With the addition of a Softimage DS, The Post Shop in Toronto is gearing up for commercial work and more.

A high-end, nonlinear system, the ds is used for online compositing, effects and conform in a D1 non-compressed environment. The fully digital system operates on a Windows nt and will be used for creating, editing and finishing commercials, music videos and series.

To accommodate the system, The Post Shop has expanded its space and is constructing a new suite for the ds, which should be ready by early May. Senior editor Matt Clayson will be at the controls.

As part of its campaign to attract more commercial clients, the shop has installed a motion-control camera, which will be used to shoot posters and slides and convert them to video.

Also on the agenda for this summer is a post audio division for mastering and editing, which will include a 56-channel Pro Tools suite for digital editing and processing.

Since opening its doors in 1985, the bulk of The Post Shop’s business has been television series work and infomercials. Recent projects to pass through the facility include editing and graphics for wtn’s The Decorating Challenge, and editing, graphics and animation for Global’s Game On.

The shop also houses a 3D animation suite with Softimage 3D, Lightwave 3D, disc recorder, morphing, rotoscoping and graphics.

In-house animator Josh Skerrett is currently wrapping a project for Catalyst Entertainment and Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum involving a 2D presentation of celebrities and their shoes, which will run in the museum’s theatre.