Analog Way has announced a partnership agreement with Softpix Ltd, the provider of graphics software and creative services to the live TV/web production and broadcast industries.
The agreement will integrate Softpix’s SPX real-time graphics solution into Analog Way’s Picturall range of products, providing customers with a wide range of ready-made graphics templates for their projects. Custom graphics options will also be available. SPX integration will be included in the 3.5.0 Picturall release expected this summer.
“In response to strong demand from our customers, we have searched for a graphics generator that could show static and dynamic text and graphics on our system. We selected SPX which was confirmed, after serious testing, to perfectly fit the bill,” says Samuli Valo, managing director at Analog Way Picturall media server competence center.
“Our collaboration with Analog Way offers Picturall customers more creative and compelling solutions,” notes Atte Varsta, CEO and Partner of Softpix Ltd. “SPX graphics complements other media playback features of Picturall, and together they form a powerful combination for pro AV customers requiring flexibility and fast turnover in their projects.”
SPX integration enables customers to easily show and edit graphics and text on both live shows and fixed installations. “It allows them to use dynamic content as part of the graphics, for example, loading dynamic data from an RSS feed or from Google Sheet or Slide,” Valo explains. “It also allows heavy customization for specific projects and very complex interactions with third-party systems ranging from a customer’s Intranet and dynamic statistical graphs all the way to traffic control systems.”
Varsta points out that adding real-time graphics capabilities to Picturall “will add a new set of tools for productions and enable the use of live data, such as social media or news content, in live event production. Real-time graphics also speed up content production and reduce the need for pre-rendered elements.”
Valo emphasizes that the new system “is very easy to use and, with the option to customize the graphics templates, it is an extremely versatile tool for even very complex and dynamic graphics. When used with Analog Way presentation switchers, SPX integration with Picturall sends transparency data as key/fill feeds so that the switcher can draw just the graphics, not the background.”
SPX integration comes with a special template pack consisting of about ten templates, including name straps, news tickers, countdown clocks, sponsor carousels and other essential graphics. The templates’ colours and fonts can be themed with CSS style sheets, so they can act as a great resource for any production.
Picturall has a SPX template installer feature for adding graphics templates to the system and creating added value. SPX’s Creative Services will work closely with Analog Way’s sales team to support Picturall clients with any custom designs or other graphics-based solutions needed.
“Working with Analog Way’s skilled pro AV specialists and their highly demanding clients in extremely interesting live event production will increase our knowledge of the field and push us to constantly improve the software and its capabilities,” says Varsta. “Picturall and other Analog Way products will also be a great asset for other SPX customers”.
“We believe that real-time content such as the use of social media comments, other data feeds or interactive opportunities will spark new creative ideas for live events,” Varsta adds. “We are sure we will see interesting new projects utilizing graphics very soon!”.
