Digital post production-how the new generation of digital tools will redefine the nature of content creation for high-end programs

Even before computer-based graphics, editing and effects products became adopted en-mass, the commercial post-production community was asking vendors to provide products which would allow data, ideas and creativity to flow unencumbered in an integrated post-production environment. Rather than providing minor incremental advances such as those achieved from new point-products in the past, it was believed that such an environment would provide the means by which dramatic advances in creativity, flexibility and speed could be achieved. While the benefits of digital post-production were clear and readily embraced, until today, key enabling technologies were not sufficiently mature and available to make such an environment possible for any but the most adventurous and technically sophisticated facilities. 1996 will mark the year that digital post-production becomes a reality for many facilities as vendors such as Avid Technology begin shipping products designed to work together in a collaborative, flexible manner. This paper looks at what an all-digital post production process has to offer, the technology and products from which it is comprised, and discusses the short-term and potential long-term impact this new generation of technology may have on the commercial post industry. The environment to be described is not some notion of what will be possible in the distant future, but one which can be implemented today