You are here: Home Page » Automation » Animation to automation

Animation to automation

Dec 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Adam Martinez

Employing a master/slave template process greatly improves automation within the NRCS while minimizing repetitive tasks.

With the addition of the multiple graphics palettes, the workflow process needs to be reorganized to maximize production and playout. In order to create the most flexible graphics processes, graphics should be programmed with specific broadcast logic. Consider these factors in development and integration:

A rundown with graphic elements needs to dynamically choose the correct color palette based on specific time periods.
Directors need complete control over rundown graphics for last-minute updates or live or on-scene events.
Directors need overrides to change or hot/swap day part palettes with no producer interaction.
Producers need to float rundowns into different day parts without changes.
Producers need minimal amount of work to change all graphics within a rundown to another specific show or day part.
Automation should be maximized where applicable.

Using the same scenario from Figure 1, implement a master template that producers will first fill out with all the variables that will be assigned to each preceding slave page that is created with XNews for the specific rundown scenario. (See Figure 2.)

The master template allows all the variables for the preceding template to be stored. All other templates contain variables and elements associated with that specific template. The global variables stored in the master template, upon execution, will replace all page variables preceding this master template, until another master template occurs.

Playout

Figure 2. Example of a master template and preceding slave pages
Select figure to enlarge.

In the control room, a master panel resides at all times within the playout devices. Within this panel, the global variables of the master template are passed. The panel stores these variables, and each preceding page from the rundown will access these master variables. This panel also constitutes the bulk of the broadcast automation logic. The logistics implemented within the panel for optimized automation and various scenarios include:

Dynamic or automated template and graphic palette selections based on predefined show production times. This ensures the proper graphics palette gets assigned to specific shows at specific times with no user interaction.• Director override for master template variables for day parts, which enables directors to rerecord and override the master template variables with selected day part graphics palette.
Director-driven events such as live and on-scene. This enables directors to rerecord and override the master template variables without producer page interaction.
Breaking news and specific show override, which allows all graphics in any rundown to be assigned breaking news or other graphic show color palette.

Optimized workflow

Utilizing the master/slave template process greatly improves the automated process within the NRCS while minimizing repetitive tasks. Through this process:

Producers can focus on content rather than repetitive template options for each.
Producers can quickly update entire rundowns on the fly from master templates.
Master templates can be copied to other existing rundowns.
Directors can override rundowns' master templates before execution.
Directors can change events based on recording live, on-scene and other scenarios.
Automated graphic palette selection is based on time periods and specific show times.

The four main important factors in dealing with graphics in the NRCS are understanding the complete workflow process, automating repetitive tasks, developing dynamic logistics and leaving room for growth.

Adam Martinez is creative director/owner of Southwest Digital and art director at Central Florida News 13.