GridIron Flow gives creative professionals and workgroups the ability to see, access, and share all their project files in one simple, elegant interface. The product, which has been lauded by industry influencers and beta users as a “must have” productivity application, now includes even more features.

“We’ve waited a long time for this day, but the final product was worth the wait,” said Steve Forde, CEO of GridIron. “Thanks to a world-class development team and the thousands of beta testers who not only thoroughly tested the software but helped shape the final version, Flow is a product that will help all creative pros, whether they work alone or as part of a group, become more streamlined and productive. No more lost files, no more accidents, no more all-nighters.”

GridIron Flow has been used by thousands of creative professionals since the public beta of the product was released in February 18, 2009. Users have experienced how the software provides a unique and total understanding of each project being worked on and allows them to track all the components of a project, regardless of where the files are located. With instant access to any file or version needed, creative professionals can get a lot more done in a lot less time—without having to do anything differently.

Key features of the product include:

• Workflow Maps – Visual interface shows all project files and how they are connected
• Share Maps – Allows multiple users to view the same workflow map across the network
• Adobe CS4 Flow Flash Panel Provides access to GridIron Flow directly in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign or Flash
• Real-time Asset Tracking – Tracks the connections between project files in real-time
• Visual Versioning – Accesses the complete history of a file and allows the user to revert to any version
• Visual Search – Finds any file, even if it’s offline, and shows how it fits into a project
• Foolproof Packaging – Gathers and updates all files automatically, keeping the package current
• Time Tracking – Automatically records how much time was spent on a file or project

“The ability for Flow to be accessed directly within Adobe CS4 applications via the new Flash Panel is impressive because of the value it brings users,” said Johnny Loiacono, senior vice president and general manager, Creative Solutions Business Unit, Adobe Systems. “CS4 already delivers significant increases in productivity and Flow takes that to an even higher level. It is a product that most of our Creative Suite customers will find valuable.”

For more information see the links below:

• GridIron Flow Tutorials: http://www.gridironsoftware.com/products/flow/flow_tutorials.html
• PhotoshopUser TV & Layers Magazine:  solid 10-minute tour
• Lynda.com: Flow Features Course
• For more about GridIron Flow – http://www.gridironsoftware.com/Flow/
• To visit GridIron’s blog – http://www.gridironsoftware.com/blog/

GridIron Flow is available for immediate purchase from GridIron’s website at http://www.gridironsoftware.com/store/. A single user license is $299 USD, with a three pack also available for $399.

In this interview, Rich Storek from Storek Studio talks with us about nVeil. nVeil is a Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express plugin which changes your footage into a new piece of art.

StrongMocha:  Tell us about yourself and how you came upon the idea for nVeil.
As an architect working with visual art and teaching design, it occurred to me that television could be put to a new use: the creation of art in motion. That led to years of experimenting, playing with the light, color and motion found in any video; first optically/analog, then digitally.

StrongMocha: What exactly is nVeil, how does it work, and who is the ideal user?
nVeil is a digital video filter, running on the Mac for now, that superimposes a line drawing, a “veil” (similar to a stained glass window), onto  any imagery.  Each  closed “cell” within the veil processes its portion of the image by zooming in or out, producing a blur (the original image becomes unrecognizable)or an “insect-eye” view (the original image is repeated) in each cell.

The user is an artist, or anyone who enjoys transforming an existing image into something completely new, through a veil that is easily created.

StrongMocha: What inspired you to create this plug-in?
Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express and Motion are graphic hosts readily available to 3rd party applications such as nVeil, using the FxPlug architecture. It is our first step in making nViel available to everyone.

StrongMocha: What is the best way to create a new Veil using the Scalable Vector Graphics SVG format?
Draw a simple pattern (containing only closed cells) in any SVG editor, such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, LineForm or Inkscape. Save it as an .svg file and open it in the nVeil video filter in Final Cut or Motion applied to video or a still image of your choice.

StrongMocha: Are there creative application that allow the nVeil user to create easily and fast new Veils?
Either use the library of veils that comes with nVeil, or simply draw a new veil in a few minutes. You can also use “auto-trace” or “live-trace” features to trace the outlines of an existing image.

StrongMocha: Are there any references or examples where nVeil has been used in production?
nVeil is brand new, and we expect to see great works. The artists/editors at CurrentTV are the first professionals to use nVeil. We are hoping others, too, will send us examples of their work to show on the nVeil site.

StrongMocha: What are potential uses of this plug-in that have not been realized?
We have experimented with digital signage, stage projection, building-wall projection and live television applications. We are sure there are creative minds that will come up with other new uses in the world.

StrongMocha: Tell us more about the planned additional veils (presets)?
We are creating veils for different purposes. The most recent issue is with a series of veils that leave the central portion of the image unveiled.

StrongMocha: How does the Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express plugin differ?
nVeil works equally in each.

StrongMocha:  What are the future plans for nVeil?  Do you anticipate supporting other editing or VFX design apps?
We will be programming an Adobe After-Effects version, and a stand-alone application of nVeil, for starters.

StrongMocha: How does this plug-in relate to the work of Storek Studio?
It is the latest focus of a Bay Area design firm that has produced sandcastles to highrises, but always working in the visual arts.

