marcop
03-26-2010, 03:21 PM
Features
Power Matte
Power Matte is an easy to use interactive image matting tool capable of extracting almost any object in an image--even if you are dealing with fine hair detail, smoke, or reflections. This extraction process creates what is known as a matte--essentially a black and white cutout. White matte areas are extracted, black areas not, and gray areas in between represent a level of transparency. Once a matte is extracted, the foreground object can be seamlessly composed onto a new background.
To work this magic, Power Matte iteratively estimates the transparency value for every pixel in the image, based on a small sample of foreground (what you want to cut out) and background (what you want to get rid of) pixels marked by defining simple masks on the image. Results show that compared with previous approaches, our method is more efficient and requires minimal effort to extract high quality mattes for foregrounds with significant semi-transparent regions. In addition, the foreground edge colors can be estimated in the semi-transparent areas to create a seamless composite.
Planar Tracker
The Planar Tracker has been re-written. It is simpler, more accurate and handles partial occlusions automatically.
Macintosh 64 Bit
The Macintosh version is now 64 Bit only and will run under Mac OSX 10.5.x and OSX 10.6.x.
Command Line
Silhouette can now execute projects with various options via the command line.
Scripting and Actions
Customization of Silhouette can now be accomplished via scripting as much of the Silhouette object model is exposed to the Python scripting language. The following scripts are now available in the Silhouette > Actions menu: Render Active Node, Render Layers to Separate Files, Render Shapes to Channels, and Render Shapes to Separate Files.
For information on how to create custom scripts that show up in the Silhouette > Actions menu, see the new Silhouette 3.5 Scripting Guide for more information.
Shape > Channel
Channel is a new shape parameter that sets the channel to render the shape to when using Actions > Render Shapes to Channels.
Open Shapes
Open shapes are now supported and are useful for rotoscoping strands of hair or fine details. To create an open shape, press the Esc key or switch to a different tool when drawing the shape. The open shape’s thickness is then set in the Object window using the Stroke Width parameter.
Note: Open shapes can only be exported using the Silhouette shape format.
Shape > Stroke Width
Stroke Width is a new shape parameter which sets the thickness of an open shape. When used on a closed shape, an outline is created.
Notes
There is a new Notes window that can be moved around and docked like other views. You can type an arbitrary-length note for each selected object - currently only shapes, trackers, and layers are supported. If you hover over the Notes icon in the Object List, the note (if there is one) will be displayed as a tool tip.
Global Blur
An Alpha > Blur parameter has been added to the Output node that blurs the final Alpha channel.
Show Shape Name Preference
In Shape preferences, Show Shape Name has been added to display the shape name in the center of the shape.
Paint > Dual Clone
You can now paint with two Clone Presets activated at once. This allows you to paint from two different frames using separate transforms and/or color corrections using the new Grade controls. Shift-click a second Clone preset to make it active.
Paint > Clone Source Grade Controls
The Clone source can now be graded (color corrected) using the Gain, Gamma and Lift > Red, Green and Blue parameters.
Paint > Vertical and Horizontal Split Comparison
Compares the Clone source and target using a Vertical or Horizontal split. The split is handy when using the Grade controls to color match the Clone source to the target.
Find Missing Paint
If you moved the paint or moved the project to a location where the paint could not be found, there was no way to relink the paint to the project. When activating the Paint node, it will now scan the paint images. If it detects anything missing, it will ask you if want to relink or just ignore.
Copy Paint
When using File > Save As with a project that contains a Paint node, you are now given the option to copy the painted frames for the exclusive use of the new project. This is useful if you want to have multiple versions.
Render > Slap Comp
You can now render out the Alpha channel overlayed on the image as a color with opacity using Render > Slap Comp. This is useful for showing your handiwork to a supervisor for approval.
Solo Layers
Layers can now be soloed just like shapes. To solo a Layer, Alt-click on it’s Visibility icon. Alt-Ctrl-click to force the visibility of all objects to the on position.
Open Project Where You Left Off
The project is now opened on the frame where you last saved from.
Ctrl-Arrow Nudging
Finer nudging control can be achieved using the Ctrl-Arrow keys. Ctrl-Arrow nudging defaults to .1 increments for finer adjustment. The increment value for using Ctrl nudging can be set in Preferences > Nudging > Precise (control) distance (pixels).
