtual 3D environments and effects to create a seamless look and realistic completed scenes. 3DEqualizer 4 R2 is currently in BETA, and is expected to ship in 2013.

3DEqualizer4 R2 Features and Benefits
3DEqualizer4 R2 is currently undergoing an extensive BETA testing cycle, and includes the following new features:

•     Updated calculation core—allows an artist to compute a variable amount of synchronized witness cameras for creating precise motion capture data. The calculation core is fully integrated for stereoscopic calculation and for creating multiple object point groups
•     Real-time un-distort footage—lens distortion is visualized in real time, directly in the entire 3DE4 user interface, tremendously improving the artist’s productivity
•     Updated Lineup Controls—lining up imported geometry to footage has become dramatically faster through new features such as specialized "lineup only point" dragging, hidden line/ back-face culling rendering, and extracting survey data from vertices/lines/faces.
•     Streamlined User Interface—new custom focus lens parameters, image controls presets, hide and lock points, automatic key-framing based on tracking deviation, and an ‘equisolid angle’ fisheye lens distortion model.
•     Python commands—Python is the backbone that makes 3DE4 the successful application it is today. This new release features over 100 new Python commands for accessing more project data assets for building much more interactive custom user interfaces. In addition, there are more than 30 new or updated scripts including: rolling shutter compensation export, interactive push points tool, project merging, convert to stereo, and full export to Adobes After Effects—and more.
• To review the fully detailed feature list for 3DEqualizer4 R2 please visit: http://www.3dequalizer.com/index.html?site=devblog

"The incredibly powerful and accurate way 3DE4 Release 2 handles animated lens distortion, stereo, anamorphic and zoom lenses combined with its ever improving robust calculation core make it Cinesite's matchmove application of choice,” said Michele Sciolette, Head of VFX Technology, Cinesite, UK. “Artists are able to concentrate on the task at hand without any distractions by virtue of the simple UI in 3DE4, while its Python interface allowed us to customize tools and integrate 3DE into our pipeline, resulting in improved efficiency levels. Support-wise Science.D.Visions have always been there for us, and it is reassuring being able to actually get feedback from the developers themselves when you have a question or request."

Science.D.Visions has been a pioneer of match moving software for over 15 years, with a customer list including: The Moving Picture Company(UK), Weta Digital(Wellington, NZ), Cinesite (London), Scanline VFX (Munich and LA), Sony Pictures Imageworks(LA), Double Negative (London), The Mill (London), Animal Logic (Sydney), Framestore/CFC (London), New Breed Studios, Rodeo FX, and Hybride (Montréal)—and many other studios that rely on 3DEqualizer to make cinematic magic.

Product, Pricing, and Upgrade Information
3DEqualizer4 R2 is available now in solid Beta on multiple operating platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. 3DEqualizer4 R2, and is expected to ship in 2013.
For purchase, upgrade, or educational licensing information, contact a direct sales manager for an individual consultation and pricing information at: http://www.3dequalizer.com/index.html?site=contact

PRESS: High-resolutions images for 3DEqualizer4 R2 are available to the media at: http://www.3dequalizer.com/index.html?site=download&id=090730_01
PhotoBucket Sharing site: http://photobucket.com/3DE4R2PressImages

Recent Films with 3DEqualizer4 Matchmoving work:
Total Recall    Men In Black III
Dredd     John Carter of Mars
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides    X-Men: First Class
Paranorman     Prometheus
The Amazing Spiderman    Mirror Mirror: Snow White
The Avengers         Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Battle Los Angeles    Inception
Battleship    Iron Man 2

About Science.D.Visions
Based in Dortmund, Germany, Science.D.Visions is an independent software company, developing technology primarily for the digital media industry. Its focus is to develop and market high-end computer graphics software combining years of production-tested knowledge in the areas of mathematics, physics and computer science. The research and development team at Science.D.Visions is equipped with a brain-trust to create unique, high-quality solutions that maintain essential advantages over all competing technologies on the market.
3D-Equalizer is used by numerous international post-production companies and studios around the world to generate today's most sophisticated special effects for commercials, games and feature films.
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© 2012 Science.D.Visions. All rights reserved. 3DEqualizer and Science.D.Visiosns are trademarks of Science.D.Visions. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice. Oscar is a trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Media Contacts:                             
Kevin G. Clark, (514) 754-0343, keving(at)kgkdpr(dot)com
Rolf Schneider, +49 231-1675-450 rolf(at)sci-d-vis(dot)com
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BETA Tester Quotes
3DEqualizer 4 R2 is currently in BETA, and is expected to ship in 2012

SCANLINE VFX, Los Angeles -        
"3DEqualizer features a robust and powerful tracking tool set that continues to be an irreplaceable asset in our effects integration here at ScanlineVFX," said James Sweeney - Integration Lead -    "The work flow is very flexible and the ability to tune many individual parameters at once enables the user to achieve fast and accurate solves. We have noticed that many speed and stability improvements have been made with regards to using geometry in Release R2b3. Also, the new line up control functions, hidden-line rendering methods and the ability to view an undistorted version of the current plate make constraining to high resolution tracking geometry more stable and interactive.
    James Sweeney, Integration Lead at Scanline VFX (Los Angeles, CA)
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Cinesite, UK                 
"The incredibly powerful and accurate way 3DE4 Release 2 handles animated lens distortion, stereo, anamorphic and zoom lenses combined with its ever improving robust calculation core make it Cinesite's matchmove application of choice. Artists are able to concentrate on the task at hand without any distractions by virtue of 3DE4's simple UI while its Python interface allowed us to customize tools and integrate 3DE into our pipeline resulting in improved efficiency levels. Support-wise,Science.D.Visions have always been there for us, and is reassuring being able to actually get feedback from the developers themselves when you have a question or request."
    Michele Sciolette, Head of VFX Technology,     Cinesite, UK

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Rising Sun Pictures, Australia     
“Working with the latest BETA features in 3DEqualizer4 Release 2 was like waking up on Christmas morning,” said Michael Karp, Tracking supervisor, Rising Sun Pictures. "One huge reason for our excitement is the major new features in the 3DE Lineup window dealing with LIDAR and survey geometry. Now, LIDAR in 3DE can be positioned by the artist with the new Lineup Point mode. Adjusting the distortion of the plate and LIDAR lineup is very real-time, intuitive, and WYSIWYG. Survey points can be easily nudged in Screen space with the new 3D Nudgecontrol panel. These new features are especially important for stereoscopic tracking, where precise use of LIDAR is often needed for a proper solve. So there are many wonderful features for tracking artists in the new 3DE4 Release 2 version, with more soon to come," added Karp.
    Michael Karp, Tracking supervisor, Rising Sun Pictures

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The Moving Picture Company –MPC–, UK     
“With many of the films and productions we work on each year, 3DEqualizer4 is always an invaluable tool for the many complex tracking and stereoscopic shots we have to complete in a very constrained amount of time,” said Jigesh Gajjar, Head of the Matchmove Dept., MPC. "This latest build—3DE Release 2—is proving to offer significant advancements that will help us better synchronize multiple camera shots for precise motion capture control data, with customized workflows and an extremely user-definable interface that will fit any working style. Powered with over 100 new Python scripting commands, 3DE4 Release 2 will allow us to leverage the industry’s best dynamic 'real-time' lens distortion systems to achieve accurate integration (even in stereoscopic) with increasingly complex and difficult zoom shots. Being able to view undistorted footage in real-time is a great advantage while doing line-up, and increases productivity on shots,” said Gajjar.
    Jigesh Gajjar, Head of the Matchmove Dept., MPC