Press Release

Pixel Power Inc (www.pixelpower.com), announced its Clarity character generator family offers real-time 3D capability, which means users can now real-time map CG content onto the surfaces of objects built into pre-rendered animations. This combines the ease of use of an on-air CG with the sophistication of a 3D animation program.
The new real-time 3D capability is currently available as an option on most Clarity systems. 3D objects and animation sequences are prepared offline using industry standard software such as Maya, 3DS Max, and Lightwave. Models can contain any level of surface complexity, including transparency, and the final animations are exported to Clarity as RPF image sequences.
Most Clarity objects, including animated text, cell animations, images and clocks, can be added to the surfaces of the 3D animation by using the Clarity Surface Picker. Alternatively, Clarity can "search" and display the best view of a surface allowing users to drag and drop graphic layers directly onto the surface. Graphic layers can be scaled, rotated and positioned within the surface with dynamic, real-time display. The 3D animations then play out in real time with live mapping of dynamic content onto the 3D object surfaces.
Since the 3D objects are pre-rendered, this is no limit to the 3D complexity of the scene. The long form 3D process remains an offline process. The presentation of the CG pages is no more complex than recalling a normal page, which means control room or master control staff do not need to know anything about the 3D material. All existing Clarity automation interfaces can be used to drive data into the pages, even with 3D animations.
Applications include 3D scoreboards, elections, dynamic map displays, interactive television, channel branding, and any graphics display that requires the additional impact of real time 3D animation.
James Gilbert, President of Pixel Power Inc, states, "The new capability allows dynamic 3D content to be incorporated within a graphic look without the overhead of dedicated staff, the cost and complexity of a traditional dedicated 3D graphics device."