Previs Pro 3, the iPad-only storyboarding and previs app for filmmakers, has been released. The update introduces animatics, an AI-driven lighting system, and a free edition aimed at students and independent creators. The new animatics system lets users turn their storyboard frames into timed sequences, complete with sound effects and audio tracks. This makes it possible to test pacing and shot rhythm before production begins.

The addition of animatics also strengthens collaboration. Directors and editors can review not just static storyboards but moving sequences with timing and audio cues. That allows quicker iteration before camera equipment or crew are booked. The developer highlights that this feature is designed to export easily into editing suites for further refinement. Another key addition is “AI Light Grade.” The tool uses automated lighting analysis to adjust scene lighting within the app, designed to give quick previews of mood and exposure. The developer has not provided technical details on the underlying AI model.

AI Light Grade is integrated into the existing 3D environment system. It enables users to run quick test passes on scenes without manually adjusting every lighting parameter. While this promises speed gains, the company has not clarified whether the AI lighting is deterministic or adaptive, nor whether its results are intended only for previs visuals or can be matched to real-world set lighting. Not independently verified at press time.

Previs Pro 3 is also available in a new free edition. It includes a limited feature set, capped at 10 projects and 10 shots per project, but otherwise provides access to the main toolset. Paid versions remain available via subscription. The monthly price is $39.99, the yearly price is $179.99, and the lifetime price is $399.99.

The free edition is clearly targeted at students, hobbyists, or independent filmmakers who want to test the app without committing to a subscription. Its hard cap of 10 shots per project limits its usefulness for larger productions, where shot counts quickly run into the hundreds. The Pro tier removes these restrictions and adds unlimited projects, making it the only practical option for professional workflows.

Availability

Previs Pro runs exclusively on iPadOS. The app is distributed via the Apple App Store. No desktop or Android versions have been announced.

The rest of the toolset

Beyond the new features in version 3, Previs Pro’s core workflow remains unchanged. The app lets filmmakers build storyboards and previs sequences by combining 3D characters, props, and environments inside a touch-driven interface. It supports augmented reality (AR) location scouting, enabling users to preview shots on real-world sets using an iPad camera feed.

Previs Pro includes an asset library for characters, props, and vehicles, with pose controls and camera tools to define shot composition. Storyboards can be exported as images, PDFs, or video animatics for use in editing pipelines. For production planning, the app also provides tools to manage shot lists, camera metadata, and location data, making it possible to link previsualisation directly with scheduling and on-set reference.

As always, new tools should be tested carefully before relying on them in active productions.

The post Animatics, AI Lighting, and a Free Tier: Previs Pro 3 Expands Storyboarding on iPad first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

We had a close look at the public beta, which should be close to general release.

Instruments and Features

CineMon is offering all the features you’d expect from a full featured monitor, like Grids, Center Mark, Safe Areas, Framing/Blanking, Flip/Flop/Rotate, anamorphic De-squeeze, Focus Peaking, and Zebras. All of these are highly configurable, e. g. separate Zebras can be freely adjusted for a lower and upper limit in different colors. De-Squeeze has not only all the usual ratios, but is also freely adjustable with a slider.

False Color allows the choice of a few versions from high-end cameras, but you can also define your own with unlimited flexibility. These can be saved in the program or exported, to be used by others with the same software. The same applies to complete presets for your own needs in CineMon, both of such settings are saved and read as .json files. Individual presets are indispensable in the light of such impressive flexibility of the toolset.

Dual Spot Meter

A unique feature is the dual spot meter in photometric EV values. This tool allows you to check middle grey at 0 EV or measure the contrast ratio of specific zones by placing a second spot. It works with gamma 2.4 (for Rec. 709) or with log profiles, which are pretty much complete for all manufacturers, from Arri to Sony. They are integrated and can be chosen directly in the software, while LUTs have to be imported first.

Another photometric tool based on log video input is an exposure slider. If you expose to the right (ETTR) to reduce noise, you can use this to see how your footage will look like when corrected in post. This is particularly useful with some hybrid cameras, like older Sonys, which force you into overexposure when shooting log (SLog2 in particular).

These image adjustments will also simulate changes to contrast or saturation. Of course you can also use LUTs. They should come as .cube files with 33 point lattices, and they can be used as input LUTs or as display LUTs. On the iPad, you can compare looks by swiping between your presets.