Nudging of Layer > Transform Rotate, Scale and Paint > Clone Corner-Pin Points
You can now nudge Layer and Clone source transform, rotation, scaling, and Paint > Clone corner-pin points. Translate nudge is the default, but when using the W (Rotate) and E (Scale), nudging affects those modes as well. To nudge the Clone source corner-pin points, use Ctrl-1,2,3 or 4 to select which point you want to nudge. This is a handy for selecting and moving a corner-pin point without using the on-screen controls.
Corner-Pin > Axis Constraint
When using Alt to move shape corner points, if Shift is held down, the dominant axis is constrained.
Primitive Type Shape Preference
A Primitive Type shape preference has been added to set what shape type is used when circles and squares are created.
Render > Range > Custom
A Custom selection is now available in the Range menu along with numeric entry fields to enter a specific frame range.
Render > Preview
Opens a Preview window that displays each rendered image as well as render statistics. With the Preview window open, press the R, G, B, and A buttons to toggle viewing of the respective channels or C to view the RGB channels.
Show Timebar Keyframe Marker Times in a Tool tip
When you hover over a keyframe marker in the Timebar, a tool tip showing the keyframe time pops-up.
0% Opacity Keyframe Timeline Display
0% opacity keyframes are now displayed as hollow icons in the Timeline.
Stereoscopic Options in Object List
The Stereoscopic selections from the Edit menu have been added as a right-click menu in the Object List.
Timeline Highlight
The selected shape's parameters are now snapped into view and highlighted in the Timeline.
Overlay Alpha Over Individual Channels
Shift-A and A can now overlay the Alpha channel over individual channels.
Import After Effects Corner-Pin files generated by Mocha for AE
Silhouette can now import After Effects Corner Pin files generated by Mocha for AE.
Nuke Tracker Import/Export
Nuke trackers can now be imported and exported.
Default Point Type for X-Splines
There is a new Shape > Default X-Spline Point Type preference which defaults to B-Spline. This controls the default weighting of X-Spline points when they are created.
Source Node > Time Shift
A Time Shift parameter has been added to the Source node which shifts the source node in time.
Changes
Select All Points
Alt-Shift-A select all points on a selected shape. Alt-Ctrl-A deselects all points.
Tracker Tab
The layout of the Tracker tab has changed.
Four Tracker Corner Pin Application
Four tracker corner pin application can now occur anywhere in the sequence.
Status Bar
The Status Bar now shows you the number of selected objects. If only one object is selected, it will show the object name and the note if there is one.
Help > About
The About box now shows whether the Silhouette version is either 32 or 64 bit.
Render > Start Frame
Start Frame has been renamed to Output Start Frame, and by default, will update to show you what the first frame will be output as. You can override this if you want.
Convert to Bezier
Multiple shapes can now be converted to a Bezier.
Motion Blur - Last Frame
Motion Blur is now calculated on the last frame.
Motion Blur Speed Up
To speed up Motion Blur, it is now handled directly in the Roto and Effects nodes. It is no longer located in the Output node.
OpenMP Acceleration
OpenMP multi-processor acceleration has been added throughout Silhouette to speed up processing.
Absolute Frame Numbers Preference
An Absolute Frame Numbers preference was added to the Paint > Clone preferences. By default, it is on which displays the actual frame number in the Clone > Frame field. When turned off, it uses the old Silhouette v2.3 behavior where an offset in relation to the current frame was shown instead of the actual frame.
Preferences > Cache > Maximum RAM (MB) Preference
The Preferences > Cache > Maximum RAM (MB) preference has been revamped and replaced with % Total Physical RAM. The default is 50% and the range is 10-90%.
Fixed Bugs
Export/Import Simple Tracker - 1 Frame Offset
If you exported a tracker as Simple Format and imported it back into Silhouette, it came back with a 1 frame offset.
Paint > Color Sampling Did Not Work
Using the period key to sample colors for the Color brush was not working.
Paint > Color Correct Brush Clamping
In a float session, values greater than one got clamped at one rather than getting brighter when using the Brightness control.
Switch Session with Clone Brush Crash
If the Clone brush were selected, Silhouette would crash if you switched Sessions.
