Brainstorm on court for Wimbledon 3D graphics

UK: First of what is undoubtedly going to be a slew of stories about Wimbledon coming up in the next couple of weeks, both 3D and flatscreen: Brainstorm Multimedia’s eStudio 3D render engine has been used by Information & Display Systems to create the graphic elements for the 3D broadcasts from the Championships.

Assisted by UNREEL, Brainstorm’s North American partner, IDS created a design specific for tennis based on a joint review with IBM (which is the Official Information Technology Supplier and Consultant to the All England Lawn Tennis Club). It was all based on a new BBC Graphics design and subsequently ended up as a Wimbledon Graphics Reference Guide that was used to build the Brainstorm graphics package. In January this year IDS conducted parallel testing at the Australian Open, and a full technology test was conducted by the AELTC in late April 2011. The Brainstorm graphics package incorporates the full 3D design and animations used by the BBC but is adjusted to reflect the look, feel and colours of Wimbledon.

According to IDS President, Rallis Pappas: “The Brainstorm eStudio engine is controlled by IDS TV interface and control applications. The systems are configured as ‘dual pipe or channel’ systems with two realtime outputs going live to air. The graphics have a good deal of movement and rotation and also utilise flares, reflection maps, etc. all of which were created natively in Brainstorm and do not use any movie files, or components built in other packages.”

Brainstorm CEO Ricardo Montesa said: “We are delighted to again be working with IDS. Our graphics are often seen throughout the world in virtual sets, election graphics, weather, news, sports, and corporate presentations, but there are few simultaneously seen by the millions worldwide that will enjoy Wimbledon.”