The built-in organizer allows renaming or rearranging presets in the list, which also applies to LUTs or false color versions. If a setting has been changed from the saved status, it’ll show in orange. The context menu will give you the option to revert, to save the new status or duplicate under a new name.

If needed for a busy scene with much detail, focus peaking can show edges only. Framing is optionally shown with dimmed look-around blanking areas. Overlaying a freeze from a live source or a loaded still supports precise placement of the camera or objects.

Or you choose a reference frame to match exposure, contrast, color, etc. with the camera settings for the current scene. The CineMon video scopes will process the mixed frame in this case. The difference mode, with a user-defined contrasting color, will immediately show if something has changed in a scene. This will help to spot a missing or misplaced object immediately.

Color Key Preview

Color key preview is not a full quality chroma keyer, but a real-time preview over a checkerboard or background still you have read in. It helps in spotting uneven lighting of the background color or adapting the foreground lighting to the planned environment. It’s even good enough to show problem areas to wardrobe or make-up artists. You can find a video showing all the tools here: cinemon.app

As you may have expected, CineMon has professional scopes, which can be placed and arranged freely, even with adjustable transparency as an overly to the live feed. They adapt to vertical video, but can also be switched to be shown fullscreen. You’ll find a histogram, waveform, and vectorscope with all the usual features and options. If compared with the scopes in DaVinci Resolve with the help of a video read in, they also look very precise. But, obviously, this raises the big question:

How precise is the incoming signal?

If you are using a MacBook, precision interfaces are coming from Blackmagic or from AJA, and they work as expected. But those from Blackmagic need Thunderbolt and don’t work with an iPad, and those from AJA may cost as much as the iPad itself. So, next we’ll look at alternative solutions.

The post CineMon 1.0 (Beta) for iPad and Mac first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Uli Plank.

The release of the Blackmagic Camera App for Android brings professional digital film features and controls to Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones. This innovation provides Android users with tools previously only used in high-calibre film productions.

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Range of functions and use

The Blackmagic Camera app allows artists to adjust key camera settings such as frame rate, shutter angle, white balance and ISO with a single tap. The ability to record directly to the Blackmagic Cloud greatly simplifies collaboration on projects with DaVinci Resolve. The app supports video recording in industry-standard formats up to 8K, offering a high degree of flexibility for a wide range of production requirements.

Integration into the VFX pipeline

One of the outstanding features of the Blackmagic Camera App is its full integration with the Blackmagic Cloud and DaVinci Resolve. This integration enables seamless collaboration between different artists worldwide. Through the cloud features, artists can instantly upload and share their shots with other team members, speeding up the workflow. This is particularly useful for VFX projects where quick adjustments and feedback are required.

Technical features and controls

The app’s heads-up display (HUD) shows all important shooting parameters such as histogram, focus peaking, levels and image guides. The interactive controls allow users to adjust settings directly by tapping without having to navigate through complex menus. The app also offers advanced monitoring tools such as Zebra Settings and Focus Assist, which are specially tailored to the needs of VFX artists.

Media management and collaboration

Media management within the Blackmagic Camera app offers multiple options for organising and syncing footage. Users can save clips directly to their phone or upload them to the Blackmagic Cloud where they are automatically synchronised with projects. This functionality is particularly beneficial when multiple cameras are used in different locations and the media needs to be synchronised in real time. This greatly simplifies collaboration in post-production.

Communication and project management

Another useful feature of the Blackmagic Camera App is the integrated chat workspace. This allows team members to exchange information about recordings and give feedback quickly. Everyone involved in a project can see and reply to messages, which makes communication and coordination much easier.

Future prospects and recommendations

The Blackmagic Camera App for Android is a significant step forward for mobile video production, providing VFX artists with powerful tools right on their smartphone. However, as with all new technologies, any innovation should be independently reviewed before being used in ongoing projects. Every artist should try the app to see if it helps with their specific day-to-day tasks.

The post Blackmagic Camera App now also available for Android first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

The “Quad Maker” add-on is designed to optimise the retopology process in Blender. It offers functions that enable more efficient modelling. The main features are the automatic recognition and adaptation of topology patterns and the simplification of complex meshes. This promises to improve the way VFX artists, game designers and other users work.

The Quad Maker integrates seamlessly into Blender’s existing user interface and complements it with new tools for the creation of topology quads. Using the add-on saves time and effort by automating repetitive retopology tasks. Another feature is the option to analyse and improve existing topologies. This can be particularly useful for optimising existing models for animations or game engines by removing unnecessary polygons and making mesh structures more efficient.

