MAPMASTERY PROVIDES WCBS WITH

FULL BROADCAST MAPS HD UPGRADE SUPPORT

Industry’s Most Comprehensive Set of Mapping Solutions Spearheads Successful

Design, Training, and Implementation at Leading NYC Network Affiliate

by David Weiss

NEW YORK: The upgrade to true HD at WCBS in New York City got a big assist recently from MapMastery (www.mapmastery.com), the world’s first comprehensive set of mapping solutions for today’s fast-paced newsrooms. By tapping the deep experience of MapMastery in providing design, training and implementation to broadcasters worldwide, WCBS ensured a highly efficient path to creating eye-catching animated maps in full HD for their four daily newscasts.

A division of the award-winning broadcast design firm Artifactuality, MapMastery brings the unique talents of Emmy Award-winning motion graphics artist/cofounder Robert Mickens to broadcasters who want to make the most of their on-air maps as they transition to HD. “Broadcast maps are a crucial component for telling a big story,” says Bruce Brauer, Director of Creative Services, Promotions and Advertising, WCBS. “Bob Mickens of MapMastery took all the best practices he’s culled from the many newsroom environments he’s consulted with and applied them to making WCBS’ maps the best they can be.”

In the SD format, WCBS was operating with the standard 720x486 configuration of Curious World Maps, a format that had been bringing the station’s animated maps to air for the 12:00 noon, 5:00, 6:00 and 11:00 PM news broadcasts. “WCBS was given the challenge of launching the graphics in all of their broadcasts in true HD format, or 1920x1080,” Mickens says. “MapMastery’s mission was not just to enable them go to air, but to be able to maintain the best look possible with maximum ease and efficiency moving forward.”

MapMastery oversaw a multistage process that began with establishing a signature look for WCBS’ HD maps, arriving at a design that incorporated satellite imagery found in Microsoft Virtual Earth. Drawing on his unparalleled experience with Curious World Maps, Mickens was able to troubleshoot many of the technical issues that had come with executing the desired look.

In the process, MapMastery significantly improved the workflow, setting up render procedures that helped WCBS to save precious minutes in an environment where every second is at a premium. “We were able to make a big impact on the rendering of quick-move animations,” reports Mickens. “Ultimately, we were able to reduce render times down to nine minutes for a 90-frame animation, which is very good for maps in HD.”

MapMastery’s expertise with workflow, file management and the creation of production templates is a key factor in enabling broadcast graphics departments to quickly generate attractive new maps that can go immediately to air. “The new WCBS HD maps not only have a distinctive look but a unique rhythm in which they unfold,” Mickens says. “Because they are a little more complex, the templates became very important. MapMastery made almost 30 templates for WCBS that allows them to make viewing areas for any region, all at extreme speeds.”

Understanding that advanced concepts are useless without thorough training, MapMastery completed the transition of WCBS’ maps to HD with Mickens’ trademark attention to complete education for staffers on the new procedures, as well as availability for ongoing phone and on-site support after the project.

“MapMastery was a tremendous asset for showing us the best way to organize files for high-efficiency workflow, create fast templates for quick response to breaking news and nailing the WCBS look,” Brauer concludes. “When it comes to training, Bob Mickens has the people skills and patience to teach anybody – amateurs to technical experts. He can have anybody in a newsroom making high-impact maps in a very short time.”

###

About Artifactuality

Artifactuality is an award-winning graphic and broadcast design team based in New York City. Founded by Christine Moh and Bob Mickens, Artifactuality takes a multidisciplinary approach to creating effective and motivating onscreen campaigns, film titles, broadcast mapping and more. For more information on Artifactuality, please visit: www.artifactuality.com .

MapMastery is a division of Artifactuality, providing the world’s first comprehensive set of mapping solutions for today’s fast-paced newsrooms. For more information on MapMastery, please visit www.mapmastery.com.

All referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners.