Editing Quantel Paintbox

{{Short description|Computer graphics workstation}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2023}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{infobox computer
| processor = [[Motorola 68000]]
| related = [[Quantel Mirage]]
| successor = Quantel Editbox
| predecessor = IBC Paintbox prototype
| dimensions = 
| weight = 
| discontinued = {{End date and age|1993}}
| aka = Quantel Digital Paint Box
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1981}}
| manufacturer = 
| developer = [[Quantel]]
| type = 2D graphics [[workstation]]
| caption = Paintbox 7001 (bottom) and Paintbox V logo from 1990 (top)
| image = Quantel Paintbox (1).jpg
| logo = Quantel Paintbox logo.jpg
| baseprice = $250,000 (1981)
}}
[[File:Quantel Paintbox, a look inside.jpg|thumb|A look inside a Quantel Paintbox]]
The '''Quantel Paintbox'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Quantel Paintbox |url=https://www.quantelpaintbox.com/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=www.quantelpaintbox.com |archive-date=January 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105235131/http://www.quantelpaintbox.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> was a dedicated [[computer graphics workstation]] for composition of [[broadcast television]] [[video]] and graphics. Produced by the British production equipment manufacturer [[Quantel]] (which, via a series of mergers, is now part of [[Grass Valley (company)|Grass Valley]]), its design emphasized the studio [[workflow]] efficiency required for live news production.

At a price of $250,000 ({{inflation|US|250000|1981|fmt=eq}}{{inflation/fn|US}}) per unit, they were used primarily by large TV networks such as [[NBC]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/22/arts/computer-graphics-enliven-the-screen.html|title=COMPUTER GRAPHICS ENLIVEN THE SCREEN|last=Ward|first=Alex|date=1984-07-22|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-07-08|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|url-access=limited|archive-date=October 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020034034/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/22/arts/computer-graphics-enliven-the-screen.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], Peter Claridge's company CAL Videographics was the first commercial company to purchase one.

Following its initial launch in 1981, the Paintbox revolutionised the production of [[television]] graphics.

== History ==
[[file:Old quantel paintbox machine.jpg|thumb|left|The interface of running Quantel Paintbox software on a V-series Paintbox]]

Artist Martin Holbrook worked with Quantel's development team to develop the artist-oriented functionality and user interface, which remained virtually unchanged throughout the life of the product; their Patented pressure-sensitive pen and tablet elevated it from a computer into a real artist's tool.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Pennington|date=2019-11-25|first=Adrian|title=Industry innovators: Quantel|url=https://www.ibc.org/trends/industry-innovators-quantel/5245.article|access-date=2021-07-01|website=IBC|language=en|archive-date=July 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711074717/https://www.ibc.org/trends/industry-innovators-quantel/5245.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

The real time, broadcast quality, [[24 bit color|24-bit]] Quantel "Paint Box" as it was then known, was launched at NAB in Las Vegas in May 1981.  The [[PAL]] ''DPB-7001'' and the [[NTSC]] ''DPB-7000'', were literally just digital paint machines, with stencils/layers introduced nine months later, and font and text functions implemented by Pepper Howard in 1983. The hardware was readily-available off-the-shelf components, supported by [[Programmable Array Logic]] [[Integrated circuit|ICs]] which were custom-programmed by Quantel. Combining the latest hardware, custom software which had solved usable digital paint issues and an artist-friendly familiar way of creating artwork that required no computer knowledge meant that the Paintbox was an instant success. The Paintbox became the global industry standard digital studio and image manipulation tool for the next fifteen years, bringing digital art and graphics onto everyone's TV screens.

The second generation V-Series Paintbox was released in 1989<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.quantelpaintbox.com/archive/PaintboxVSeries/html5forpc.html |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=www.quantelpaintbox.com |title=Quantel Paintbox for the PC |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106001136/https://www.quantelpaintbox.com/archive/PaintboxVSeries/html5forpc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> as a modernized and more compact and affordable model;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Robertson|first=Adi|date=2012-07-14|title=Watch this: 1990 demo of the Quantel Paintbox|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/7/14/3159189/watch-this-1990-quantel-paintbox-demo|access-date=2021-07-01|website=The Verge|language=en|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185623/https://www.theverge.com/2012/7/14/3159189/watch-this-1990-quantel-paintbox-demo|url-status=live}}</ref> with internal hardware improvements, better tablet, upgraded keyboard and a cordless stylus. Prices started at $80,000{{cn|date=June 2024}} ({{inflation|US|80000|1989|fmt=eq}}).{{inflation/fn|US}}

In 1985, Quantel found a way to vastly increase the framestore capacity, enabling them to create a high resolution print quality Paintbox, which revolutionized the photo manipulation industry five years before [[Adobe Photoshop|Photoshop]] was introduced and led to Quantel's high-profile lawsuit against [[Adobe Inc.|Adobe]] for using the Paintbox's patented features. In the late 1980s, Quantel filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Spaceward Graphics for creating the Matisse system, which was marketed as a cheaper version of the Paintbox. They won the case against Spaceward at the High Court in London in 1990, but lost the case against Adobe in 1997, who were able to demonstrate that [[Richard Shoup (programmer)|Richard Shoup's]] [[SuperPaint|Superpaint]] (1973) had introduced particular features before Quantel's Paintbox. Though Adobe didn't yet exist as a company when Paintbox was launched, demonstrating prior use to the court meant that Quantel's Patents became invalid and the case was thrown out by the judge in Adobe's home state of Delaware.

A Paintbox was usually integrated into Quantel's editing systems, especially the Quantel Henry,<ref name=":0" /> and later Quantel Editbox.

In contrast to the earlier DPB-7000 series machines, the V-series made extensive use of [[Altera]] [[CPLD]] and [[FPGA]] ICs, which integrated much of the complex [[Small-scale integration|SSI logic]] into a smaller number of ICs. Some versions of the V-series hardware refined the design further by moving the CPLD and FPGA logic into "hard-copy" [[Application-specific integrated circuit|ASICs]], which were manufactured by [[Orbit Semiconductor]].

In 2002, the ''generationQ'' series of products introduced the last stand-alone Paintbox and the QPaintbox software for [[Personal computer|PCs]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Pank|first=Bob|title=The Digital Fact Book Converged media 20th anniversary edition|url=http://www.quantel.com/repository/files/library_DigitalFactBook_20th.pdf|access-date=2009-11-06|archive-date=February 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206020538/http://quantel.com/repository/files/library_DigitalFactBook_20th.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Eventually, ''Paintbox'' became a feature of Quantel's other, more powerful editing, media management and post-production products.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pablo grading and finishing for HD, 2K, 4K and stereo3D|url=http://www.quantel.com/repository/files/brochures_Pablo_nab08.pdf|access-date=2009-11-06|archive-date=August 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812155354/http://www.quantel.com/repository/files/brochures_Pablo_nab08.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, Quantel updated their line of [[x86]]-based workstations (with Paintbox and Paintbox gQ models, and a software-only version of QPaintbox).<ref>{{Cite news|title=QUANTEL'S NEW GENERATIONPRODUCTS ARE NOW THENUMBER ONE CHOICE WITHBROADCASTERS.|publisher=film-tv-video.de|url=https://www.film-tv-video.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Quantel_Broadcast.pdf|access-date=July 1, 2021|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182436/https://www.film-tv-video.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Quantel_Broadcast.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=October 2004|first=TVTechnology 07|title=Quantel re-engineers Paintbox|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/equipment/quantel-reengineers-paintbox|access-date=2021-07-01|website=TVTechnology|date=7 October 2004|language=en|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181929/https://www.tvtechnology.com/equipment/quantel-reengineers-paintbox|url-status=live}}</ref> They also released their new Quantel Editbox.

Despite becoming the industry standard TV graphics and post production computer with hundreds sold around the world, Quantel lost all its market share against cheaper systems and software. There are just fifteen V-Series models and only five original DPB versions known to still exist, one of which is being restored to working order.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTNs6N7Qyz0 | title=DL207 Quantel DPB-7001 Digital Paintbox Restoration & Repair Part 1 | website=[[YouTube]] | access-date=March 19, 2021 | archive-date=February 2, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202235218/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTNs6N7Qyz0 | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Paintbox and art ==
[[file:GPB 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Front cover of Quantel's Graphic Paintbox brochure]]

Quantel invested heavily in art, employing a hundred digital artists by the late 1980s to improve and demonstrate the Paintbox features. Graphic Paintbox was used to create the posters for ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'', ''[[JFK (film)|JFK]]'', ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]'', and record covers for Nirvana's ''[[Nevermind]]'', and the Beastie Boys' ''[[Paul's Boutique]]''. ''[[The Miracle (album)|The Miracle]]'', rock band [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s studio album, was designed by Richard Gray and created by Richard Baker.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_42uJoU41y0 | title=The Making of the Miracle Album Cover with Richard Gray 1989 (From GVH2 disc 2) | website=[[YouTube]] | access-date=May 6, 2021 | archive-date=May 7, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507122044/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_42uJoU41y0 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The first company in France to buy a Paintbox, Computer Video Film,<ref>{{Citation |title=Quantel Paintbox @ BCS Moorgate - Part 3. Cesare Massarenti |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ueT7GjHKXw |access-date=2024-01-06 |language=en |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106001136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ueT7GjHKXw |url-status=live }}</ref> were funded by [[Jack Lang (French politician)|Jack Lang]] at the French Ministry of Culture to create the 1985 short film Six Peintres Sur Ordinateur<ref>{{Cite web |title=6 Peintres sur Ordinateur |website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjzRmLKUut4 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106001135/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjzRmLKUut4 |url-status=live }}</ref> but it was most famously used by [[David Hockney]], who created his first digital art on a Paintbox in June 1985, then [[Richard Hamilton (artist)|Richard Hamilton]], [[Howard Hodgkin]], [[Larry Rivers]], [[Sidney Nolan]] and [[Jennifer Bartlett]] in 1986 to create original digital artwork for the  groundbreaking 1987 [[BBC]] series ''Painting with Light''.

