HD graphics
Aug 1, 2006 12:00 PM, BY NIR GOSHEN
The human factor
Good graphics design tools can simplify the process of converting SD graphic layouts to HD. And, this eliminates the need to recreate the HD graphics from scratch. However, someone still needs to inject the artistic sense and sensibility that will make graphics look good in 16:9. The artist will pick elements and adjust their size, position and aspect ratio to make the graphics look better. Easy-to-use graphic design tools that can arrange elements in nested groups and allow the graphics artist to operate on both individual elements and groups of elements can greatly simplify this process.
The front end
Another important aspect must be considered: the database and front-end CG airing tools. When shooting to air two or more sets of graphics, two or more sets of files (scenes or pages) are called simultaneously. When a designer fixes something in the HD page, he must be able to track and determine whether these fixes need to automatically take place in the SD page. This means that a single CG front end needs to be configured to work with multiple databases simultaneously.
New channels
Once you've got all these issues in mind and have identified a solution, you're not done. Broadcasters are learning that they have a tremendous opportunity to serve other channels. Those new channels could be 3G broadcasts, podcasts, webcasts and VOD on the Web.
Each of these platforms has unique graphic and image needs. Many of today's graphics platform manufacturers are working now to develop these solutions. While that shouldn't drive today's HD graphics purchase decisions, a unified graphics platform serving all these new channels may be a good solution down the road.
Nir Goshen is the creative director at Vizrt.
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