The tool offers various presets that can be customised depending on the application. Users can define specific topology presets to maintain precise control over the final result. These presets are helpful when different requirements are placed on models, such as organic shapes or technical models. In addition, Quad Maker can be integrated into existing Python-based scripts, which increases the level of automation.

Another highlight is the add-on’s ability to retain the original shape of the model while adapting the topology. This ensures that the artistic expression of the original is retained in the retopology. The automatic recognition of edge loops and polygon areas helps to further reduce working time. The tool makes it possible to focus on the creative aspects of modelling instead of wasting time on technical details.

Before using Quad Maker in ongoing projects, each function should be thoroughly tested to ensure that it fulfils the requirements and does not cause any unexpected problems. The results of the add-on are based on algorithms and techniques that, although advertised as efficient by the developers, may not be optimised for every possible requirement.

Licence model and pricing

Quad Maker is available as a paid add-on. Licensing terms and pricing vary, with both single user and team licences available. Details on prices and licence models can be found on the manufacturer’s website.

More information about the Quad Maker add-on.

The post Blender add-on “Quad Maker” for more efficient retopology first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

The mobile video editing tool LumaFusion has introduced two interesting functions with its latest update 5.0: Speed Ramping and Improved Keyframing. Speed Ramping enables smooth adjustment of video speed within a clip, while enhanced keyframing offers more precise control over animations and effects.

Speed ramping is a technique that is widely used in video production and allows you to seamlessly integrate speed changes within a clip. This feature allows you to emphasise certain moments or create dramatic effects by dynamically adjusting the speed. LumaFusion now offers the ability to set speed control points directly in the timeline and smooth the transition between different speeds. This eliminates the need for third-party software and keeps the editing process entirely within one application.

Another key feature of the update is the improved keyframing. Keyframing is a fundamental technique for creating animations and controlling the movement or transformation of clips over time. With the new version of LumaFusion, artists can now set more precise keyframes and fine-tune their movements. This allows more precise control over the position, scale, rotation and transparency of clips. These improvements make complex animations and movements easier, which is particularly helpful when creating effects and transitions.

In addition to speed ramping and keyframing enhancements, LumaFusion now supports a wider range of file formats. In addition to common formats such as MP4 and MOV, ProRes files can now also be imported and edited. ProRes, a high-quality format known for its balance between image quality and file size, is primarily used in professional film production. This extended format support allows you to create projects in LumaFusion that were previously only realisable on desktop software.

In addition to these main functions, the update contains further improvements in the area of audio editing. New audio keyframing options and a more detailed waveform view give you more precise control over the soundtrack of your projects. These improvements are particularly useful when it comes to seamlessly synchronising audio effects and music with visual effects.

As with all software updates, it is recommended that you try out the new features in test projects first to ensure that they work reliably and meet the specific requirements of your workflow.

Pricing and licensing model

LumaFusion is available in the App Store as a **one-time purchase **. For a one-off fee of currently around 30 euros, you get access to all the basic functions of the app, including future updates such as the current one. There are no monthly subscription fees, which makes LumaFusion particularly attractive for artists and filmmakers looking for a cost-effective solution for mobile video editing. Additional in-app purchases, such as special effects and extensions, are also available and can further extend the app’s functionality.

Further details on the latest features can be found on the official LumaFusion website .

The post LumaFusion 5: New features for mobile video editing first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

The latest version of the Blackmagic Camera App for iOS, version 2.0, brings numerous new features and improvements designed specifically for artists and digital production professionals. Key new features include remote control functionality, support for multicam setups, advanced audio settings and new options for colour grading and LUTs.

Remote control and multicam support

With the update to version 2.0, the Blackmagic Camera App receives a remote control function. This makes it possible to control the camera settings remotely, which is particularly useful in complex production environments – live productions, documentaries / interviews and the like. Users can now operate their cameras directly from their iOS device via the app, which makes the workflow much easier and increases flexibility on set.

Another highlight is the support of multicam setups. This function allows multiple cameras to be connected and controlled simultaneously. This is particularly useful for live productions and situations where different angles need to be recorded simultaneously.

Advanced audio settings and new colour correction options

The update also brings improved audio settings. Users can now make detailed adjustments to audio levels and better manage different audio sources. This is a significant advantage for the quality of sound recordings and makes post-production easier.

