*Free threads from TOPIX

Toronto’s TOPIX Computer Graphics and Animation is making available its proprietary cloth plug-in for Softimage 3.7 free of charge. Early this month, the digital animation and design facility released its TOPIXCLOTH, aka cyber-fibre, over the I-net (www.topix.com/cloth/) to Softimage users.

The cloth simulation program was developed for use in a Honeycomb spot featuring the ‘Craver’ character animated by TOPIX wherein the Craver is seen interacting with a bed sheet.

The plug-in was codeveloped by TOPIX technical director Colin Withers and animation director Frank Falcone with the Softimage developers kit and features ‘sphere collision detection, self-collision and controls for friction viscous damping and spring damping.’

*Quantel does some ‘splainin

U.K.-based Quantel has followed up its handy Digital Fact Book with a new guide for editors, producers and anyone seeking hard facts about online nonlinear editing.

Online, Non-Linear Editing is comprised of three sections: Working with online nonlinear, explaining nonlinear processes and featuring anecdotes from producers and post specialists; a technology section; and a glossary of editing terms to translate the crabby cant of the editing world.

Copies can be ordered via the company’s Website (www.quantel.com).

Quantel has also announced that it is currently in discussion with Panasonic parent Matsushita toward Quantel eventually offering native DVCPro compatibility in its products.

*Pair of Eyes’ transfers

Toronto-based Eyes Post Group has opened its second transfer suite featuring Rank Cintel Turbo with Digiscan 4, daVinci Renaissance 8:8:8, Meta Speed Digital Servo, Evertz Keykode system and tape-to-tape color correction. The shop’s first film transfer suite will soon be equipped with Twiggi and Edwin, and colorist Sue Chambers is joining Eyes from Gastown Post.

*Game set

Samsung Electronics has introduced a new TV set designed specifically for video games. The GXTV is a 13-inch set which has specialized video game surround-sound modes and a monitor set in an arcade depth bezel on a swivel stand. Multiple jacks allow more than one game to be connected as well as a CD player and headphones. The TV can also be used as a full-function TV set when not being used for games and costs $499.

*SSI streams

Halifax-based Salter Street Interactive, a joint venture of Salter Street Films and Maritimes Tel & Tel, has launched its Internet game show Moat, which uses streaming technology to accommodate numerous Web competitors simultaneously.

Moat is a ‘gold channel’ partner with Microsoft in the launch of its Internet Explorer 4.0 and the game will be broadcast once daily beginning Oct. 28 (www.emoat.com). The knowledge-based game gives participants questions with audio and visual clues and players can win cash and sponsor-supported prizes.

* Super Suite adds JVC DS

Vancouver’s Super Suite Video Post and Transfer has added JVC Digital S to its editing, audio, computer graphics and duplication setup. The shop, which was seeking an archiving solution for digitized material stored on its Avid systems, brought in a JVC BR-D85U Digital S recorder/editor and made dubs from Digital Betacam to Digital S using the serial digital interface on both systems.

The company uses the SDI now on Avid nonlinear systems to and from Digital S, allowing transparent archiving of the material, and provides dubs to and from Digital S and any analog format. Mass duplication from the system can also be handled.

* Soho/CBC design

Toronto’s Soho Post and Graphics recently created a new look for the CBC fall launch using the talents of the network’s stars combined with the post shop’s direction, design, animation and compositing capabilities.

The project, inspired by a major branding initiative by CBC programming head Slawko Klymkiw, included 13 15-second and 13 five-second ids, opening animations and design templates for promotional applications.

Soho’s creative concepts were storyboarded by creative director/designer Tony Cleave. Cleave, together with CBC Communications’ executive producer Mary-Jo Osborn and producer Roy Belding, directed a 12-day 35mm shoot at CBC studios focusing on CBC talent. The goal was to show the stars interacting with graphic forms of the logo, which meant acting with set-built elements or against green screen and compositing into different scenes later (including a scene where hockey sidekick Ron McLean, shot against green screen and composited into an ice rink environment, takes shots at the letters of the CBC logo).

Soho’s animation team, including technical director/senior animator Alan Kennedy and animators Derek Gebhart and Titus Hora, produced the variety of 2D and 3D animations and particle animations. All elements were edited and composited in the shop’s Henry, Hal and Editbox suites with Hal artist/senior designer Brian De Ville, effects editors Andy Hunter and Paul Jacobs, and Henry artist Lee Maund. Executive producer on the project was Doug Morris and producer was Stephenie Liberi.

* Freebie

Avid and Carmel, Indiana-based Imagine Products have announced that Avid will distribute free of charge Imagine’s video logging software, The Executive Producer LE, with the release of Media Composer 7.0 and MCXpress 2.0. TEP LE can be installed on a separate PowerMac to log footage, freeing up a facility’s Avid system for editing and digitizing.

TEP features allow users to grab timecode, type in shot descriptions, reorganize clips, print out lists, and import and export Avid batch digitized files.

Avid will distribute $30 million worth of TEP on its systems and Avid users can also download a copy from the Avid or Imagine Websites.