URGENT -- What is a "chyron"? at DVinfo.net

Paul Tauger · May 25th, 2004, 05:53 PM

I always thought this was a titling device. Does it have another meaning? A production company is offering to provide my client with a "chyron of the program" and I don't know what it means in this context.

Thanks!

Ken Tanaka · May 25th, 2004, 06:07 PM

It is, indeed, an overlay generator for broadcast work. Here is the company's site.

I, too, am puzzled by the use of the term in this context. Hopefully, a television pro will chime in.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · May 25th, 2004, 06:17 PM

They're referring to the CHYRON RGBA file format. Years ago Chyron supported a Photoshop converter, but from the plaintive posts a Usenet search turns up, it sounds like doing anything with Chyron files without a Chyron system is a hassle these days. Your client should ask for export in a specific format he/she knows for certain he/she will be able to handle.

There's not much on the Cow about this, but you can try asking over there, on their Broadcast forum. Good luck.

Paul Tauger · May 26th, 2004, 01:10 AM

Thanks, everyone. We had asked for SuperBeta. I think the producer may just be being difficult.

Bill Pryor · May 26th, 2004, 04:59 PM

Heheh--if you asked for "SuperBeta" he probably was trying to be funny.

The Chyron character generator that was considered standard in the broadcast and production industries for many years, and some people (usually those over 50) still refer to titles as "chyrons." I've never heard the word used the way you mentioned. Of course, the producer has probably never heard of SuperBeta either.

Paul Tauger · May 26th, 2004, 05:22 PM

Ooops. I meant digibeta.

Bill Pryor · May 27th, 2004, 04:19 PM

Oh, OK. I thought maybe Sony had come out with another format I didn't know about.

May 25th, 2004, 05:53 PM	#1
Paul Tauger Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles (recently from San Francisco) Posts: 954	URGENT -- What is a "chyron"? I always thought this was a titling device. Does it have another meaning? A production company is offering to provide my client with a "chyron of the program" and I don't know what it means in this context. Thanks!

May 25th, 2004, 06:07 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	It is, indeed, an overlay generator for broadcast work. Here is the company's site. I, too, am puzzled by the use of the term in this context. Hopefully, a television pro will chime in. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

May 25th, 2004, 06:17 PM	#3
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	They're referring to the CHYRON RGBA file format. Years ago Chyron supported a Photoshop converter, but from the plaintive posts a Usenet search turns up, it sounds like doing anything with Chyron files without a Chyron system is a hassle these days. Your client should ask for export in a specific format he/she knows for certain he/she will be able to handle. There's not much on the Cow about this, but you can try asking over there, on their Broadcast forum. Good luck. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 26th, 2004, 01:10 AM	#4
Paul Tauger Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles (recently from San Francisco) Posts: 954	Thanks, everyone. We had asked for SuperBeta. I think the producer may just be being difficult.

May 26th, 2004, 04:59 PM	#5
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Heheh--if you asked for "SuperBeta" he probably was trying to be funny. The Chyron character generator that was considered standard in the broadcast and production industries for many years, and some people (usually those over 50) still refer to titles as "chyrons." I've never heard the word used the way you mentioned. Of course, the producer has probably never heard of SuperBeta either.

May 26th, 2004, 05:22 PM	#6
Paul Tauger Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles (recently from San Francisco) Posts: 954	Ooops. I meant digibeta.

May 27th, 2004, 04:19 PM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Oh, OK. I thought maybe Sony had come out with another format I didn't know about.