Serious Magic’s Ultra Key Unveiled
April 07, 2003
Las Vegas,NV - Serious Magic has announced Ultra Key, a standalone PC software tool that makes high-quality chroma keying and sophisticated virtual sets dramatically easier and more practical for both studio and in-the-field video productions.
Serious Magic also announced RealNetworks’ RealVideo 9 as the default video format for its entire Visual Communicator product line. In addition, RealNetworks will also resell Visual Communicator into its corporate, education, government, media and entertainment markets. Visual Communicator with RealVideo 9 is expected to be widely available in the 2nd quarter.
Ultra Key produces extremely realistic composites from less-than-ideal keying environments as well as high-end virtual set effects that were previously only possible from specialized hardware systems costing thousands of dollars.
Ultra Key makes these capabilities possible through several technological advances, including 4-Space Vector Keying that was specifically developed to compensate for deficient keying conditions, such as uneven lighting, wrinkled backgrounds and frizzy hair. Ultra Key also introduces a ground-breaking virtual set capability called VirtualTrak, which simulates traditional motion tracking with virtual camera moves and inserts accurate video reflections into virtual scenes. Additionally, the software includes a library of pre-rendered virtual sets with animations and multiple angles for wide, tight, medium and alternate views.
Ultra Key is designed for standard PCs running Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Standard graphics or video clips can be used for the background and a foreground layer with an alpha channel can also be added to the composite. Output files can be saved as an uncompressed AVI, DV or 32-bit AVIs with alpha channel.
Ultra Key will be available during the 2nd quarter of 2003 for $795.
For more information, visit
www.seriousmagic.com
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