SilhouetteFX

SilhouetteFX began as a rotoscoping tool for the visual effects industry. SilhouetteFX has been expanded to include capabilities facilitating paint, warping and morphing, 2D to 3D conversion and alternative matting methods. As of V6, SilhouetteFX retains all of the aforementioned capabilities now embedded in a node-based digital compositing application.

Version history[]

Silhouette v1.0 - Feb 2005: Silhouette ships with b-splines, bezier splines and point tracking

Silhouette v2.0 - Jul 2005: Added raster paint, layers, match-move, stabilization

Silhouette v3.0 – Aug 2008: Added fully stereoscopic workflow, planar tracking, x-splines, comprehensive keyer

Silhouette v4.0 - Mar 2010: Added Power Matte semi-automatic matting system, rewrote planar tracker, open shapes, scripting, commandline rendering, dual-clone painting.

Silhouette v4.1 - Feb 2011: Planar Tracker rewritten again to be more robust with less user interaction

Silhouette v4.5 - Jan 2012: Added OpenColorIO color management

Silhouette v5.0 - Jan 2013: 2D->3D conversion tools, inverse kinematics for roto, shape-based warping and morphing, raster paint history and auto-paint features with match-move

Silhouette v5.2 - Jul 2014: Crop node, EXR 2 support, Automation Paint enhancements.

Silhouette v6.0 - Nov 2016: Node based GPU accelerated compositor with total of 136 different nodes--all stereo enabled.

Silhouette v7.0 - Jun 2018: Sequence Editing, Planar Tracker enhanced to track textureless objects, roto and paint enhancements.

Silhouette v2020 - Nov 2019: Paint > Detail Separation workflow, Paint plug-in, Magnetic Freehand roto shapes, Roto Overlay, Weighted Keyframes, Group/Part Planar Tracking.

Silhouette v2021 - Apr 2021: Silhouette plug-in, Lens Correction, Movie file format support, Advanced Roto Tools: Brush Reshape, Collapse/Distribute Points, Point Groups, Split Shapes, Roto Review and Approval, Weighted MultiFrame.

Context[]

SilhouetteFX is named for the art form associated with Étienne de Silhouette (July 8, 1709 – 1767). The fundamental output of a rotoscoping program is a matte which when viewed appears as a silhouette of an object to be treated in isolation of the remainder of an image. The image density of the matte determines how a compositing operation effect will be applied. Image pixels corresponding to brighter pixels in the matte will be treated differently than image pixels corresponding to darker pixels in the matte vfx.

Company[]

The developer, SilhouetteFX LLC, was formed as a partnership between principals from Digital Film Tools and Profound Effects, Inc. Partners include Paul Miller, Marco Paolini, Peter Moyer and Perry Kivolowitz.

In 2019, Boris FX, a leading developer of VFX, compositing, titling, video editing, and workflow tools for broadcast, post-production, and film professionals acquired SilhouetteFX.

Awards[]

2019 Academy Award for Technical Achievement - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

2019 Engineering Emmy - Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

Partial List of Notable Films[]

