Pixel Power equipment

By Eugeny Zaytsev and Fyodor Samoylov

Review contents:

CGs yesterday, today and tomorrow Software and hardware tools for TV programs graphic branding Graphic tools of DMS module system The use of XDR2-GENSEC in the systems of regional air branding Akula VTM video compositing system. New model range — new features Profitt’s titling and air branding systems, clock and logo generators Overview of the systems based on extended version of Alpha Pro software X-CG character generator — good choice for titles creation TitleBox graphic manager Clock Station Leitch’s equipment for air branding Matrox InfonetTV Deko CGs from Pinnacle Systems Company Pixel Power equipment Stream Labs.’s video cards Videoprinter system for DSC video switchers Videonics titling machines

British Pixel Power Company was founded in 1987. The specialists of this company being concentrated heir efforts on development of high quality professional equipment and software applications for TV broadcast needs in short term could reach high technological level which resulted in worldwide acceptance of company’s CGs and some other devices.

Pixel Power is known due to its original innovative solutions which realized in very high quality level modern digital workstations.

Engineering and technical search experience has led to the development of Collage 2 professional system with broadcast quality. Series of this equipment has combined within single system a CG and computer graphics system. The station is constantly being upgraded by new hardware and software options due to which it not only doesn’t getting old but getting young not by days but by hours. There are very famous TV companies among Collage 2 series equipment users. It is enough to call just few names, for example BBC, Channel 4, Disney, FilmNet, Foxtel, Gastown, QVC, TF1, Valkieser.

What the Collage 2 is?

As it was told this is a system containing CG, storage devices for static images, and computer graphics system.

Of cause, there is software package developed which lets realizing huge number of unique operations of broadcast signals processing. Built-in RISC microprocessor made it possible to create a system with really open for upgrade architecture. It provides wide features and ability to use practically any PC an also allows working in networks and adapting to different software products. Collage 2 bundle contains also electronic graphic digitizer which allows creation of 2D and 3D animation objects and their combinations. Very useful is also new Ramcoder option extending RAM space.

Collage 2 CG supports all Latina font types and also wide range of other language fonts including Arabic, Chinese and Cyrillic. CG supports 500 Bitstream Postscript Type 1font types (factory preset — fonts are programmed onto internal hard disk), and also has a possibility of additional installation of any other Postscript Type 1 or TrueType font types. Any shape, size and style changes are being performed in real time.

Creation and processing of text file are identical to operation in standard text processor, for example in most popular Microsoft Word software and particularly to “cut”, “insert”, “offset” functions. Any manipulations with text performed from standard and familiar to any operator keyboard.

Sports programs branding using Collage 2

It is true also for tabulation of text fragments: shift left, shift right, centering, offsets settings and so on.

A page of any form and style can be filled by the operator or imported from another computer using Collage CG Remote Protocol. There are also specialized applications for particular use, for example for news, sports and information programs branding and etc.

Text files import can be done with use of second computer on which in Word processor the text preparation is performed. Prepared text than is being sent via network or being recorded to floppy disk for further move to text page on workstation for following editing, style change and so on.

Such approach gives a possibility of creating large text arrays of information which can be prepared in advance on other computers with no need in Collage system machine time as well as personnel working time.

Text can be applied by diverse effect, font’s shape can be change, foreground replaced, shadows and borders can be added. Among different effects there are for instance such ones as underline, edge, shadow, soft shadow, perspective shadow and many others. Background, border and perspective shadow can be separately painted in any color. Possible are effects of lighting by external source. The choice of transparency and texture is provided. One can choose from 26 font’s size and edges styles. Any picture can be used as logo on the page with text, and the style of a page, font type or size can be changed at any moment; and file with logo image is stored on a disk.

Using markers it is possible to insert animated effects into static text file, for example like zipper, or flash-like text appearance, or using fading in/out effect etc. The same markers define effects dynamic creating an impression that symbols roll, crawl or spin. Control of dynamic conversions speed, acceleration time intervals, slowing down and pause are available. The markers themselves are controlled either manually of through computer’s keyboard via GPI.

