New RTT Shader Packages for Vizrt Design

Viz|Artist 3.0 Also Offers Full Integration with Entire Product Line, Visual Data Tool Plug-Ins, and Enhanced Interactivity

Vizrt, a leading provider of real-time, integrated broadcast graphics software, announces significant enhances to its Viz|Artist 3.0 design software. Among them: RTT Advanced Materials plug-ins for photo-realistic rendering of 3D objects and materials, a database within Viz|Artist for the storage of the complex materials associated with the RTT shaders, the entire Vizrt product line is now fully Viz|Artist compliant, new Visual Data Tools (VDT) plug-ins for increased financial and statistic database functionality, and enhanced interactivity with touch screen devices.

At the recent NAB convention in Las Vegas, Vizrt demoed new “RTT Advanced Materials” plug-ins for Viz|Artist for the first time. RTT AG is a Munich-based provider of real-time visualization technologies and services. This exclusive package of RTT shaders allows Vizrt users to visualize 3D objects and surfaces in cutting-edge photorealistic quality. With the new shaders, graphic artists now have a wide selection of new background materials, computer-generated objects, and animation to create photo-realistic graphics.

“The integration of RTT's leading-edge visualization know-how with Vizrt's 3D real-time design application represents an important step forward for broadcast-oriented photorealistic real-time rendering,” said Christian Huber, Director of Operations, Vizrt. “This plug-in package offers broadcasters more choice in visual quality and photorealism than has ever been possible before. RTT plug-ins will be the tool kit of choice to achieve the ultimate in realism, particularly when working in HD resolution.”

The plug-in package provides Vizrt users with an extensive selection of materials including carbon, lacquered wood, metal, glass, bump maps and many more effects. The RTT shaders react to light sources, basis textures, settings and materials specific to Viz|Artist 3.0, such as color, shininess and opacity. In addition, the user can draw on a wide selection of presets, such as ready-made wood alternatives.

To better manage the RTT Advanced Material shaders, there is a new object type in Viz|Artist that enables the user to store complex material consisting of the basic color settings, textures and shaders into the Viz|Artist database.

Vizrt plans to expand upon the "RTT Advanced Materials" package systematically in the future.

Also new to Viz|Artist 3.0, Visual Data Tools (VDT) plug-ins for Viz|Artist 3.0 can be used to display any type of statistic or financial data. VDT plug-ins enable the creation of charts and diagrams. It also includes plug-ins for modifying, importing, exporting and storing data from databases such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, etc.

Viz|Artist 3.0 now supports multi-touch devices, such as when multiple users simultaneously interact with graphics on a touch screen for sports results or stock prices, for example. This interactivity was also shown within Vizrt’s NAB booth.

Another new plug-in called “Action Model,” created in collaboration between Vizrt and Media Seasons, was shown for the first time at NAB. This plug-in is designed to animate complex 3D models and characters, such as animated football players, horses in motion, etc.