Blackboard 2 The next level
Inheriting the pedigree, Blackboard 2 evolves the concept, refining the method and enabling the future of colour grading. Blackboard defined the direction for colour grading. But technology evolves and art advances. Colour grading has developed new techniques as desire has become reality. Complexity, speed, efficiency - 足the drive continues.
directly on the key. This also means that high-speed hotkey operations are clear and self-documenting.
Look and feel Blackboard 2 is a high precision instrument designed for artists. Radically dispensing with the industrial trend, Blackboard 2 blends sleek, natural wood into the curved, sweeping design, creating a surface that is at once both practical and highly desirable. Adaptive keys
Form and function The simple radial design ensures all controls are within easy reach, while the controls themselves convey precision - from the tactile keys and silky, responsive trackballs, to the fine grain encoders and accurate jog/shuttle. Blackboard 2 engages the colourist to form the perfect partnership.
Adaptive keys The tactile keys are all soft-configured so that any operation can be assigned to any key. Importantly, the keys are not engraved, but have a dynamically displayed label or image. As a result, the whole surface can be customised, always showing the exact context in every operation
With complete control over the colour, labelling and illumination of keys, the surface can be tailored for any operation.
Context controls Software colour grading tools have advanced rapidly in quantity and complexity. The challenge is to present the tools in a way that is consistent, ergonomic and easy to learn, while ensuring they allow for future growth. All controls on Blackboard 2 vary in range, sensitivity and feedback depending on the operation. The function and labelling of keys, encoders and displays changes seamlessly with every operation. Blackboard 2 only illuminates the active controls to speed up navigation.
Screens
Encoders
Blackboard 2 employs four large, high-resolution displays to give the colourist clear and instant feedback. They not only display the values for the current operation, but also show the flow of operations to assist in navigation with more complex tasks.
Small, precise changes to values are best made using rotary controls. Blackboard 2 features twelve wear-free, limitless optical encoders. Visual feedback from the displays clearly shows the range and level. Each encoder has an integrated push switch to prevent accidental adjustments, and is illuminated with a full colour LED to show activity and state. Two extra encoders are situated near the trackballs for convenient input. These offer direct feedback with magnetic clutches and can be dynamically configured with limits, detents and resistance, depending on the operation.
High-resolution display screens
Trackballs and rings
Integrated keyboards
As the primary grading interface, the trackballs and rings must be exact yet responsive and effortless. The all-new trackballs boast a six-contact point mounting system, ensuring movement is easy in every direction. Optical laser sensing gives absolute precision, whilst avoiding the potential issue of dirt or dust build-up. The inertial-weighted third axis rings float precisely under the lightest touch.
Blackboard 2 offers the choice of a soft QWERTY keyboard mapped onto the adaptive keys for text input and labelling, or a flip-up keyboard for administration tasks such as email. Once open, the backlit hardware keyboard reveals a touchpad and mouse buttons for selection and scrolling. Flipping the keyboard down restores the smooth lines of Blackboard 2 for grading.
Optical trackballs
Jog/shuttle The larger jog/shuttle control features a smooth, highprecision optical encoder for navigating the timeline, shots and frames, as well as a push button to quickly change between modes. The colourist can select the behaviour and feel of the control with the magnetic clutch system.
Blackboard 2
Blackboard 2
Key features Pre-requisites:
Trackballs and rings:
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Baselight system (TWO, FOUR or EIGHT)
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3 x trackballs
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Current production UI host
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6 point trackball mounting
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Baselight system to run FLOS 2.1 minimum operating system
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Optical (laser) sensing
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Baselight v4.2
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Resolution: 1250 ppr X&Y
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DVI-D and USB cabling to UI PC
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3 x bespoke 3rd axis rings
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Resolution: 600 ppr
Specifications: »»
1484 x490 x 140mm (58.5 x 19.3 x 5.6 inches) max. dimensions
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20 kgs (44 pounds)
Encoders:
Power: »»
Switched control
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100-240 v, auto-ranging silent psu input voltage
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2 Amps (max) psu input current
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24 V d.c/7.5 A DC power input
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180 Watts (615 B.T.U) heat
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Surface unique grain, real wood finish
4 Screens
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Resolution 800 x 240 pixels
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150mm x 48mm (5.9 x 1.9 inches)
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User-controllable back light
220 x soft mapped, soft labelled, tactile push keys
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Dynamic, context sensitive, self labelling
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Limitless, rotary optical
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Integral push switch
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RGB led, customisable colour and brightness
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Resolution: 64 ppr
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2 x customisable magnetic clutch optical encoders
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Limitless, rotary optical
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Inegral push switch
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Resolution: >2944 ppr
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Customisable magnetic clutch optical encoder with detents
Tablet:
Controls: »»
14 x encoders
Jog/shuttle:
Display screens: »»
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Integral, Wacom tablet
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3 button pen
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155mm x 100mm (6.1 x 3.9 inches)
Software keyboard:
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Resolution: 112 x 72 pixels
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surface labelled, high contrast, wide viewing angle
Hardware keyboard and touchpad:
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User-controlled brightness
Interface: »»
USB2 and DVI-D (dual-link)
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2 x USB2 ports
Full, soft mapped QWERTY keyboard on adaptive keys
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Integrated, flip-up, 86 key keyboard
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User-controllable backlight
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Integrated, 2 button touchpad
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Northlight, Baselight, Truelight, FLIP, FLUX and Blackboard are trademarks of Filmlight Ltd. Other products that are referred to in this document may be either trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners. The publisher and the author make no claim to these trademarks.
© FilmLight 2013
www.filmlight.ltd.uk