On-Air Graphics Solutions

The station's on-air look is created by the graphic designers, but it's the journalists who have to use it for lower-thirds, graphics, and other story-telling tools. And once it's all created, how does everything get on air at the right time-and with the right look?

launch the Direct Newsroom Graphics animation

Graphic artists create the graphic and text templates for news elements using PostDeko software, including logos and station IDs, lower-third captions and other superimposed graphics, and full-screen backgrounds with text.

iNEWS journalists simply fill in the templates in the DekoSelect plug in with the correct caption, quote, or other text - and then insert them directly into their stories, either manually using a macro to create them or using the iNEWS Title Entry Tool.

If journalists wish to include clips and stills in the script, they may do so by entering the ID of the graphic in the story as a production cue. Files created and stored by the graphics department using ThunderBrowse will then accurately appear within the story.

At air time, an Avid iNEWS Command operator triggers the graphics playlist, which is kept in sync with the iNEWS rundown.

Related Products:

Avid Deko 3000
Avid PostDeko
Avid Thunder
Avid iNEWS
Avid iNEWS Command

Logos and bugs are only part of the story. Whether it's a news, sports, or business ticker with real-time data feed, synchronous DVE transitions that bring a visual graphic to life, or last-minute edits for a truly live-to-air environment, the fast pace of broadcast programming demands visuals that can keep up-and open new opportunities.

launch the Channel Branding animation

Graphic artists create rich text and graphic layers with PostDeko software and easily author custom displays such as tickers, localized programming guides, station IDs and financial reports from the DekoCast Authoring station.

DekoCast allows for last minute edits to content, while still maintaining visual brand identity, even when tied with automation and traffic system for on-air accuracy and full-time reliability.

DekoCast integrates tightly with other Avid devices in the broadcast chain such as the iNEWS NRCS or the Deko graphics system for shared resources and reduced production costs.

Related Products:

Avid DekoCast
Avid PostDeko

Balancing promotions with paid advertising is a big concern of any broadcast operation. The challenges are to create engaging promos, update them without continually going back to the promotion producer, and find ways to promote programming without diminishing valuable commercial time.

launch the In-program Promos animation

Real-time 2D DVE-style video squeeze back, cel animations and persistent graphics objects deliver sophisticated branding visuals to promote a station's or network's upcoming shows during the current program or end credits.

The graphics department defines templates once, then traffic staff can directly schedule custom versions of the template for multiple promotional events - even updating last-minute time changes automatically as well as changing the voiceover that accompanies each spot.

Edit suite time is completely eliminated since DekoCast can combine video clips, live video, graphics, effects and audio in real time, without involving the graphics staff for updates.

DekoCast supports industry standard master control automation and traffic systems, in addition to newsroom system automation using the III protocol, and control via XML, API authoring, and GPI triggers.

Related Products:

Avid DekoCast
Avid PostDeko

Graphics departments must meet constant demands: design logos, templates, and "on-air look," and then produce every graphic needed across the station or station group. The deadlines are relentless, the needs constant, and last-minute changes inevitable.

launch the Graphics Workflow animation

The visual look-and-feel is crafted by the art department, the station's graphic designer, or lead creative producer by creating elements with Avid Deko and the PostDeko creation software that can be used throughout all departments that need it.

Promotions producers use the visual elements to composite in-program and other promos, bumps and teasers in the DekoCast, while Thunder users can access them for still-store graphics titling--such as over-the-shoulder graphics--directly within the ThunderBrowse system.

Journalists fill in news graphics templates with the text information they need to insert into their iNEWS or other NRCS stories, using the DekoSelect plug-in or the ThunderSelect plug-in for still and clip insertion.

Once all the elements are created, Avid Deko, Avid DekoCast and Avid Thunder can all be triggered by iNEWS Command or other newsroom automation, master control automation and traffic systems, ensuring the on-air accuracy of a complete, end-to-end graphics workflow.

Related Products:

Avid Deko 3000
Avid DekoCast
Avid PostDeko
Avid Thunder

News comes alive with background and over-the-shoulder still and motion graphics. And just imagine live sports and events without a video clip about the athlete who just completed the winning play or the celebrity who just won an award. Tying the story together with graphics is the key to keeping the audience's attention-and stopping the constant clickers.

launch the Live Production animation

Thunder is a compact, single-box live production server to handle all playback of animating backgrounds, news packages, over-the-shoulder still stores, promo clips, sports and entertainment graphics, short video clips and branding elements.

ThunderBrowse software allows users to remotely browse, preview stills and clips, trim clips, delete and copy files and create sequences. And with built-in still titling based on Avid Deko technology, title templates for Thunder can be created using the PostDeko software at any desktop.

With support for MXF, MPEG-2, DV, AVI, QuickTime and sequential TGA and TIFF files with key, canned news and sports packages can be available instantly for playback at the operator's fingertips.

MOS integration enables journalists to insert cues for stills and clips directly into the NRCS script which are then automatically triggered from Thunder at playout.

Related Products:

Avid Thunder

The fast pace of sports production...the unpredictability of an awards show. a comprehensive mix of live events and feature packages in the winter or summer world games. Broadcasters need the tools to instantly play clips and graphics--over the anchor's shoulder, keyed behind the presenter--at the tips of their fingers.

launch the Live Events animation

Fast-paced live events require constant updating of scores, statistics, results and standings. Video and graphic packages must also be available to air or edit instantly.

Avid Deko reduces manual entry through automated data integration and live database access, ensuring content accuracy in an impossibly demanding environment. Intelligent Deko templates can be created in PostDeko or the online Deko system, and enable efficient production of lower thirds, locators, leader-boards, tickers and scorecards.

Broadcasters can prepare their clips, graphics, and packages in advance so that no matter what the turnout, Avid Thunder live production servers have everything available at the push of a button, always ready for any news, sports or entertainment live event surprise.

At playout, the operator can ensure the fastest, mistake-free playout of graphics, clips, animations and custom user functions with single keystrokes.

Related Products:

Avid Deko 3000
Avid Thunder

In a MOS-based newsroom, communication and support between varied devices are critical for graphics and other tasks. When creative, editorial, production, and operations meet, accuracy is the common goal, and broadcasters demand high standards for device integration.

launch the MOS Workflow animation

The DekoMOS Gateway is the central repository for shared storage of graphic templates created by the art department. Templates created using PostDeko software or Deko graphics systems are available for all connected journalists to include in their news stories.

Using the DekoSelect and ThunderSelect plug-ins to the newsroom computer system, including Avid iNEWS and ENPS, journalists can browse, select and edit templates with images, clips and text related to the story and insert directly into their scripts.

iNEWS Command can be used to trigger up to nine output channels of Deko graphics to play during the newscast--in the exact section of the story in which they were placed. If a rundown is reordered, Command automatically updates the order of the graphics.

Related Products:

Avid Deko 3000
Avid Thunder
Avid iNEWS