*International Image tests remote digital dailies

Toronto-based International Image and West Coast telecom giant BCT.Telus are developing a broadband service that will allow film and television companies to send dailies and remote editing between multiple locations.

As part of the first phase of tests, the companies, along with u.s.-based telco GTE Communications, are designing compatible connectivity services between Vancouver and Los Angeles.

The fibre-optic network will provide entertainment companies with scaleable bandwidth connections. The group will begin sending digital dailies in realtime of Stargate SG-1 from Rainmaker Entertainment’s Vancouver facilities to International Image’s l.a. offices.

Rainmaker is providing post-production for the mgm series, which is shot in Vancouver.

The project will encompass point-to-point MPEG 2 video streaming and data file transfers at bit rates varying from five to 155 megabits per second.

*Viewgraphics releases HDView converter

Viewgraphics has released hdview, a compact, professional-quality, digital-to-analog converter and signal generator for hdtv.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based firm says hdview automatically detects and converts a broad range of hdtv formats including all 1080 and 720 standards.

hdview also accepts uncompressed 4:2:2 high-definition serial digital video and produces a broadcast-quality hdtv analog output, allowing video professionals to view their hdtv content on analog hd monitors, as well as standard vga monitors.

As well, hdview provides an independent hdtv signal generator that can be used as a studio-grade hdtv master sync generator.

hdview’s output incorporates Soshin linear sinx/x corrected hdtv video filters. All digital processing is 10-bit and in line with u.s. analog power regulation to achieve full signal transparency.

hdview is available for a suggested retail price of us$7,995 ($11,770) in a compact 1RU-rack enclosure with an internal regulated power supply.

*Canopus DVRex goes realtime with DVRexRT

Canopus Corporation, out of San Jose, Calif., has announced a new line of realtime, dual-stream nonlinear video editing solutions. At the apex of the line is dvrexrt, a Windows nt-based dual-stream engine in a single board that adds realtime capabilities to the company’s dvrex dv editing package.

Powered by a dual-processor computer system, the dvrexrt offers such features as 10 tracks of static and moving titles; color correction; and two picture-in-picture windows.

Canopus, which designs and manufactures graphics and video editing products for the pc, is also releasing a realtime, rack-mount turnkey dvrex R3, and a realtime portable dvrex M3.

dvrex with dvrexrt will be available in October at a suggested retail price of us$3,295 ($4,845). The dvrexrt option for current dvrex users is available for us$1,295 ($1,905).

*Toon Boom ships TicTacToon 2.3

Montreal-based Toon Boom Technologies has released an enhanced version of its TicTacToon animation package, which includes support for IRIX 6.5 and Wacom Intuos tablets.

TicTacToon is a vector-based technology that offers animators a wide range of tools and applications to carry completely digitally a production from storyboard to final output.

The package also allows for the option of scanning hand-drawn animation and combining it with 2D digital animation.