Artisan PictureWorks Upgrades Artisan PictureWorks Upgrades Artisan PictureWorks, Inc. recently upgraded their Symphony to version 3.0. The new version contains a secondary color corrector, which works in conjunction with the previous version’s primary color corrector resulting in more flexibility. While the primary color corrector provides depth and precision, the secondary option allows users to isolate one or more colors within a scene and the ability to change those selected colors without altering the overall shot. The functions are all in real time.

In addition to advanced color correcting capabilities, Symphony 3.0 provides motion tracking and stabilization. The former allows editors to track the motion of an object within a scene and stick something else to it, for example, replacing a logo or banner on a moving bus. The stabilization feature can steady hand held shots and eliminate “gate weave” in film footage. Artisan used this technique on a recent project for Aprilia Motorcycles.

The Symphony now has Ultimatte keying in place of chroma key and renders faster than the RGB key. Senior Editor, Jessica Teal used the function on a video for BellSouth in which the on-camera talent was shot on green screen. “We were able to key the subject, clean up the green spill on his face and clothing, color correct him and change his position on the screen all within one effect, and render much more quickly than would have been possible with the previous release.”