ETC announces the release of Hog 4 version 4.0 software. Enhancements include significant improvements to color handling and Hog 4’s Color Picker, a new ‘Record Defaults’ function, and Fixture Builder upgrades. ETC created an introductory video for the Hog 4.0 OS:

Senior Product Manager Sarah Clausen commented, “Ultimately, the new color system relieves programmers and designers from the challenges in controlling rigs with multiple color engines. By providing multiple color input languages through the color pickers, virtual color functions and the gels library, and full ‘physical’ function controls linked to the virtual controls at all times, color control becomes seamless.”

For color handling, v4.0. represents a major overhaul of the color mixing system used in Hog 4 OS. Substantial changes have been made to the fixture library, color picker, gels, palettes, effects, plots, pixel mapping, and the playback of color. All color mixing systems including native HS, xyY, CMY, and all additive color engines are now fully integrated and supported by the color system. Additionally, Hog 4 OS v4.0 features a new Color Picker window with a tabbed interface that features a wide variety of controls for quickly and seamlessly mixing color across all fixture types.  A new “Color Mix” preview column has been added to the output window and editor windows, indicating the color being output by color mixing fixtures.

In addition to the color system rework, v4.0 includes a number of other improvements. Record Defaults provides operators with a quick and simple way to establish default function values for fixtures by using modified values in the programmer. The Fixture builder has a few minor upgrades in v4.0, including additional basic mode templates for modeling additive color modeling fixtures, automatic application of virtual intensity to fixtures with color mixing systems, and the inclusion of more user-editable fields such as mode and product.

Version 4.0 is compatible with all generations of Hog 4 hardware. This major release introduces significant improvements to the OS, resulting in a show file compatibility break. Users should update to v4.0 only when they are ready to start a fresh show file and become familiar with the new workflows. In a future release, the capability to export data from a v3.x show file and import it into a v4.x show file will be available.

“Version 4.0 software is a major step forward for the Hog 4 OS, bringing best in class color controls to the platform and including optimizations that give us a solid base for our future development,” remarked Market Manager Tania Lesage.

Version 4.0 is a major release with a lot of changes to your workflow where color is concerned. Please update only when you have some time to become familiar with the new features. Also, v3.x show files and archives will not open directly into v4.0 – there will be a pair of releases (v3.21/v4.1) that will add export/import capability to bring v3.x show files including fixture data into v4.1 and beyond.

For further information on Hog 4 and to download v4.0 software, visit  https://hubs.la/Q02jc2Jd0