SynthEyes 2008 Camera Tracker Debuts in Time for NAB

New Version Smarter, Faster, and Easier to Work With

* Malvern, PA. March 31, 2008.

The SynthEyes 2008 release focuses on several key areas: smarter algorithms, path locking, smoother paths, a new graph editor, and user interface improvements. The 2008 release enhances SynthEyes's reputation for performance throughout, including multi-core optimization in both new and additional existing algorithms.

Smarter Algorithms. A collection of new algorithms correct specific situations that can cause a solve to fail or take longer. The result: more first-pass solves and reduced solving time.

Path Locking. The user can set up hard or soft locks on the camera position, orientation, and field of view on any number of frames. This helps handle challenging shots with missing tracking data and, in conjunction with new coordinate system algorithms, permits new kinds of coordinate system setups based on measurements of camera position, such as the height of a camera tripod or the length of a dolly track.

In a related capability, SynthEyes can now quickly solve shots mixing sections where the camera translates and rotates arbitrarily with sections where the camera only pans, tilts, and rolls (nodal, tripod).

Smoother Paths. A fine-tuning system can re-track automatic trackers using supervised tracking algorithms for smoother results on some shots. A tracker cleanup dialog helps quickly find problematic trackers and frames (after an initial solve) that can cause small bumps in the camera track. Both are optimized for multiple cores.

Graph Editor. An extensive new graph and track editor offers a wide range of features to examine and edit camera, tracker, image preprocessor, and stabilization data. A Squish mode display helps show the overall nature of a track at a glance.

User Interface. The user interface has been improved, with more flexible viewport configuration, simultaneously-open control panels, and new icon graphics. The camera and 3-D display codes have been re-written for greatly improved redraw performance on OS X. The display redraw improvements also benefit PC users when 3-D meshes with a large polygon count are being used for reference in object tracking. A safe-area display aids SynthEyes's use as a RAM player.

SynthEyes's image preprocessor also received attention. Selectable resampling filters offer crisper stabilized footage. A high-pass image filtering mode helps track shots with time-varying lighting such as explosions. And SynthEyes-generated roto-spline and green-screen keys can now be written to disk to facilitate compositing.

SynthEyes was used in this year's Oscar-winning The Golden Compass and There Will Be Blood, plus recent features such as National Treasure: Book of Secrets, 3:10 to Yuma, Live Free or Die Hard, Transformers, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, and television projects such as Battlestar Galactica, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Lost, and Pushing Daisies.

PC/Mac. SynthEyes runs on Windows XP and Vista, or under Mac OS X 10.4 or 10.5 on Intel Mac or G5/G4 PowerPC processors. A native 64-bit Windows XP/Vista Pro 64 version is also available at a $50 premium. SynthEyes exports to 25+ common animation and compositing packages.

SynthEyes 2008 is priced at $399 and is available now. SynthEyes 2007/2007½ customers can upgrade to 2008 for $99, SynthEyes 2004/2006/2006½ customers can upgrade for $149. Volume and educational-institution discounts are also available. Recent SynthEyes 2007½ purchasers will receive complementary or discounted upgrade offers via email; see the web site for details. 

SynthEyes 2008 will be demonstrated at Booth SL7406 at NAB, April 14-17 in Las Vegas.

The company website offers a free demonstration version at https://www.ssontech.com