Power Matte
Power Matte is an easy to use interactive image matting tool capable of extracting almost any object in an image--even if you are dealing with fine hair detail, smoke, or reflections. This extraction process creates what is known as a matte--essentially a black and white cutout. White matte areas are extracted, black areas not, and gray areas in between represent a level of transparency. Once a matte is extracted, the foreground object can be seamlessly composed onto a new background.
To work this magic, Power Matte iteratively estimates the transparency value for every pixel in the image, based on a small sample of foreground (what you want to cut out) and background (what you want to get rid of) pixels marked by defining simple masks on the image. Results show that compared with previous approaches, our method is more efficient and requires minimal effort to extract high quality mattes for foregrounds with significant semi-transparent regions. In addition, the foreground edge colors can be estimated in the semi-transparent areas to create a seamless composite.
Planar Tracker
The Planar Tracker has been re-written. It is simpler, more accurate and handles partial occlusions automatically.
Macintosh 64 Bit
The Macintosh version is now 64 Bit only and will run under Mac OSX 10.5.x and OSX 10.6.x.
Command Line
Silhouette can now execute projects with various options via the command line.
Scripting and Actions
Customization of Silhouette can now be accomplished via scripting as much of the Silhouette object model is exposed to the Python scripting language. The following scripts are now available in the Silhouette > Actions menu: Render Active Node, Render Layers to Separate Files, Render Shapes to Channels, and Render Shapes to Separate Files.
For information on how to create custom scripts that show up in the Silhouette > Actions menu, see the new Silhouette 3.5 Scripting Guide for more information.
Shape > Channel
Channel is a new shape parameter that sets the channel to render the shape to when using Actions > Render Shapes to Channels.
Open Shapes
Open shapes are now supported and are useful for rotoscoping strands of hair or fine details. To create an open shape, press the Esc key or switch to a different tool when drawing the shape. The open shape’s thickness is then set in the Object window using the Stroke Width parameter.
Note: Open shapes can only be exported using the Silhouette shape format.
Shape > Stroke Width
Stroke Width is a new shape parameter which sets the thickness of an open shape. When used on a closed shape, an outline is created.
Notes
There is a new Notes window that can be moved around and docked like other views. You can type an arbitrary-length note for each selected object - currently only shapes, trackers, and layers are supported. If you hover over the Notes icon in the Object List, the note (if there is one) will be displayed as a tool tip.
Global Blur
An Alpha > Blur parameter has been added to the Output node that blurs the final Alpha channel.
Show Shape Name Preference
In Shape preferences, Show Shape Name has been added to display the shape name in the center of the shape.
Paint > Dual Clone
You can now paint with two Clone Presets activated at once. This allows you to paint from two different frames using separate transforms and/or color corrections using the new Grade controls. Shift-click a second Clone preset to make it active.
Paint > Clone Source Grade Controls
The Clone source can now be graded (color corrected) using the Gain, Gamma and Lift > Red, Green and Blue parameters.
Paint > Vertical and Horizontal Split Comparison
Compares the Clone source and target using a Vertical or Horizontal split. The split is handy when using the Grade controls to color match the Clone source to the target.
Find Missing Paint
If you moved the paint or moved the project to a location where the paint could not be found, there was no way to relink the paint to the project. When activating the Paint node, it will now scan the paint images. If it detects anything missing, it will ask you if want to relink or just ignore.
Copy Paint
When using File > Save As with a project that contains a Paint node, you are now given the option to copy the painted frames for the exclusive use of the new project. This is useful if you want to have multiple versions.
Render > Slap Comp
You can now render out the Alpha channel overlayed on the image as a color with opacity using Render > Slap Comp. This is useful for showing your handiwork to a supervisor for approval.
Solo Layers
Layers can now be soloed just like shapes. To solo a Layer, Alt-click on it’s Visibility icon. Alt-Ctrl-click to force the visibility of all objects to the on position.
Open Project Where You Left Off
The project is now opened on the frame where you last saved from.
Ctrl-Arrow Nudging
Finer nudging control can be achieved using the Ctrl-Arrow keys. Ctrl-Arrow nudging defaults to .1 increments for finer adjustment. The increment value for using Ctrl nudging can be set in Preferences > Nudging > Precise (control) distance (pixels).
