Ahead of NAB, Assimilate is already showing off: Scratch is now available on more operating systems (including Android) and gets its own hologram panel. In addition there are LDR support, 2-bit display, Instagram filters, Kinect compositing and much more.
Archive notice: This article was originally published on April 1, 2016. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Even before NAB, Assimilate begins presenting the latest version of its grading/compositing/Finsihing software Scratch. Above all, the new systems as well as its own panel and the adaptation to unspoken industry standards with LDR grading are the most interesting things at NAB 2016.
Gesture-Based Grading Panel from Assimilate
In addition to the already familiar support for all relevant panels, Assimiliate is now also releasing a panel of its own. Instead of only illuminated buttons, the first version of the Scratchpad (provisional name) will be equipped with hologram buttons that, as a continuation of the LED pushbutton, cann show 3D graphics. This makes grading Stereo3D content even more intuitive.
Rotary encoders are captured by Mocap camera and thus on the one hand cannot wear out (No moving parts), and on the other can also be individually adapted to hand size, posture as well as personnal and cultural preferences. There is no information on the price yet; a first model will be on display at NAB. (We will supply images next week – Editor’s note)
Kinect Compositing
Scratch’s compositing features now also work with Microsoft Kinect – this allows every element to be arranged in space using gesture control, and relighting and DOF are adjusted via body posture. S. Urkel, Head of Development, continues: “A problem for colourists is that posture at the panel can be harmful to health in the long run – that is why we at Assimilate, with the new Kinect interface, are the only software provider for fit, mobile graders!”
Instagrading
Since many graders always use only three different looks anyway, Assimilate now offers the “Instagram filters” known From the web photo-sharing app, which, in cooperation with the LUTs from the set, enables child’s-play grading – and thus also makes errors by the hired intern impossible.
Support for LDR
Unique in the colourist world is the support for LDR grading, which, in view of current developments in the broadcast sector, “is practically already the broadcasting standard”, according to Urkle. Saving useless dynamic stages saves connection bandwidth and prevents compression artefacts, particularly with H264 and WebM videos. A Low-Dynamic-Range Legalizer, automated LUTs as well as practical converter nodes are available to every user in the version appearing at NAB.
2-Bit Mode
To fully exploit in particular the contrast range of the monitors in the grading suite, Scratch also provides an alternative interface with matching codec – in the 2:0:0 colour space, all videos are reduced to the essentials.
Chrome & Company
“By choosing ChromeOS, we ensure that the users of tomorrow can fully exploit the power of Scratch. By connecting to mobile operating systems, we open the door to new forms of creative work!”, says Product Manager S. Urkel. Furthermore, the new features are adapted to the needs of users – thus also creating room for creative ideas in modern pipelines.
At NAB, grading-capable Chromebooks with Scratch are to be on display at the Assimilate stand, as well as demo models of further Scratch ports. eS, BSD, Be/OS and Plan9 are to be made available to users during the second quarter, with the aim of unleashing their full force in network environments as well – Scratch Web establishes the connection between the systems. Assimilate says that this selection of operating systems are the result of long-term market research – the systems with the best chances of still being relevant in 15 years.
Scratch VR
A whole slew of new VR headsets has been added, from the updated Gear and Oculus Rift versions to the freshly released Google Cardboard Plastic, in whose development Assimilate was involved early on and thus supports the device from release.
Scratch Full – On Mobile
Another supported operating system for the full version of Scratch will be Android (From version 6.1). According to Assimilate, graders and finishers will thus have access to all features while on the move, provided You own a hardware-calibratable mobile phone (List of available models).
Scratch OS
When asked, Assimilate told us that in the medium term Scratch is to become the operating system – with an integrated browser, mail client, the usual pipeline tools and an app store in which, e.g.: trial versions of competing produckts as well as 3D tools and games can be found. “The professionals are in the software all day anyway – so why not make the software the system?”, S. Urkle continues.
You can see the first screenshots of Scratch here: New in Scratch.