There are also new features in the area of colour correction. The app now supports an extended range of LUTs (look-up tables) that can be integrated directly into the recordings. This enables more precise colour matching and better control over the final look of the shots.

Supported file formats and compatibility

The Blackmagic Camera App for iOS 2.0 supports various file formats that are commonly used in professional video production. These include ProRes, DNxHD and H.264.

Prices and licence models

The Blackmagic Camera app for iOS is available as a free download from the App Store. Additional functions and extensions can be unlocked via in-app purchases. The pricing is transparent and depends on the specific needs of the user. For the full range of functions, it is advisable to consider the paid extensions in order to fully utilise the potential of the app.

For more information and detailed documentation of the new features, we recommend visiting the official Blackmagic product page and the Blackmagic Camera App documentation.

So far we have no information as to when and if these features will be included in the Android version – but fingers crossed.

Blackmagic Design: Official product page Blackmagic Design: Support and documentation

The post Blackmagic Camera for iOS 2.0 first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

The release of the Blackmagic Camera App for Android brings professional digital film features and controls to Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones. This innovation provides Android users with tools that were previously only used in high-calibre film productions.

The Blackmagic Camera app allows artists to adjust key camera settings such as frame rate, shutter angle, white balance and ISO with a single tap. The ability to record directly to the Blackmagic Cloud greatly simplifies collaboration on projects with DaVinci Resolve. The app supports video recording in industry-standard formats up to 8K, offering a high degree of flexibility for a wide range of production requirements.

Integration into the VFX pipeline

One of the outstanding features of the Blackmagic Camera App is its full integration with the Blackmagic Cloud and DaVinci Resolve. This integration enables seamless collaboration between different artists worldwide. Through the cloud features, artists can instantly upload and share their shots with other team members, speeding up the workflow. This is particularly useful for VFX projects where quick adjustments and feedback are required.

Technical features and controls

The app’s heads-up display (HUD) shows all important shooting parameters such as histogram, focus peaking, levels and image guides. The interactive controls allow users to adjust settings directly by tapping without having to navigate through complex menus. The app also offers advanced monitoring tools such as Zebra Settings and Focus Assist, which are specially tailored to the needs of VFX artists.

Media management and collaboration

Media management within the Blackmagic Camera app offers multiple options for organising and syncing footage. Users can save clips directly to their phone or upload them to the Blackmagic Cloud where they are automatically synchronised with projects. This functionality is particularly beneficial when multiple cameras are used in different locations and the media needs to be synchronised in real time. This greatly simplifies collaboration in post-production.

Communication and project management

Another useful feature of the Blackmagic Camera App is the integrated chat workspace. This allows team members to exchange information about recordings and give feedback quickly. Everyone involved in a project can see and reply to messages, which makes communication and coordination much easier.

Future prospects and recommendations

The Blackmagic Camera App for Android is a significant step forward for mobile video production, providing VFX artists with powerful tools right on their smartphone. However, as with all new technologies, any innovation should be independently reviewed before being used in ongoing projects. Every artist should try the app to see if it helps with their specific day-to-day tasks.

The post Blackmagic Camera App now also available for Android first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

In nuce: 3D artist-slash-industrial designer Jorge del Valle has released his free UV Checker Map, which allows 3D models to be checked for texture distortion – and then downloaded in a resolution of up to 8K.

In toto: The checker maps are user-definable (for example in terms of grid size, colours and numbering). In addition, the text colour can be automatically adapted to the background via convenience functions – which should increase readability. Digital Production would like to thank Jim Thacker from cgchannel.com, who first pointed out Valle’s web app (which was already released in 2021).

Clicked further: The UV Checker Map Maker online app is available at uvchecker.byvalle.com . Jorge del Valle is a former employee of Weta Workshop; his creative work can be viewed via artstation.com On 24 July 2020 , Digital Production reported on the free UV Checker Maps by user Maurus Kamehameha.

Source: cgchannel.com (message from Jim Thacker)

The post Still a checker or already a checker map? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Berlin’s Tyrannosaurus Tristan Otto is a crowd-puller. But what can you do if a postcard, toy skull or dinosaur action figure is not enough of a souvenir? Simply scan in the original Tristan Otto? Software developer Polycam has released the latest version of its 3D scanning app Polycam – Polycam 3.0. The cloud behind the app: Polycam allows the latest iPhone and iPad Pro devices to be used as LIDAR scanners. In practical terms, this means that users can generate 3D scans of objects or environments (or Tyrannosauridae) in real time as they pass by – and via the handset.