Nudging of Layer > Transform Rotate, Scale and Paint > Clone Corner-Pin Points
You can now nudge Layer and Clone source transform, rotation, scaling, and Paint > Clone corner-pin points. Translate nudge is the default, but when using the W (Rotate) and E (Scale), nudging affects those modes as well. To nudge the Clone source corner-pin points, use Ctrl-1,2,3 or 4 to select which point you want to nudge. This is a handy for selecting and moving a corner-pin point without using the on-screen controls.
Corner-Pin > Axis Constraint
When using Alt to move shape corner points, if Shift is held down, the dominant axis is constrained.
Primitive Type Shape Preference
A Primitive Type shape preference has been added to set what shape type is used when circles and squares are created.
Render > Range > Custom
A Custom selection is now available in the Range menu along with numeric entry fields to enter a specific frame range.
Render > Preview
Opens a Preview window that displays each rendered image as well as render statistics. With the Preview window open, press the R, G, B, and A buttons to toggle viewing of the respective channels or C to view the RGB channels.
Show Timebar Keyframe Marker Times in a Tool tip
When you hover over a keyframe marker in the Timebar, a tool tip showing the keyframe time pops-up.
0% Opacity Keyframe Timeline Display
0% opacity keyframes are now displayed as hollow icons in the Timeline.
Stereoscopic Options in Object List
The Stereoscopic selections from the Edit menu have been added as a right-click menu in the Object List.
Timeline Highlight
The selected shape's parameters are now snapped into view and highlighted in the Timeline.
Overlay Alpha Over Individual Channels
Shift-A and A can now overlay the Alpha channel over individual channels.
Import After Effects Corner-Pin files generated by Mocha for AE
Silhouette can now import After Effects Corner Pin files generated by Mocha for AE.
Nuke Tracker Import/Export
Nuke trackers can now be imported and exported.
Default Point Type for X-Splines
There is a new Shape > Default X-Spline Point Type preference which defaults to B-Spline. This controls the default weighting of X-Spline points when they are created.
Source Node > Time Shift
A Time Shift parameter has been added to the Source node which shifts the source node in time.
Changes
Select All Points
Alt-Shift-A select all points on a selected shape. Alt-Ctrl-A deselects all points.
Tracker Tab
The layout of the Tracker tab has changed.
Four Tracker Corner Pin Application
Four tracker corner pin application can now occur anywhere in the sequence.
Status Bar
The Status Bar now shows you the number of selected objects. If only one object is selected, it will show the object name and the note if there is one.
Help > About
The About box now shows whether the Silhouette version is either 32 or 64 bit.
Render > Start Frame
Start Frame has been renamed to Output Start Frame, and by default, will update to show you what the first frame will be output as. You can override this if you want.
Convert to Bezier
Multiple shapes can now be converted to a Bezier.
Motion Blur - Last Frame
Motion Blur is now calculated on the last frame.
Motion Blur Speed Up
To speed up Motion Blur, it is now handled directly in the Roto and Effects nodes. It is no longer located in the Output node.
OpenMP Acceleration
OpenMP multi-processor acceleration has been added throughout Silhouette to speed up processing.
Absolute Frame Numbers Preference
An Absolute Frame Numbers preference was added to the Paint > Clone preferences. By default, it is on which displays the actual frame number in the Clone > Frame field. When turned off, it uses the old Silhouette v2.3 behavior where an offset in relation to the current frame was shown instead of the actual frame.
Preferences > Cache > Maximum RAM (MB) Preference
The Preferences > Cache > Maximum RAM (MB) preference has been revamped and replaced with % Total Physical RAM. The default is 50% and the range is 10-90%.
Fixed Bugs
Export/Import Simple Tracker - 1 Frame Offset
If you exported a tracker as Simple Format and imported it back into Silhouette, it came back with a 1 frame offset.
Paint > Color Sampling Did Not Work
Using the period key to sample colors for the Color brush was not working.
Paint > Color Correct Brush Clamping
In a float session, values greater than one got clamped at one rather than getting brighter when using the Brightness control.
Switch Session with Clone Brush Crash
If the Clone brush were selected, Silhouette would crash if you switched Sessions.