Leading post and animation/FX software makers are preparing to display their wares on the massive show floor at NAB2006. The result will be a buffet of new and upgraded systems and software for post practitioners, plus attempts to draw them to booths through a combination of star quality and cutting-edge eye candy.

Based on the information available at Playback's press time, manufacturers are hoping a mix of new features and more affordable purchasing options - such as a Softimage rental program - will help seal some deals. However, there doesn't seem to be any widespread price-slashing planned - a strategy famously employed by Alias at NAB2002, when it dropped the price of its Maya Complete package by nearly 75%.

Softimage, the Montreal-based FX/animation division of Avid, will be highlighting its new Softimage|Face Robot facial animation product at this year's show.

"Because the human face is made up of many small muscle groups, it's very hard to animate," says Gareth Morgan, Softimage's senior product manager. "Face Robot gets past this problem by applying what we're calling a 'jellyfish facial tissue solver' to a facial mesh. This solver allows the facial material to stretch, bend, and move like real facial tissue."

New York FX house Spontaneous recently used Face Robot to create a digital version of singer Bono for U2's Original of the Species music video.

With a price tag of US$95,000, Softimage|Face Robot is a pricey piece of software, which is why shops like Spontaneous can rent it for a three-month period for specific projects, a deal that Softimage will be offering to delegates at NAB2006. Softimage will also be promoting version 5.1 of its flagship XSI software at its NAB location within the Avid booth.

The challenge in previewing companies' NAB strategies is that many are playing their cards close to the vest right up until the trade show doors swing open at the Las Vegas Convention Center on April 24,

and Avid is no exception. The company has issued a statement promising that it is "gearing up with a brand new booth and a series of announcements that are sure to have the industry abuzz."

Avid was crowing last month about how all the feature films nominated for best picture and best editing at the recent Academy Awards employed Avid systems, and, holding true to past patterns, the firm will likely have some of the involved talent performing demos at its booth. (Editors Dylan Tichenor, who cut Brokeback Mountain, and Hughes Winborne, Oscar-winning editor of Crash, are already confirmed to be at NAB for the NAB Post|Production World Conference.)

Also look for Avid to prominently feature its Symphony Nitris HD editing platform.

The rivalry for show-floor eyeballs intensified last year, with the facing booths of Avid and Apple each attracting huge crowds. Undoubtedly, Apple is succeeding in convincing buyers that its traditionally more affordable Final Cut Pro editing application can now be used for higher-end projects. Calls to Apple about its NAB plans were not returned.