What's new?
Pixotope 2.0 is here! We are super excited to present you our latest version of Pixotope which has been meticulously engineered and thoroughly revised to provide a robust and easily extensible platform for future development. Couple this with our passionate drive for delivering real-time photo-realism and impeccable image quality and Pixotope 2.0 ticks all the boxes.
To give you a taster, here are just some of our new features:
Unreal Engine 4.27
Multi-machine productions in complete unison
Usability improvements
More input and output options
Multiple keyers
New and improved video keyer
Many new compositing advances
Full control and integration via the Pixotope API
Support for OpenColorIO 2.0
Multiple Pixotope versions in parallel
Unreal Engine 4.27
Pixotope 2.0 gives you access to the full power of the Unreal Engine 4.27. Epic Games continues to push the envelope for unrivalled 3D graphics capabilities and rendering quality, and UE 4.27 provides an amazing array of new functionality and enhancements.
Some of the highlights include:
Virtual Production improvements
Multiple asset workflow improvements, including:
Improved Unreal pipeline support via Universal Scene Description (USD)
Vastly expanded and improved Datasmith import and export functionality
Support for runtime import of Datasmith assets
Improvements to LiDAR Point Cloud workflows
Level snapshots in Editor
Rendering improvements
Improved Hair and Fur Rendering Visuals and Performance
Expanded GPU Lightmass Feature Support (Beta)
Offline Path Tracer rendering
Expanded Coverage and Improved Workflow for Ray Tracing
Multiple improvements to Niagara Visual Effects
Web Remote control panel integrated with Pixotope
Live data integration
Improved DMX Performance and Integration
Live Link Facial motion capture workflow
Georeferencing workflow for connecting real world locations to virtual
See Unreal Engine release notes for a full list of features:
→ https://docs.unrealengine.com/4.27/en-US/WhatsNew/Builds/ReleaseNotes/4_27/
Multi-machine productions in complete unison
Our Data hub communication has been completely rewritten and is now based on a Publisher/Subscriber model utilizing TCP/IP. All changes made in the Director are now kept completely and instantly in sync. Finally you can use Director from any machine you like.
Usability improvements
Choose which role you want to play
To clearly define the responsibility of each machine in your production network, we are introducing roles. Your decision.
Learn more about Roles - Stand-alone, Client or Server
Introducing Shows
In Pixotope 2.0 we introduce the concept of a "Show" file where all SETUP view related parameters of a project are stored. From this accessible file you can easily create versions or backups of your show setup.
Learn more about Show files - where your SETUP is stored
Where to begin? At the START
In 2.0 we are introducing the START view where you
Create, open and manage your shows
Change machine specific settings
This way the SETUP and PRODUCTION views become dedicated to your open show.
Learn more about Views - START, SETUP and PRODUCTION
Pixotope adapts to the way you work
Do you want to set up your multi-machine production from a single machine? Or rather set up your camera systems in parallel, but want to have central control when adjusting the levels? To accommodate the diverse ways multi-machine productions are set up, we introduce permissions for SETUP and PRODUCTION.
Learn more about Permissions - affecting SETUP or PRODUCTION
Status is important
The status panel got an upgrade to give you a better overview of all connected machines and their main services. It now lets you
see all connected machines (Server machine on top)
manually restart the tracking and video I/O services
close and reload running levels
Services are automatically started, but then you can take control.
Learn more about the Status panel and the Director Interface
Take shortcuts
To make navigating the different panels easier, we have added shortcuts for
switching between the different views (
Ctrl + 1/2/3orCtrl + Tab)going back and forth in your navigation history (
Alt + Left/Right arrow)
Learn more about Director - keyboard shortcuts
Engine and Compositing Features
We have been busy working magic to improve the Engine support and compositing features to easily and seamlessly integrate live and virtual elements
New Media Video component working in WYSIWYG and supporting ray tracing
Ability to select and output custom buffers, not just key and fill
Shadows can now be projected onto the VS comp plane
New Light Catcher working with global illumination
New Light / Reflection / Shadow Catcher using a common mesh
Per plane feathering control
Complex feathering achieved with material tuning
Improved XR auto-frustum mode
DLSS integration into XR
Learn more about XR Walls, AR Shadow, Reflection & Light Catchers and Compositing Planes
More input and output options
Getting video in and out is critical. We have listened to your requests and have, additionally to AJA video cards, added support for
BlackMagic Design DeckLink cards
NDI network streams (video over IP with NDI® 5) - What is NDI?
input from File
We also added an option to display video scopes of your inputs and outputs.
Learn more about how to Configure video I/O
Audio
As video is not everything, we also added support for outputting audio on AJA video cards.
Learn more about how to Configure video I/O
Multiple keyers
We have extended keying support across all inputs. You can now add a keyer to any input, whether it is - camera, media input, network (NDI) or file.
Improved video keyer
Having an excellent video keyer is essential for VS productions. Building on the knowledge of our easy-to-use keyer we have improved our algorithms further and added a second keyer model.
Learn more about how to Use the video keyer
Services under the hood
It’s all about Service. Behind every great leading service:
Engine
Tracking
Video IO
there are many supporting services to help Pixotope shine:
Data hub - handles the communication between all Pixotope services
Store - stores show related data
Daemon - is responsible for starting all services and storing machine related information
Bridge - is a utility service to connect two Pixotope Networks
Full control via the Pixotope API
With our new Pixotope API you get access to use ZeroMQ messages or HTTP requests to view and edit every aspect of your Pixotope production and to allow seamless integration.
Learn more about how to use the Pixotope API
With this release we are providing open source tools and examples to help and assist with development and integration.
Check out the Source code repository or the Compiled binaries
Support for OpenColorIO 2.0
We are now supporting the new version of OpenColorIO.
Test drive new Pixotope versions
Not only has the installer become faster, but with 2.0 you are now able to install different versions of Pixotope in parallel. This way, you can try out new features without affecting your main Pixotope installation.
Changes to the documentation
The documentation has gotten a complete overhaul → help.pixotope.com
Upgrading to Pixotope 2.0
Check out Upgrading to 2.0
For a complete changelog, please
Log in to the user section of the → Pixotope Cloud
Go to Downloads
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