Commercial potential: NLE systems, and their users, are taking on new roles in the creation of TV advertisements.

As the capabilities of high-end non-linear video editing systems have evolved over the last several years, so have the roles of video editors. No longer do they use NLE systems just to cut and paste frames and clips from one spot in video footage to another. Now they can perform tasks that have traditionally belonged to other professionals: They can handle compositing and rotoscoping, create effects and 3D type, and correct color and lighting. In short, they can more fully exploit their artistic skills, and in the process play a more integral role in the projects on which they work. Although these changes are taking place just about everywhere that NLE systems are used, ...