Hi:
I am searching for a high quality chroma keying software program for a Mac G5 running OSX 10.4 with the ease of use similar to that touted for the Windows based Ultra 2 program. Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance,
Ron

Final Cut Pro is a great editing app and has some pretty good chroma keying plugins included. Adobe After Effects is another good one, although it is for special effects only, not a full video editing app.

Hi:

Thank you for your reponse.
I am already using FCP 5.1.4 but I am in search of something a tad more user friendly in terms of the required lighting and preparatory setup. The Chromaflex system looks interesting and does not seem to require a prefectly lit green screen as FCP appears to require. On the other hand, Ultra 2, although a windows based program, is touted by its developer and several reviewers as being quite forgiving when it comes to lighting and the nature of the green screen. Since Ultra does accept QT files it isn't entirely out of the question but I would like to avoid having to transport the files back and forth between my G5 and PC and therein lies my quest.

Thank you once again, however.
Ron

It's not necessarily "user friendly" in the sense that you really have to get into it and learn the software, but once you do, Shake is incredibly powerful. In fact, for a lot of things, I find it really easy. I doubt you will find another program capable of pulling keys as well as Shake for the price...

Hi Tim:

Thank you for your input.

Oddly enough, I came to the same conclusion and just finished installing Shake 4.1 on my G5 dual.

Thanks again,
Ron

Hi:
I am searching for a high quality chroma keying software program for a Mac G5 running OSX 10.4 with the ease of use similar to that touted for the Windows based Ultra 2 program. Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance,
Ron

The best chroma keyer is DV MATTE for after effects, one click and it's perfect. You don't have to deal with "tolerance" and "edge detection" -They make it for Motion too.

http://www.oakstreetsoftware.com/gkey/

nice simple keyer that's put in as a quicktime plugin, so available in any quicktime program :)

Check out Conduit (http://www.dvgarage.com/prod/prod.php?prod=conduit15) (Shake-ish plugin for FCP) and dvMattePro (http://www.dvgarage.com/prod/prod.php?prod=dvmattefcp) from dvGarage.

Hi:

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

At the present time I am trying to sink my teeth into Shake 4.1 and depending upon my success or lack thereof, I will consider several of the proposed options. In addition, since I am awaiting the actual release and arrival of FCP Studio 6 (an upgrade to my current 5.1.4) it might make sense to make certain that the dvgarage options will remain workable in that environment.

Ron

Shake can DEFINITELY handle the job, but it's not typically a short learning curve. Feel free to ask Shake questions on this board if you need help or tips along the way.