StrongMocha: Tell us a little more about Storek Studio?
We are a confederation of a few talents, from programming and writing to editing, fine art and architecture, working in the woods at the foot of Mt. Tamalpais in Mill Valley, Marin County, just north of San Francisco. Guided tours with wine on request.

About Rich Storek:

A native San Franciscan with a love of boat design, Rich studied architecture at the University of Oregon, then practiced architecture and product design, and taught design at San Francisco State.

With the U.S. Foreign Service Rich directed Peace Corps programs in architecture and town planning in Africa and Iran. After five years living in North Africa Rich Storek returned to his design practice in San Francisco, specializing in historic buildings.

Along the way Rich initiated an Architect-in-Schools teaching program for  Bay Area kids, assembled a championship sandcastle-building team, and pursued a lifelong engagement with visual arts through Storek Studio. That adventure involved experiments with manipulating and projecting  light, and putting my television to a new use.

nVeil is the result; a new artform, software that captures the rich graphic information of most video content, transforming it into a new visual realm that is configured by the user: the artist.

Action Essentials 2 is a collection of stock footage elements for your compositing software. It is unmatched for visual effects & motion graphics. You can use Action Essentials 2 with your compositing software like Adobe After Effects CS4, Autodesk Combustion, Autodesk Toxik, Autodesk Inferno and other.

FEATURING:

• 500 Pre-Keyed High Definition Elements
• Available in 2 Versions: 2K and 720p
• 60 Minutes of After Effects Training
• 20 Bonus Action Sound FX
• Detailed Video Thumbnails
• Over 90% Live Action Footage
• Pre-Keyed Stock Footage
• Built-In Alpha channels for faster compositing

Action Essentials 2 is available in two versions you have the choice between a 2K Film Resolution: (2048 x 1152) and a 720p High Definition: (1280 X 720) version of the footage. The 2K Film Resolution version offers the most freedom for compositors with over 2.5X more resolution in each element. The 720p Version is ideal for SD and 720p work but many of the elements work great with 1080i projects as well.

Action Essentials 2 is comes with many elements you can use in your daily work on visual effects: Atmospheres, Blood,  Charges, Couch_Hits, Debris, Dirt_Charges,  Dust_Elements, Explosions,Fire, Glass, Muzzle_Flashes, Particle_Hits, Powder_Hits, Smoke, Smoke_Charges, Sparks, Wall_Hits, Shells, Water and Textures (Bullet_Holes, Burn_Marks, Cracks, Ground_Holes, Grunge_Texture & Windshields)

Select and buy the right version of Action Essentials 2 :

• 720p High Definition [1280 x 720] $99.95
• 2K Film Resolution [2048 x 1152 ] $249.95 (beyond 1080p)

We recommend the 2K version.

Trapcode and Red Giant Software announcing for the NAB 2008 their newest After Effects plugins.

• Trapcode Horizon is a plug-in designed specifically for After Effects users doing 3D work. Are you tired of figuring out how to get your camera to match your virtual background? Well, we have a simple solution for you. With the help of Trapcode Horizon, you can generate motion in 3D in a true 3D space. (Priced should be at $99 this product should ship in Q2 2008.)
• Radium Glow will be a new package of plug-ins to create glowing areas in an image based on the brightest parts of the frame. The four plug-ins are Glow EZ, a simple plug-in with limited controls, Glow with advanced controls and masking, Glow Edge for creating glows only on the edges of an image or around text, and Glow Depth which will create the Glow based on a secondary z-depth or depth buffer layer.
  Priced at $99 this product will ship in Q2 2008.
• Instant HD Pro is designed to deliver the highest possible quality conversion for SD to HD. Its advanced tool set offers sharp, motion-compensated de-interlacing and de-noising; advanced pan and scan; and a super-resolution algorithm for providing actual resolution enhancement in an editing application. All these features are combined into one plug-in with an easy-to-use preset menu for choosing the right HD and 2K output formats.
  Priced at $399 this product will ship in Q2 2008.
• Magic Bullet Steady will include two new plug-ins for Final Cut Pro 6 and After Effects CS3 (Mac and Windows). The stabilizer function removes unwanted camera movement and drift with a software-based 2D translation that is near real-time. Also, included in this set is a tool to reduce visible noise and grain in DV sequences produced by digital video cameras, camcorders, TV-tuners, digitizers of film or analog video.
  Priced at $199 this product will ship in Summer 2008.
• Primatte Keyer Pro 4 is a professional greenscreen tool that extracts keys from any color background quickly and easily. Version 4 brings new levels of power and speed to After Effects and Avid, and for the first time, Final Cut Pro. New features include easy-to-use Auto setup, which creates an almost-perfect key with one click. Powerful features allow Primatte Keyer to overcome keying challenges such as uneven lighting, compression artifacts, subtle shadows, and edge light contamination. Best of all, Primatte Keyer 4 works right on the timeline.
  Available now for $499 new or $199 as an upgrade.

You can save 30% on ANY product in the entire redgiantsoftware.com store. Shop now. This offer expires, Sunday, April 20, 2008 (12 am Eastern (New York). Enter Coupon Code NAB2008 to take advantage of this special offer.