In toto: The Polycam app allows entire rooms to be scanned. The free version exports scans in the gITF file format, while the paid version can also export files in the OBJ, FBX, Collada and STL file formats – as well as point cloud formats such as PLY, LAS and XYZ. Polycam is available for Android and Apple mobile devices – but can also be accessed via a web browser. The paid version is priced at USD 7.99 per month or USD 59.99 per year. The app was first published in 2020.

Below are some of the new features of Polycam 3.0.

• Cylindrical cropping of scan data
• A new rotate tool
• The camera looping option: This can be used to render moving image presentations of scans.
• Room mode can also be used to generate floor plans of interior spaces.

Click further: Polycam 3.0 can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store or Google Player . All further information is available at poly.cam. The article A dinosaur for the living room by Yannick Ramsel is worth reading and can be found on zeit.de.

Source: cgchannel.com ( report by Jim Thacker)

The post Scan T-Rex Tristan Otto and other dinosaurs with this mobile app? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: The two-headed company Sparseal has released the latest version of its retopology software CozyBlanket – version 2.0 of the software, as I reported on 80.lv on 7 November this year. CozyBlanket is an app for the iPad. According to the product description, the software is particularly suitable for preparing 3D models for animation, real-time rendering or surfacing.

Pricing: CozyBlanket is available in a free version; however, this has been reduced to include the save and export functions. These two functions can be activated with a one-off payment of 19.99 US dollars. A standard licence for CozyBlanket is priced at 89.99 US dollars.

In toto: CozyBlanket has been divided into three levels. Each level is assigned to a different task – namely: Retopology, Unwrapping and Baking. These three levels and their respective tasks are listed below – along with some of the newly added functions. For a full list of features, please refer to the CozyBlanket 2.0 announcement on sparseal.com .

• Retopology level: The viewport rendering has been revised in terms of contrast and readability. In addition, wireframe drawing is now GPU-accelerated and has been enhanced with new animations. In addition, the target mesh can now also be rendered with smooth shadings and vertex colours – imported from .obj vertex colours or from ZBrush-Polypaint. In addition, semi-transparent overlays and a shaded preview of the retopology mesh are now visible – which should increase the readability of models in development.
• Uwrapping: UV seams can be drawn, deleted and extended by drawing over the mesh edge. In addition, the UV stage now also supports the realignment of textures via multi-touch; users use the so-called tweak action for this. A texture that is intended for further processing can be adjusted with regard to wrapping – without further processing in the 2D UV view.
• Baking: Either tangential space normal maps or colour maps can be created from the imported target meshes. Furthermore, ZIP files with baked maps, the model and the MTL files can be exported – for example to other software. There is also the option of displaying imported target meshes and low-poly baked versions next to each other in the multi-viewport; the scene light remains mobile, which opens up further scope for design.
• Incidentally, one of the smaller new functions is an updated Python network programming interface. The advantage of this is that CozyBlanket can now be integrated into any digital content creation software, according to the developers.

Click further: More detailed information is available at sparseal.com . CozyBlanket can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store.

Source: 80.lv ( news from Gloria Levine)

The post New version of the retopology software CozyBlanket! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: The Blender Foundation has published a project proposal for Blender Apps. The apps are designed for specific tasks and are based on the main Blender software. The new .blendx file format has also been proposed. This information can be found in the blog post Blender Apps by Pablo Vazquez (Senior Lighting Artist at Blender) from 2 November this year. The special feature: The apps should be able to run independently; it is not necessary to install Blender itself in order to use the apps.

The proposed apps are intended to be suitable for product presentations, for example, but also for the education sector or for VFX production and video game development pipelines. According to the blog post, Blender 101, for example, is tailored for use in schools. The app for product presentations should, according to the plan, also be usable for those who are not familiar with Blender’s handling. For example, a customer would receive a single zip file containing an executable file. An image viewer is a conceivable example of the Pipeline area; according to the blog, this would bundle video sequencers, image editors and annotation tools, for example. According to the blog post, a version of this is already in use at the weekly Blender Studio meetings (see blog post Media Viewer by Blender Studio by Technical Director Paul Golter).