• 30 Days of Night (2007): Weta
• 47 Ronin (2013): Framestore
• 1917 (2019): MPC Film
• A Monster Calls (2016): MPC Film
• A Wrinkle in Time (2018): MPC Film
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012): Weta
• Ad Astra (2019): MPC Film, Weta
• After Party (2017): BOT VFX
• Age of Adaline (2015): BOT VFX
• Alien Covenant (2017): Framestore, MPC Film
• All the Money in the World (2017): MPC Film
• Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015): Weta
• American Sniper (2014): MPC Film
• Aquaman (2018): MPC Film
• Arrival (2016): Framestore
• Artemis Fowl (2020): MPC Film
• Avatar^[2] (2009): Framestore
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015): Framestore
• Avengers: Endgame (2019): Framestore, Weta
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018): Framestore, Weta
• Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016): MPC Film, Weta
• Beauty and the Beast (2017): Framestore
• Bedtime Stories (2008): Tippett Studio
• Ben Hur (2016): BOT VFX
• Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008): Tippett Studio
• Black Widow (2021): Weta
• Blade Runner 2049 (2017): Framestore, MPC Film
• Bridge to Terabithia (2007): Weta
• Captain Marvel (2019): Framestore
• Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (2010): Tippett Studio
• Clash of the Titans (2010): Framestore
• Cloverfield (2008): Tippett Studio
• Coraline (2009): Laika
• Cruella (2021): MPC Film
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014): Weta
• Deadpool 2 (2018): Framestore, Weta
• District 9 (2009): Weta
• Dolittle (2020): MPC Film
• Dracula Untold (2014): Framestore
• Drag Me to Hell (2009): Tippett Studio
• Dumbo (2019): Framestore, MPC Film
• Edge of Tomorrow (2014): Framestore, MPC Film
• Enchanted (2007): Tippett Studio
• Eragon (2006): Weta
• Everest (2015): Framestore
• Ex Machina (2015): Double Negative
• Fantastic Beasts (2016): MPC Film
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018): Framestore
• Fantastic Four (2015): Weta, BOT VFX
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007): Weta
• Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019): Framestore
• Fifty Shades Darker (2017): MPC Film
• Fifty Shades Freed (2018): MPC Film
• Furious Seven (2015): Weta
• Gemini Man (2019): Weta
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017): Framestore, Weta
• Geostorm (2017): Framestore
• Ghost in the Shell (2017): Framestore, MPC Film
• Ghostbusters (2016): MPC Film
• Gods of Egypt (2016): BOT VFX
• Godzilla (2014): Double Negative
• Godzilla (2016): MPC Film
• Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019): MPC Film
• Godzilla vs. Kong (2021): Weta
• Gravity (2013): Framestore
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): Framestore
• Gulliver's Travels (2010): Weta
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010): Rising Sun Pictures, Framestore
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011): Framestore, Rising Sun Pictures, Tippett Studio
• Hateful Eight (2015): BOT VFX
• Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015): BOT VFX
• Immortals (2011): Tippett Studio
• Independence Day: Resurgence (2016): MPC Film, BOT VFX
• Interstellar (2014): Double Negative
• Into The Woods (2014): MPC Film
• Jack the Giant Killer (2013): Image Engine
• Jersey Boys (2014): MPC Film
• John Carter (2012): Double Negative
• Jupiter Ascending (2015): Double Negative
• Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017): MPC Film
• Jumanji: The Next Level (2019): Weta
• Jumper (2008): Weta
• Jungle Cruise (2021): Weta
• Jupiter Ascending (2015): Framestore
• Jurassic World (2015): StereoD
• Justice League (2017): MPC Film, Weta
• King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017): Framestore, MPC Film
• King Kong (2005): Weta
• Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017): MPC Film
• Knight and Day (2010): Weta
• Magnificent 7 (2016): BOT VFX
• Maleficent (2014): MPC Film
• Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019): MPC Film
• Man of Steel (2013): Weta
• Mary Poppins Returns (2018): Framestore
• Maze Runner: Scorch Trials (2015): Weta
• Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018): Weta
• Mirror Mirror (2012): Tippett Studio
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016): BOT VFX, MPC Film
• Mission Impossible-Rogue Nation (2015): Double Negative
• Monster Trucks (2016): MPC Film
• Mortal Engines (2018): Weta
• Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018): Framestore
• Mulan (2020): Weta
• Murder on the Orient Express (2017): MPC Film
• Nanny McPhee Returns (2010): Framestore
• Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014): MPC Film
• Now You See Me 2 (2016): Framestore
• Paddington (2014): Framestore, Double Negative
• Pan (2015): Framestore
• Passengers (2016): MPC Film
• Percy Jackson: Sea Monsters (2013): Weta
• Pete's Dragon (2016): Weta, BOT VFX
• Piranha (2010): Tippett Studio
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017): MPC Film
• Pixels (2015): BOT VFX
• Point Break (2015): BOT VFX
• Predators (2010): Weta
• Priest (2011): Tippett Studio
• Prometheus (2012): Weta
• Rampage (2018): Weta
• R.I.P.D. (2013)
• Red 2 (2013): MPC Film
• Red Cliff (2008): Tippett Studio
• Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011): Weta
• Robocop (2014): Framestore
• Rush (2013): Double Negative
• Salt (2010): Framestore
• Season of the Witch (2011): Tippett Studio
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021): Weta
• Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2013): Framestore
• Skyfall (2012): Double Negative
• Skyscraper (2018): MPC Film
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2020): MPC Film
• Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019): Framestore
• Straight Outta Compton (2015): BOT VFX
• Suicide Squad (2016): MPC Film
• Sully (2016): MPC Film
• Tarzan (2016): MPC Film, Framestore
• Ted (2012): Tippett Studio
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016): BOT VFX
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
• Terminator: Dark Fate (2019): Weta
• Terminator Genisys (2015): Double Negative, MPC Film
• The 5th Wave (2016): BOT VFX
• The A-Team (2010): Weta
• The Adventures of Tintin (2011): Weta
• The Avengers (2012): Weta
• The BFG (2016): Weta
• The Boss (2016): BOT VFX
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008): Weta
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2011): MPC Film
• The Counselor (2013): MPC Film
• The Dark Knight (2008): Double Negative
• The Dark Tower (2017): MPC Film
• The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008): Weta
• The Dinner (2017): BOT VFX
• The Finest Hours (2016): MPC Film
• The Golden Compass (2007): Tippett Studio, Framestore
• The Greatest Showman (2017): MPC Film
• The Gunman (2015): Double Negative
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012): Weta
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014): Weta
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013): Weta
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013): Double Negative / Weta
• The Jungle Book (2016): Weta
• The King's Man (2021): Framestore
• The Lake (2017): BOT VFX
• The Legend of Tarzan (2016): MPC Film
• The Lion King (2019): MPC Film
• The Lone Ranger (2013): MPC Film
• The Lovely Bones (2009): Weta
• The Martian (2015): BOT VFX, Framestore
• The Mountain Between Us (2017): MPC Film
• The Mummy (2017): MPC Film
• The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018): MPC Film
• The Predator (2018): MPC Film
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013): MPC Film
• The Smurfs (2011): Tippett Studio
• The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008): Tippett Studio
• The Suicide Squad (2021): Weta
• The Tomorrow War (2021): Weta
• The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011): Tippett Studio
• The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012): Tippett Studio
• The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010): Tippett Studio
• The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009): Tippett Studio
• The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007): Weta
• The Wolverine (2013): Weta
• The World's End (2013): Double Negative
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017): Framestore
• Titanic 3D (2012): StereoD
• Total Recall (2012): Double Negative
• Transformers: The Last Knight (2017): MPC Film
• Underwater (2020): MPC Film
• Victor Frankenstein (2015): MPC Film
• War Horse (2011): Framestore
• Skyscraper (2018): MPC Film
• Spectral (2017): Weta
• Where the Wild Things Are (2009): Framestore
• Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017): Weta
• War for the Planet of the Apes (2017): Weta
• Wonder Woman (2017): MPC Film
• World War Z (2013): MPC Film
• X-Men: The Last Stand (2006): Weta
• X-Men: Apocalypse (2016): MPC Film
• X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019): MPC Film
• X-Men: First Class (2011): Weta
• xXx: The Return of Xander Cage (2017): MPC Film
• Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021): Weta
• Zoolander 2 (2016): MPC Film

References[]

External links[]

• SilhoutteFX web site