Wave Issue 0200 1/4/02 Article 1-02

***Synthetik Software Announces and Ships Version 2.0 of Studio
Artist
(January 4)

Synthetik Software has announced the release of its software
Studio Artist, a graphics synthesizer. Studio Artist version 2.0
comes optimized for classic Macintosh OS 8 and 9 as well as the
OS X v10.1 and includes 8 hours of Quicktime video tutorials and
instructional guides. Features include an expanded Paint
Synthesizer as well as keyframable Layer capabilities and
additional video processing and animation support.

Developed by Synthetik Software, Studio Artist is a commercial
program for computer artists that incorporates research results
from cognitive neuroscience investigations into the nature of
visual perception in the brain. The program uses human visual
modeling to construct an internal representation from a source
image that is used to direct smart assisted painting and drawing.
This includes both still images as well as auto-rotoscoped video
sequences.

Studio Artist combines dynamic user-configurable painting and
drawing tools along with an image processing and video effects
suite. A hybrid imaging model allows individual paint strokes to
have the visual richness of raster paint with the editability of
vector paths. Dynamic expressive paint tools or custom art
processes can be constructed and applied to still images or
motion sequences. Users can either paint and draw manually or
direct Studio Artist's automatic Intelligent-Assisted painting
actions.

The software comes with over 2000 factory presets. Each Paint
Preset consists of over 300 fully editable parameters that can be
individually adjusted to control the look and feel of the paint.
These synthesizer parameters can also be interactively modulated
while painting.

Version 2.0 also includes image processing effects with Preset
access. These include operations such as cartoon simplify,
adaptive filtering, gradient modulation effects, color
transformational mapping, white balance, and matte keying. IP
Layer routing capabilities include any of the existing canvas
layers as well as the source or current region selection,
expanding the range of potential image processing and video
effects as well as selection or alpha matte generation options.

Studio Artist 2.0 offers enhancements for generating time-based
visual effects. Individual layers offer alpha support and can be
individually positioned within the overall canvas. Layer
keyframing includes Bezier paths, position, movie or image
background content or source assignment for auto rotoscoping and
compositing of multiple video streams. Support is provided for
all Quicktime compression formats. Movie stream output can track
the overall canvas or individual layers as they move within the
canvas.

Studio Artist's suggested retail price is $379, and is available
starting January 8th. Registered Studio Artist users can upgrade
to version 2.0 for $179.

www.synthetik.com