The proposed file format is called .blendx, and double-clicking on it should open Blender directly – provided the software is installed. More complicated apps, on the other hand, would be communicated as a compressed archive (including .blendx file and user-defined content such as additional scripts or assets).

Clicked further: The above-mentioned blog post by Pablo Vazquez provides all further information – including instructions on how to create the apps as a developer. The lead image above is from the comedic scary short film Sprite Fright (Digital Production reported on 28.12.2021).

Sources: docs.blender.org ( about application templates in Blender), cgchannel.com ( report by Jim Thacker), code.blender.org ( blog post by Pablo Vazquez)

The post Blender apps tailored to specialised areas? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Qlone, a cloud-based 3D scanning app, is released – aimed in particular at users interested in photogrammetry. The developer advertises the app’s ease of use. The scanned objects can be modelled using the app. Qlone is available for both Apple and Android mobile devices.

How does Qlone work? According to the developer, Qlone is relatively easy to use:

• Print out a free Qlone mat (on regular printer paper, which should be wrinkle-free though). The Qlone mats are available in different sizes – depending on the size of the object to be scanned, a correspondingly large Qlone mat must be printed
• Place the object in the centre of the Qlone mat
• Align the smartphone with the Qlone mat and object using the Qlone app. The app guides the user through the scanning process. The scanning process consists of completely circling the object once – always with the smartphone at the ready. Alternatively, the user can turn the Qlone mat (with the object on it) by hand. This also enables the desired object to be scanned all round using the app. Voilà! The scanning process is complete
• The developers recommend carrying out the scanning process in a well-lit room. The complete process is explained in the video below

Click on to find out more about Qlone at qlone.pro. Over the past few months, Digital Production has increasingly reported on paid and free photogrammetry software – including most recently 3Dflow (21/03/2022) and Kiri Engine (8/09/2022).

How to use Qlone?

5 Unique Features of the most User-Friendly 3D Scanning App!

The post A user-friendly 3D scanning app? first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: The Canadians from Kiri Innovation have released a free 3D scanning app for Apple and Android mobile devices. The software is called Kiri Engine and is aimed at users who are looking for a smartphone app that allows them to scan objects using photogrammetry. According to the developers, image noise is automatically removed from the 3D scans using machine learning. Once the user has photographed the desired object from various angles and distances, the generated 3D model is downloaded in either OBJ or FBX file format.

Free & paid: In addition to the free version, which has a limited range of functions, the app is also available for a fee. The free version is limited in terms of the 3D scans that can be exported weekly and the photos that can be taken per project. The paid version cancels these restrictions.

Click further for more information on the Kiri Engine app on the Kiri Innovation website. The following video demonstrates in fast-forward how the app turns a real-world action figure into a breakdancing robot in a sci-fi setting. On 21 March this year , Digital Production reported on the release of version 6.5 of the photogrammetry software 3DF Zephyr.

animate a robot figure using KIRI Engine app

The post Photogrammetry app for Apple & Android handsets released! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

In nuce: Filmic and Frame.io have joined forces. The result: The Filmic Pro Cinema camera app is now also available within Frame.io’s cloud services and is designed to fully support Frame.io’s workflow. This makes Filmic the first camera app to support Frame.io. Frame.io will also be supported for the Filmic Pro Cinemagorapher Kit, a purchasable additional content within the Filmic app. Filmic Pro Cinema is an app for the mobile operating systems iOS and Android and has therefore been released in the new version 6.19.0.

More about Frame.io: We reported on Frame.io back on 22 April 2022 , when the video collaboration platform was integrated into Adobe’s Creative Cloud – a logical development for all those who were informed about it on 23 August 2021 , when Adobe acquired the Camera-to-Cloud platform.

Availability: Filmic Pro is available on Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store for €14.99. The Filmic Pro Cinemagorapher Kit is available on top for 13.99 euros.

Click further: The video below provides information about the merger of Filmic and Frame.io, demonstrating how the handling works. The second video promotes the fusion of the app and the camera-to-cloud platform.

FiLMiC Pro Camera to Cloud Frame.io Integration | Advanced Preview

FiLMiC Pro | Announcing Frame.io Camera to Cloud (C2C) Support

The post Filmic camera app for Frame.io available! first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

A team called Akiya Research Institute VR Lab is providing insights into its motion capturing app, which should make it possible to achieve satisfactory body tracking with just two smartphone cams. The app will be available for 100 US dollars upon release or even free of charge during the limited trial phase.

