On the other forum the Virtual Wall set often comes up.

For those having a desire for such sets here is a potential solution. Collectively commission someone with the skill and knowledge to create one. The overall cost would be considerable less than buying from Adobe and have the advantage of multiple configurations. You could have many tracking shots providing multiple angles and approaches for tracking.

The group might also realize a zero cost by selling to others. As Ultra3 becomes more visible a market could evolve.

Just something to consider,

Mike

I'm not sure. But what I am sure about is that there are people with the skill set to make anything possible.
   
Perhaps even those who have created the originals or one of their ex-employees that started their own company or now work for their competition.

Mike

Yes.  Don't know if SM referred to it as an SDK, and it was never widely distributed, but SM provided some sort of library or tool set or interface definition to third party developers to create the virtual tracking sets.

In recent years, SM would sometimes discuss their plans to formally release an SDK, but it never happened, apparently due to resource constraints.  In other words, it was my impression they really wanted to do this, but lacked the time and resources.

I think we will see something from Adobe in the next year or so that supports user created tracking sets.  Perhaps it will appear in AE.  AE already has support for chroma key; AE already has cameras.  On the other hand, Adobe likes to create new products where it makes sense, so perhaps it will remain as a standalone app.  Either way, I don't think Adobe is going to purchase SM and then let someone else take the lead on virtual tracking sets.  Just my guess.

Best,
Christopher

AE CS3 includes the Keylight (1.2) plug-in.  My copy of CS3 is due to arrive, but I was watching the AE CS3 tutorial on lynda.com, and Keylight looks absolutely fantastic for keying.  Can't wait to install it and try a chroma key project.

Best,
Christopher

Yes, ease-of-use is where Ultra really excelled, and is the only reason I would think Ultra should be standalone.  That said, AE has a much larger installed base, and this base of users has already learned AE, so extending AE to include Ultra-like virtual tracking sets makes the most sense to me.  That's where I'm placing my bets.

Interesting discussion, BTW.

Best,
Christopher

Agree it would be great if 3rd party developers could get an SDK/API so they could develop tracking sets for Ultra, but I've never seen adobe release anything like that for their other software, so it probably won't happen.

Keylight for AE totally kicks Ultra's butt when it comes to keying, I've used both, and the keying quality is a lot sharper using Keylight/AE... I can't see any experienced motion gfx designer giving up keylight for ultra - so the mainstream hard-core keyers in the industry won't be migrating over to ultra.

Ultra is however very easy to use, and is just fine for the huge base of those of us who use it for our own website videos and other video production. 

Adobe buying Ultra, then not making available standalone, was the death of Ultra in my opinion.  I think it was marginalized by adobe and has for all intents and purposes been killed off.  I do not expect to see the video wall or other MSLs released by adobe anytime soon, if at all. 

Ultra is obviously not a priority for Adobe, CS 3 suites are.  As with the audio app 'cool edit pro' they bought and killed a few years ago, they likely bought Ultra primarily to keep it non-available to people who aren't AE users, as a competitive acquisition move.

As with dreamweaver/fireworks (barely changed in 5 years), I don't think we're going to see Ultra 4 with tons of new features, or MSLs or anything come out of adobe, ever.  They bought it and killed it.  Which is too bad, because for us old-timers (3+ years), we really 'bought into' the whole serious magic site, concept, karls and the rest of it.  It's dead - stick a fork in it.  Hope we can still activate in future years; when adobe bought/killed 'cool edit pro', there's no more activation support for us buyers.

-k

Hi Vivian, it's hard to explain in text; there are some free movie tutorials on adobe's site though that show it (sorry I don't know the URL offhand) ...

Basically, it makes the edge of the figure being keyed much sharper, with very little work, unlike where in Ultra we have to move the sharpen matt etc controls (the ones on the right we use all the time) ... it's a superior keyer, but definitely the after effects software has a huge huge learning curve (after nearly a year of studying how to use AE I'm still barely learning it)... where Ultra is much easier to use, and does a very good job in it's own right...

it's just, the higher end market that likely drives a lot of adobe's decisions, is more used to, more favorable of keylight .. it does work great, as I've tested it... here's a link or 2:

http://library.creativecow.net/articles/onneweer_barend/keylight.php
http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/aftereffects/articles/aft7at_keylight.html


hope that helps -

ken