Any font type can be chosen for digital clock forming with counting current time in hours, minutes, seconds and tenths of second. Precision of clock is guaranteed by locking them to reference signal or by synchronization to internal timer, or by locking to external reference signal via RS-232.

Text Line and Text Spline functions allow creating text files of any sophistication level in real time including insertion curves into text. The text can be placed along these curves. One can force the text to fly or swim following defined path. Text fragments can be copied and than inserted into good place immediately. It is provided by the function of preview in the window related to insertion point.

What impresses that are 2D and 3D symbol representation with perspective, spin effects, dynamics of graphic shapes with the possibility of enlarging of reducing of edges sharpness. Color palette is being chosen from RGB, HIS or YUV chrominance signals.

Background color and style can be changed at any moment and immediately, and this operation can be performed for any image’s layer. These layers are being grouped in sequence needed creating appropriate queue of effects of their re-combination.

Control and monitoring of program execution correctness is laid onto Timeline Control function while Collage CG equipment can be integrated with VTR using standards 9-pin connector via Sony protocol; time code use is available. Titling is being performed by means of special EBU standard files recorded to PC’s disk.

Collage 2 bundle contains also Stills store library which includes for example templates of screen design as polyphoto samples, templates of page transforming and page-to-page transitions as well as editing function for A/B cut type page sequences creation.

Static files and different masks can be created combining them with asynchronous sources of “live” video. There is useful function allowing remove interline flickering of interlaced scanning.

Files import and export means the ability of exchange with video database on the internal disk of via computer networks. Most standard popular formats like TIFF, TGA, CGM, Photo CD are supported as well as many others widely used in broadcast industry.

Data storage in macro format is possible. The macro language contains all readable ASCII commands available in accordance with Collage 2 control protocol.

For creation the file library and keeping it in order the standard “copy”, “rename”, “delete”, “record protect” etc. commands are used. Intensive search program includes 64 positions of file types.

Collage 2 workstation is equipped with standard computer SCSI letting connection of different peripheries including disk drives, scanners and other devices. There is a function of quick review of all images created within Collage 2.

Among additional functions one should note for example working with Freehand Painting software application. This function offers lot of possibilities such as drawing, painting and creating different art pictures with reach color palette. Very useful functions are Mattes, Enhanced-shapes, Cut and Paste, artificial but naturally looking perspective, Ramcorder (in standard configuration) for storing up to 67 frames and ability to playback them in real time with variable speed.

Cell animation is also interesting function. It allows creating of numbers pictures for creation sequences of animated files and effects and installing them onto text page.

Inage processing is simplified and accelerated by Process function. It give a possibility to create for instance mosaic images, insertions of different filters allowing unique special effects creation and also it lets realizing color correction of RGB and YUV chrominance signals. As it was said above Collage 2 can be connected to VTRs. Grid function lets pu the grid to the page making it easier fine positioning of separate picture’s elements.

In 3D animation mode Render function is very useful. It features ability of preview of different parts of image during rendering and at the final stage high quality animated image is provided which can be than recorded to disk, VTR or stored in Ramcorder etc.

One of the most impressing functions of Collage 2 definitely is Edit which provides non-linear editing of a picture along with effects and animations with no compression and in 4:2:2 representation (Rec. ITU 601). 2D and 3D animation, real time editing, rendering, wipes and multi-channel special effects are available.

Basic configuration of Collage 2 (without NLE option has following specification:

• 525/60 or 625/50 standards support with 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio;
• Input signals: full black burst signal 1…4 V, RGBK /YUVK chrominance signals 0.7 V on the 75 Ohm load with built-in termination;
• Integrated GPI/GPO user interface;
• Output signals: RGBK/YUVK 0.7 V on the 75 Ohm load with choice of G/Y and K synch signals;
• 320 MB memory with ability of upgrade up to 1 GB;
• LVD SCSI disk drive with 18 GB hard disk (36 GB and 72 GB optional);
• PC-compliant floppy disk drive 1.44 MB;
• ZIP 250 MB drive;
• Two RS-232 ports for connection of digitizer, remote control unit, ball control unit, 3D manipulator/mouse; PS2 port for keyboard; 9-pin Sony RS-422 ports for connection of three VTRs; standard 68-pin SCSI interface; 100Base TX Ethernet port; two USB ports for peripheries.