It remains to be seen to what extent the app will be able to hold its own.

The post Body Tracking first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

Amphibian app

A cross between a mobile and desktop app: the Byplay tool. In the first step, you use the mobile app, record a video and let the app do the augmented reality tracking. In the second step, you upload the video & tracking material to the cloud – where your material is processed and saved.

The third and final step is done with the desktop app; it loads the processed video from the cloud and makes it available to you for further VFX-like processing. The result of your work can – but doesn’t have to – be cold weather fronts over small devices.

Further information

For a production presentation of Byblay, click on the video below. For everything else, take a look around Byplay (online).

Byplay Camera Houdini demo

The post Augmented Reality-App | Houdini & Blender first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.

To make sure you have everything you need on set despite tripping cables and the heat of the spotlight that doesn’t promote concentration, here are four helpers that won’t solve the problem, but will at least help to smooth out the stumbling blocks: a helper for the exact position of the big light source called the sun, previewing LUTs in the browser (and generating LUT conversions as long as you can look at the camera and don’t have to rely on other people’s notes) and the comprehensive collection of knowledge in your pocket when you no longer know what the others are talking about.

The Photographer’s Ephemeris

What does no one record accurately on set and causes problems in post? Exactly, the position and angle of the sun. If the lighting artist is being economical with this information, it’s worth finding out, and the environment people also appreciate precise data. The insider tip “Photographer’s Ephemeris” calculates this information and provides you with this data, even if “Fix it in post” is once again muttered disparagingly on set.

The function is simple: you enter the position for which you want the position of the sun, either by searching or as exact coordinates, and Ephemeris spits out the data you need.

The list of available data is remarkably long for a free, fast-loading web application: sunrise and sunset are given with precise angles and even the height above the ground is taken into account. In addition, the rising and setting of the moon and twilight times are all linked to Google Maps, which makes it easier to align with geographical features thanks to the zoom: a mountain in the background is sufficient as a reference for the camera direction. You can also jump into the past and future at will – as research when the shoot is already over, or in advance when the VFX supervisor is on the ball. What seems like magic is in principle nothing more than calculations that have been part of astronomers’ everyday work since the late Middle Ages.

The feature originated from the desire of photographers to take pictures during the “blue” or “golden” hour – i.e. the last hour of sunlight or the first hour after sunrise. The golden hour is so called because the light has relatively little energy in the blue range of the spectrum and casts long, comparatively soft shadows. In addition, hardly anyone is awake shortly after sunrise and you have the area to yourself in landscape photography – which of course also applies to film crews.

Price: free of charge
app.photoephemeris.com

Online LUTs Previewer

There are many free LUTs – a sentence we probably wouldn’t have said five years ago. Now they are only of limited use for grading, but one-click solutions are extremely helpful when communicating with directors, supervisors and producers. The online LUTs Previewer contains almost 100 LUTs that can be easily switched – and a demonstration of what works and how helps more than talking about “more green and a bit of umpf!”.

The web tool works as follows: You load a .jpeg or a .png into your browser – only into the cache, nothing is uploaded. This means that you can also use it offline if you wish. On the left-hand side, you can select the desired LUTs in four groups and click through. The groups are Log, Standard, GoPro and Utility, each with 20 to 30 LUTs. The images with the LUT applied can be saved as a variant so that you can easily pass on “colour scribbles”.

Price: free of charge
preview.iwltbap.com

DeLOG

Sometimes it would be really handy if you could generate your own conversion LUTs with just a few clicks: Go to a website, enter the camera, click on the set gamma and gamut and then – again with gamma and gamut – define the output and get a 3D LUT in .cube format with 33 x 33 x 33 matrix size for download. And while we’re at it, perhaps an AutoAdjust of the Dynamic Range?

