INBOX IS TAKING THE GUESSWORK OUT OF THE BLUE - THE McFly HD POP PROMO December 2005 One of the technical advantages of the HD format, in an era when audiences and games-players are becoming increasingly greedy for special effects, is the ease with which they can be “bolted on”. You’ve shot your backgrounds, produced your animatics and 3-D graphics, and now you’re ready to shoot your live action- sequences. So how do you marry your images together accurately, and cost-effectively? One answer is provided by Inbox Solutions, headed by Steve Campbell, former head of R&D at Panavision. Among Inbox’s innovations is a one-box solution that produces a chromakey mix and even allows you to capture your moving backgrounds with live action to compose your final scene accurately. The portable 24V DC Inbox 1000W features InboxNetworks, a unique software package that goes beyond traditional HD and film play-back systems and provides single video stream capture to disc. It can also manipulate two video playback images in mix/wipe formats, including X/Y zoom with slow-motion playback. InboxNetworks can utilise one video stream as a traveling matte, while capturing a live feed, ideal for multi-layering effects. It can also import CGI images and convert them to a video format for mixing. A GPI trigger is included for use with motion-control cameras, together with four hours of continuous capture coupled with portable printing facilities for shot-lists, continuity notes and SFX set-ups. Not surprisingly, Inbox attracts the attention of major production houses Says Corin Hardy, Director of the latest McFly promo: “The whole video will have the appearance of a stop motion animated music video. To start with, I shot the background animated set elements on a standard 16mm Bolex. For the live shoot we used HD, mainly because of the time constraints, as we needed actors and band to go over their actions time and again, and to be able to see how they would fit in with the backgrounds. We could see this straight away. Then we built life-size props for the green screen shoot and Inbox enabled us to match the two perfectly”. Similarly results were achieved with the HD promo shoot for The Modern and Mainframe Productions. Commenting David Booth, Framestore’s Visual Effects Supervisor, on ‘Dinotopia’ said: “Dinotopia required exact frame matching on set between 3D rendered animations and the live action movement generated by the motion rig and motion control camera. This was achieved by using the Inbox1000 to sync frame accurately the live action to the imported 3D files." And he adds: “We were able to convert our 3D files to video and then use the Inbox1000’s onboard keyer / repositioner to align the two images to make sure the moves were going to work. The software also allowed us to apply offsets to all or individual layers, so we could apply a constant offset to our motion control camera moves. In all, I think the Inbox1000 and the InboxNetworks software showed it has the potential to work not only on basic shoots, but also on highly demanding frame critical shoots as well. “ The growth of such specialised post treatments, and the ease with which they can be applied to the High Definition format, means that audiences will continue to be catered for in the most sophisticated way. Inbox are actively considering making their software available under licence, to enable clients to develop their own hardware designs. INNOVATIVE INBOX TECHNOLOGY USED ON DINOTOPIA AND TOMB RAIDER August 2001 An all-new portable solution for professional digital film video assist playback, the Inbox1000 is now available for hire from an innovative new London based digital design company, Inbox Solutions Ltd. Inbox1000 is a PC based digital video solution that provides under the web designed software package InboxNetWorks all the necessary digital film video assist tools to facilitate a comprehensive production unit. With 2 hours continuous capture with backup this forms the basis of the company's pre-visualisation system ADPS.The Inbox1000 has already provided an important new and exciting facility in film and television production. It has been comprehensive used by the US production company Hallmark and Framestore on the production 'Dinotopia' based at Pinewood Studios and by Cinesite and Effects Associates for their Lost Souls motion control move for 'Tomb Raider'. Commenting David Booth, Framestore's Visual Effects Supervisor, on 'Dinotopia' said: "Dinotopia required exact frame matching on set between 3D rendered animations and the live action movement generated by the motion rig and motion control camera. This was achieved by using the Inbox1000 to sync frame accurately the live action to the imported 3D files." And he adds: "We were able to convert our 3D files to video and then use the Inbox1000's onboard keyer / repositioner to align the two images to make sure the moves were going to work. The software also allowed us to apply offsets to all or individual layers, so we could apply a constant offset to our motion control camera moves. In all, I think the Inbox1000 and the InboxNetworks software showed it has the potential to work not only on basic shoots, but also on highly demanding frame critical shoots as well." Similarly, Mike Talarico, Visual Effects Unit Director on 'Tomb Raider' had the following comment: "My experience of working with the Inbox technology during production on Tomb Raider was that it interfaced well with our 3D systems and motion control. Cinesite is currently working closely with Inbox on adapting their technology to work even more beneficially in our production environment and I look forward to working with them in the future." Traditionally, film video assist playback systems provide film production companies with a video view of the 'film camera eye' using a CCD camera mounted on the film camera's optic system. Many of these systems provide simple record and playback facilities. For the first time the Inbox1000 goes beyond traditional film playback systems and provides a one box solution for the simultaneous manipulation and playback of two video sources in different mix/wipe formats. Other functionality includes chromakey, X/Y zoom and slow motion film speed simulation. The in-house designed modular software package InboxNetworks is a comprehensive user interface providing a variety of new and exciting tools that will also allow the user to playback one video stream while capturing a live feed, especially useful for travelling matte type special effect applications or simulating multi layering effects To allow accurate synchronised playback with motion control cameras the InboxNetWorks recorder / player module incorporates GPI triggering. Therefore, with CGI imported images motion control camera moves can be checked with live action sequences. And by using the InboxNetWorks unique e-clip browser clip management is now fast and convenient. In film production and post-production Inbox1000's represents an ideal digital tool for providing a global solution to assist in production at all levels. InboxNetWorks's unique e-clip browser and e-clip manager makes this web based ADPS application flexible enough to accommodate integration into today's increasing use of networks and on-line services. Commenting on the future Steve Campbell, Company Director and founder, said, 'As demand grows for more flexibility in production facilities, we could certainly make available our software under licence, to allow client driven hardware designs.' Copyright© 2006 Inbox Solutions Ltd Last modified: April 7th, 2006 Inbox1000, Inbox1000W and InboxNetWorks are registered trade marks of Inbox Solutions Ltd ADPS - Advanced Digital Pre-visualisation System is a trade mark of Inbox Solutions Ltd