Quantel also gave three Paintbox systems to three art schools in the UK in the mid-1980s, including [[Blackpool and The Fylde College|Blackpool College]] where it was used extensively by artist [[Adrian Wilson (artist)|Adrian Wilson]] to create digital images, including the cover of the [[James (band)|James]] album ''[[Gold Mother]]''. Two of Wilson's Paintbox pieces were included in the pioneering ''Art & Computers'' exhibition at the Cleveland Art Gallery, [[England]], September 1988 and he was sponsored by Quantel, who used his images for the cover of the Graphic Paintbox sales brochure.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.interiorphotography.net/ArtandComputers1988/html5forpc.html | title=Kvisoft FlipBook Maker | access-date=March 19, 2021 | archive-date=March 31, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331060249/http://www.interiorphotography.net/ArtandComputers1988/html5forpc.html | url-status=live }}</ref> One recipient, [[Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art]] had recently appointed the video artist [[Stephen Partridge]] as a lecturer who then established (1984) The Television Workshop to support artists and filmmakers' production and access to high-level broadcast technology. Over 400 productions were supported in this way from 1984 to 1992 until desktop video pre-empted the need. Artists and filmmakers using the workshop included [[Richard Morrison (film titles designer)|Richard Morrison]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Landekic|first1=Lola|editor-first=Lola|editor-last=Landekic|editor-first2=Will|editor-last2=Perkins|date=September 15, 2015|title=Hackers|url=https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/hackers/|access-date=2021-07-01|website=www.artofthetitle.com|language=en|archive-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802015934/https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/hackers/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jeff Keen, Robert Cahen, [[Tamara Krikorian]], Pictorial Heroes, [[Judith Goddard]] and many others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rewind.ac.uk/documents/Stephen%20Partridge/SP024.pdf |title=The Television Workshop |access-date=July 18, 2012 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003008/http://www.rewind.ac.uk/documents/Stephen%20Partridge/SP024.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The music video for [[Dire Straits]]' "[[Money for Nothing (song)|Money for Nothing]]" was created on a [[Bosch (company)|Bosch]] FGS-4000 3D animation system using a Quantel Paintbox for backgrounds and textures.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Quantel in 2023, Adrian Wilson curated an exhibition of Paintbox art for the Computer Arts Society,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exhibitions - Quantel Paintbox |url=https://computer-arts-society.com/exhibitions/quantel-paintbox.html |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=computer-arts-society.com |archive-date=August 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805194921/https://computer-arts-society.com/exhibitions/quantel-paintbox.html |url-status=live }}</ref> with the exhibition and catalogue designed by Kim Mannes-Abbot, whose image appears on the front cover of the 1994 ''Paintboxed!'' book.

== See also ==
* [[Video Toaster]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060321195440/http://accad.osu.edu/~waynec/history/PDFs/paint.pdf Alvy Ray Smith – Digital Paint Systems: An Anecdotal and Historical Overview] – Includes information about the Quantel/Adobe lawsuit.
* [http://old.siggraph.org/publications/newsletter/v32n3/contributions/phillips.html Computer Graphics in Court: The Adobe/Quantel Case]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120212135113/http://blog.quantel.eu/2011/03/the-quantel-paintbox-a-pioneering-computer-graphics-workstation A history of the Quantel paintbox (archived from http://blog.quantel.eu/2011/03/the-quantel-paintbox-a-pioneering-computer-graphics-workstation/ )]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0aSj6PqAKA Quantel Paintbox training video], Quantel, 1994
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwO4LP0wLbY&t=244s Paintbox V-series promotional video]
* [https://www.visionefx.net/quantel-paintbox-at-cbn/ Quantel Paintbox installed at CBN] Christian Broadcasting Network 1989
[[Category:Computer workstations]]
[[Category:Film and video technology]]
[[Category:Quantel]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1981]]