Well, welcome to the IWLTBAP pony farm: that’s exactly what you get. The DeLOG knows the formats of all possible cameras as well as their respective gamma, gamuts and setting options. In Gamma (Sony, Arri, Panasonic, Canon, Red, GoPro, Panavision, Blackmagic, Nikon, Log, Display, HDR Display and Linear/µ) with the following ranges: S-Log 1-3, Log C (Sup 2.x ,3.x ,4.x), C-Log, Canon CLog2, Cineon, Panasonic V-Log, Panalog, REDLog Film, BMD Film, BMD Film4K, PRotune, DJI D-Log, ACEScc, ACESproxy10 & 20, Rec709 (800 %), Nikon (Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape), HybridLog Gamma, Dolby PQ, ITU Proposal (400 % and 800 %), BBC WHP283 (400 % and 800 %) and Linear/ µ. The following gamut options are available: Rec.709, Rec.2020, Sony SGamut3.cine, Alexa Wide Gamut, Canon Cinema Gamut, Canon CO IDT (Daylight & Tungsten), Panasonic V-Gamut, Dragoncolor 1 & 2, REDColor 1-4, Protune Native, Aces APO/cg AP1, DCI-P3, DCIP3D60, Adobe RGB & WideGamut RGB and a few more. DeLOG Film Tech App This should be enough for almost any combination of cameras. If you want to use it now, simply select your combination, click on “Generate” and you’re done. If you’re not sure, you can also load .jpg and .png as a preview and then get the “new image” as well as a waveform for precise control – all free of charge.

Price: free of charge
elog.iwltbap.com

Film Tech App

Who remembers the “HD Production Manual”? Almost everyone – and we’d wager that it’s still around on almost every set as a reference. Transfermedia, the makers of the manual, now have a new version as an app for Google Play and iOS. The structure of the information is similar: divided into the categories Basic, Format, Camera, Post, Deliver and Data, there are currently around 120 articles on all kinds of topics. There is also a search function and a glossary. There is an update every three months – the next one is due in August, but was not yet online at the time of going to press.

Why would you want to download a collection of facts onto your mobile phone with things that are rarely necessary due to the specialisation on set? Quite simply: the reference book ensures that you don’t look like a complete beginner more often than absolutely necessary, it is searched faster than obscure web encyclopaedias and offers reliable information instead of crowd-sourced opinions.

From the data requirements of television broadcasters, compression and codecs to software that not everyone knows: it all helps in everyday life, and anyone who has to work outside their comfort zone or jumps back and forth between many tasks will no longer want to be without this reference work. Texts, tables, videos and .pdfs Sometimes it would be really handy if you could generate your own conversion LUTs with just a few clicks: Go to a website, enter the camera, click on the set gamma and gamut and then – again with gamma and gamut in each case – define the output and get a 3D LUT in .cube format with 33 x 33 x 33 matrix size for download. And while we’re at it, perhaps an AutoAdjust of the Dynamic Range? Well, welcome to the IWLTBAP pony farm: that’s exactly what you get. The DeLOG knows the formats of all possible cameras as well as their respective gamma, gamuts and setting options. In Gamma (Sony, Arri, Panasonic, Canon, Red, GoPro, Panavision, Blackmagic, Nikon, Log, Display, HDR Display and Linear/µ) with the following ranges: S-Log 1-3, Log C (Sup 2.x ,3.x ,4.x), C-Log, Canon CLog2, Cineon, Panasonic V-Log, Panalog, REDLog Film, BMD Film, BMD Film4K, PRotune, DJI D-Log, ACEScc, ACESproxy10 & 20, Rec709 (800 %), Nikon (Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape), HybridLog Gamma, Dolby PQ, ITU Proposal (400 % and 800 %), BBC WHP283 (400 % and 800 %) and Linear/ µ. The following gamut options are available: Rec.709, Rec.2020, Sony SGamut3.cine, Alexa Wide Gamut, Canon Cinema Gamut, Canon CO IDT (Daylight & Tungsten), Panasonic V-Gamut, Dragoncolor 1 & 2, REDColor 1-4, Protune Native, Aces APO/cg AP1, DCI-P3, DCIP3D60, Adobe RGB & WideGamut RGB and a few more. DeLOG Film Tech App This should be enough for almost any combination of cameras. If you want to use it now, simply select your combination, click on “Generate” and you’re done. If you’re not sure, you can also load .jpg and .png as a preview and then get the “new image” as well as a waveform for precise control – all for free. Price: free i delog.iwltbap.com provides further information or supplements information with precise spec sheets.

For products, there are also links to the manufacturers – so it’s usually easier to get to the relevant support pages and you don’t have to make the big round through the rental shop until a question is answered. There are two variants: The Film Tech App (b2b) is a version for major customers(bit.ly/29whUV2), individual customers use the normal version(bit.ly/filmtechapp). The cost is a harmless 9 euros.

Price: 8.99 euros
iOS: apple.co/29GEQo2
Android: bit.ly/29whUV2

The post On-Set Tools first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Patrick Poti.