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	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THE STUDIO UPSTAIRS CREATES STUNING TEMPORAL EFFECTS WITH VDS' SYNAPSE FOR QUANTEL generationQ MELVILLE, NY, January 15, 2003 - VDS, a leading developer of broadcast automation software, content design applications and plug-in products, delivers unprecedented plug-in effects to Canada's premiere post production facilities with Synapse for Quantel's generationQ product line. Synapse is VDS' proprietary plug-in product designed to support After Effects plug-ins within the Quantel user interface. VDS now offers six distinctive plug-in packages for Synapse, called Neuron Bundles, each offering an array of dramatic effects. Synapse is a key element at The Studio Upstairs, one of Toronto's leading post production facilities. Upstairs used the plug-ins with their iQ to complete special effects for The Discovery Channel's "Bullet Time". The two-hour HD special features things that transpire in a split second including shooting bullets. There were many challenging aspects to the project including high-speed filming, freeze frames over moving pictures, and endless blur effects. An Exploding Banana! Producer/Director Barry Davis hired Upstairs to create and develop effects within scenes that were shot at 12,000 frames per second with the ultra high-speed Millisecond camera. For the many scenes which required time stretching and warping, RE:Visions' Twixtor (Synapse Neurons II) was the obvious choice. Visual Effects Artist Dale Codling comments, "Without Twixtor the repair work, required by the unique camera, would not be possible." Stopping Time The project also required Boris Continuum Complete (Synapse Neurons I) for detailed, natural-looking blur effects. Certain background and foreground items required directional blur, and motion blur to compensate for the time stretch and to correct strobing that was caused by speeding up a slow-motion shot. BCC also assisted in the grain matching where still frames were tracked into moving backgrounds. Codling adds, "Synapse overcomes the problems of transferring files in and out. This project would have had to go off-platform without it." "It has been a pleasure working with Upstairs." comments D.R. Worthington, Director of Marketing and Product Development at VDS. "Dale Codling is a brilliant Visual Effects Artist and is always pushing the limits of our products. Upstairs has also been beta testing the highly anticipated and soon to be released Synapse Neurons 6, (GenArts Sapphire Plug-ins) so we are standing by for more incredible effects." All new Quantel generationQ products ship with trial versions of Synapse and Neurons bundles already installed. Synapse is compatible with the entire generationQ product range, making it a very attractive option for any Quantel customer interested in expanding their system's capabilities. About VDS VDS is committed to providing automation and content design tools for the broadcast, cable television, internet, and post production markets. VDS designs products for the automated control of broadcast television systems, with an emphasis on graphics-related operations, content distribution and automation, and internet-to-video and video-to-internet systems. VDS content creation systems provide industry tools that deliver graphic design, universal file translation and integration capabilities. About The Studio Upstairs The Studio Upstairs is a post production company featuring visual effects, design and animation for film and television. Equipped with the latest hardware and software, Upstairs maintains a multi-platform environment, allowing clients to finish in any format. For more information please call (416)979-8983. About Quantel Quantel is dedicated to creating new tools for the new digital age, covering everything from terrestrial and satellite television to broadband internet, DVD and d-cinema. Quantel's generationQ is a radical, all-encompassing, new concept that offers total scalability in both hardware and software across post production, graphics and broadcast for multiple resolution, team-working production environments.     VDS Marketing & Product Development: VDS Sales:   David-Ray Worthington Steve Papadakis   Phone: 905-469-6333 Phone: 631-249-4399   Email: Email:       For more information on Quantel, please contact:   Roger Thornton   Phone: +44 1635 48222   Email: