Hotspring, a leading VFX outsourcing platform, has set itself apart from every other VFX outsource vendor through the integration of SLAPSHOT—an AI-powered toolkit designed to enhance workflows and support creators across the industry. Developed by the team behind Hotspring, SLAPSHOT automates time-consuming tasks like rotoscoping and generative retiming, boosting efficiency and reducing production timelines.
Alongside Hotspring’s top-quality manual workflow, clients can now opt for AI-powered Roto solutions—ideal for fast versioning, quick comps, and more. The service is instantly available to all Hotspring customers across film, TV, and commercials.
SLAPSHOT combines advanced machine learning with deep VFX expertise to deliver a powerful, accessible, and cost-effective solution. The integration empowers creative teams worldwide to elevate their projects while maintaining high quality and fast delivery—positioning Hotspring at the forefront of the evolving VFX landscape.
With decades of experience in VFX, the SLAPSHOT founders identified a clear gap in the market for tools that combine power and accessibility. By blending their knowledge of VFX workflows with the latest in AI technology, they’ve created a toolkit that brings professional-grade effects within reach for creators of all types.
SLAPSHOT: The Future of VFX is Here
SLAPSHOT marks a significant breakthrough in VFX technology, combining machine learning with intuitive design to create powerful visual effects tools. Developed by a team of VFX veterans behind Academy Award-winning films and Emmy-winning TV shows, SLAPSHOT allows creators—from professional studios to independent editors and content creators—to access high-end VFX tools without the need for expensive hardware or technical expertise.
Jon Mason, Co-Founder and CEO of Hotspring and SLAPSHOT, says:
“There’s so much exciting research happening in AI, and we built SLAPSHOT with the flexibility to onboard new technologies as quickly as they emerge. Our goal is to make the latest advancements in AI accessible to creators in real-time, ensuring they can produce better content, faster.”
Currently, the SLAPSHOT app features two core tools:
- AI-Powered Rotoscoping streamlines the traditionally labor-intensive process, allowing users to quickly select and isolate elements with just a few clicks. Results can be exported in industry-leading formats like EXR, JPG, and MOV in both hard and soft mattes, drastically speeding up the creative process for VFX teams.
- Generative Retiming uses AI to predict and generate new frames, enabling video length extensions of up to 200% without compromising quality. Users simply upload a video, input the desired length, and export the results with ease.
With the integration of SLAPSHOT, Hotspring users can now access these AI tools for free, forever. Once shots are uploaded to Hotspring, users simply hit the ‘enable AI’ button, and their footage automatically syncs with SLAPSHOT’s tools—unlocking faster, more efficient workflows. This blend of traditional outsourcing and AI-powered automation offers clients a truly future-facing solution.
Ben Stallard, Hotspring & SLAPSHOT Managing Director, explains:
“SLAPSHOT bridges the gap between traditional VFX outsourcing and AI technology. Our goal is to provide the best, most efficient solution for the VFX community, enabling clients to outsource material to Hotspring while having the ability to leverage AI to accelerate the process where needed.”
Recent projects utilising SLAPSHOT technology include a large-scale video installation for the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, music videos for Yungblud and Little Simz, and feature film Timestalker.
“This is a game-changer for the VFX industry,” Mason adds. “AI is not about replacing traditional VFX—it’s here to enhance workflows and help creators tell better stories. Together, Hotspring and SLAPSHOT offer something unique: a proven platform with an intuitive AI toolkit that’s scalable, affordable, and built for the next generation of storytellers.”
Looking ahead, Hotspring and SLAPSHOT will continue to expand the range of AI tools available, keeping pace with rapid advancements in the VFX industry. A redesigned Hotspring interface is also in the works to make the platform even more intuitive and user-friendly.
Hotspring & SLAPSHOT Managing Director, Ben Stallard, concludes:
“SLAPSHOT was built to make high-quality VFX tools accessible to everyone. Whether you’re a VFX artist working on high-end films, TV or commercials, or an individual creator managing your own channels, our goal is to make SLAPSHOT the ‘go-to’ AI-powered VFX toolkit for creators worldwide.”
For more information about Hotspring, visit thehotspring.com.
For more information about SLAPSHOT, view trailer.
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