RETAS!PRO hit the market in 1993 as a digital animation tool for professionals working in the animation industry. The software digitized the production of animations based on cels and film, and brought efficiency and enhancement of the screen presentation. Currently, it is used at more than 400 domestic studios and more than 60 educational institutions in Japan as well as in more than 14 countries outside Japan (e.g., South Korea, China, and USA, etc.).
Development Concept
The HD, which is the 6th generation of the RETAS!PRO series was developed with the following 3 keywords in mind.
The RETAS!PRO HD series is a new generation animation production software that is the result of improvements and enhancements based on a careful revision of the older versions' functionality.
* The February 28, 2006 release includes STYLOS HD, TraceMan HD, and PaintMan HD from among the RETAS!PRO HD series. CoreRETAS and other RETAS!PRO applications will follow.
High Image Quality, High Resolution
Improvements have been made for supporting higher image quality and higher resolution to meet the needs for dealing with the upcoming terrestrial digital broadcasting (High Definition TV) era.
When migrating from the current SDTV (NTSC) to HDTV, it is necessary to process image data for approximately 5.6 times higher screen density per area. Processing capacity would reach its limit if the conventional raster based process is continued.
RETAS! Pro two approaches for dealing with the HD era
(1) Vector images in addition to the conventional raster image
RETAS!PRO now handles resolution-independent and compact vector images in addition to the conventional raster images.
DGA and CEL formats are added to handle vector image data as they cannot be handled with the general raster image format.
(2) Better screen presentation by using 16 bits and with enhanced special effects
To get more out of the higher resolution of HD, 16 bits/channel Color Picker has been added to the conventional 8 bits/channel.
Also, functions for special effects have been improved, allowing use of semi-transparent colors or high quality airbrush.
One Source, Multi-use
Improvements have been made to make it possible to use the animation in multiple media, that is, in TV animation, DVD, feature animation, publication, Internet, and cellular telephony.
• RETAS!PRO HD series fully support vector images as their resolution is scalable and as such allows you to give the material a second use (multiuse) by changing the resolution accordingly at output.
• RETAS!PRO HD series allows images created for TV animation to be exported to EPS and/or Flash formats (*) with their vector characteristics intact for their use with other software applications.
* Export to EPS or Flash format is available for vector image data only.
• The material can be used to produce high quality images for cinema animations or publications.
• The material can also be used to produce lower resolution images for use in cellular telephony or Web animation (Flash)
Vector image quality does not deteriorate even when its resolution is changed because the most appropriate resolution for the use is applied.
Changing the resolution does not mean changing the image quality with vector images.
Consistency
The RETAS!PRO HD has been developed to match the workflow of the production site and reproduce the animator's skill as much as possible, and make the production more efficient. Backward compatibility and usability of older versions are also important aspects taken into consideration in the design.
RETAS!PRO HD keeps backward compatibility
(1) Compatibility with older version data
In RETAS!PRO HD series, proprietary image formats (DGA and CEL) have been added to the conventional general image format (e.g., TGA) to enable the exchange of data created with older versions. (*)
(2) Possibility of using the conventional [Mono Traced] image workflow only
It is also possible to work with the conventional mono trace image workflow only, without using the enhancements introduced in RETAS!PRO HD such as multi-layer image and 16 bits/channel.
(3) Support for mixed conventional and [HD series] environment
Gradual migration to HD series is possible because RETAS!PRO HD can be placed in a workflow implemented with older RETAS!PRO by limiting the image formats to be used in the finishing to [mono traced] images with general image format (e.g., TGA), or place Ver. 5 series in a workflow implemented with RETAS!PRO HD.
[ Example: Either of the following types of workflow is possible ]
(* Image data (DGA format) created with STYLOS HD cannot be edited with STYLOS Ver.1)
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