Collage 2 depending on customer’s desire is being produced in two versions both for analog signals and digital 4:2:2:4 signals.

In case of using NLE option without image signals compression two channels of AES/EBU stereo audio with 24-bit quantization for both input and output as well as stereo monitors (analog or digital), stereo phone heads, 320 MB RAM, 18 GB hard disk (36 or 72 GB optional) are included. Moreover interface ports set is extended with 44-pin wideband port for ED Mediapack memory device connection plus floppy disk for EDL import/export and connector for LTC input/output.

In any system configurations there are software and editing outputs and 258 color grades with anti-aliasing feature plus the system has 4:4:4:4 architecture with built-in 4:4:4:4 alpha-channel.

Collage 2 series CGs are produced in several configurations. Depending on features set they are called Collage 2 TG; CG and GX. Ethernet 10/100 Mbit/s feature is already used.

Collage Edit combines features of CG, video storage sub-system (72 minutes of uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2 video, and 12 hours of 24-bit digital audio), and graphics station.

Graphite CG air branding system Stream Alpha SDI

Graphite CG includes CG, storage for 36 minutes of 8-bit uncompressed 4:2:2 video, and a still store. Using Mediapack 72 or 144 option it is possible to store respectively 72 or 144 minutes of uncompressed 4:2:2 video and 12 or 24 hours of 24-bit digital audio.

Another product of Pixel Power developers is Clarity 2 SD CG character generator which is for today one of the best for using both for production and air branding.

This powerful tool was developed especially for broadcast industry and fully compliant with its dedication due to high reliability and quality of signal. Clarity 2 SD CG provides 2-channel working mode which gives additional possibilities in its exploitation. The software is based on standard Windows 2000 Professional platform which sufficiently simplifies assimilation of working on the station and its further use. Additional functional features are provided by built-in storage sub-system. There is a possibility of most popular format images import. Ultra 160 SCSI 36 GB discs, dual USB ports and two RS-232 ports provide reliable work of a station in a network. Built-in ZIP drive with 250 MB volume, and DSK output channel, and reader of time code, titles and clock convert Clarity 2 CG into really irreplaceable device for professional broadcasting. Additionally it is necessary to say that the standard CG bundle contains Cyrillic fonts set and appropriate keyboard.

Software product for Collette NLE stations provides high quality graphics creation and preparation of character information used in broadcast programs editing. The pages are being constructed from graphics objects stored in the library. The library gives a choice of appropriate font types (including 3D ones), different shadows, textures styles, logos etc.

Collette can be used both as a separate software product and as plug-in for different NLE stations. For example Collette is totally compliant with Avid Unity, Media Composer, Symphony, XpressDV systems and it provides support for ODBC and DCOM interfaces which allows import of information streams fro standard databases, Internet pages and so on.

Collette software can be used for creation of totally branded page sequences using standard PC working on Windows platform for further insertion of these sequences into the TV program processed on NLE station, or store them as the image sequences and than import as standard TIFF, BMP, TGA, PICT, SGI, JPEG, AVI, QuickTime or OMF files and overlay tem via alpha-channel during program broadcast.

The resolution of static or animated graphics being created can reach 4K of square pixels which conforms to even cinema quality.

As a conclusion one may say that Pixel Power CGs already gained their implementation in Russian TV companies. For instance recently All-Russian TV and Radio Company (VGTRK) have purchased Collage 2GX and Clarity 2 systems.

Material provided by Sancom-Pro Company and I.S.P.A.-Engineering Company