Secret Weapons has released EbSynth V2, the next major version of their video stylization and retouching tool. The software, originally known for propagating painted or edited keyframes across entire shots, now comes with a redesigned workflow aimed at production use.

New in V2

The update introduces a real-time preview, allowing results to be checked instantly. A timeline interface makes navigation through footage more direct, while layer support and brush tools enable retouching inside the application. Artists no longer need to prepare all masks and edits externally before running synthesis — the process has become far more interactive.

Under the Hood

EbSynth still relies on example-based texture synthesis, not pretrained AI models. This means detail and motion fidelity are preserved without “hallucinations.” Keyframe edits remain the foundation: whatever is painted or altered in a keyframe is transferred to the surrounding sequence, guided by optical flow and patch mapping.

Applications

V2 is designed for offline desktop workflows, supporting GPU acceleration on Nvidia, AMD, and Apple Silicon. This makes it suitable for stylization, digital makeup, cleanup, or color retouching in VFX and postproduction environments that demand privacy and control.

Comparison with Early Versions

When Digital Production reported on EbSynth in early 2024, the tool was still marked by a spartan UI, limited to functions like “Open, Save, Export” and batch-based processing. Iteration was slow, and feedback on synthesis errors often came too late. Problematic areas included motion blur, occlusion, and reflections — all of which required external correction.

With V2, the core algorithm remains unchanged, but the workflow has been upgraded: timeline, layers, preview, and brushes make it easier to spot issues early and correct them in-app. The challenges of difficult material persist, but users now spend less time fighting the interface and more time shaping results.

EbSynth – a tool for animations from videos by style transfer of reference images

The post EbSynth V2: Real-Time Preview, Timeline & Layers first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.