LOS ANGELES - Zoic (www.zoicstudios.com) recently completed visual effects work for a new HP spot promoting its easy-to-use Photosmart 375 color photo printer. The commercial continues the effects house's relationship with agency Goodby, Silverstein and Partners, and director Francois Vogel of Paranoid Projects: Tool in Santa Monica.

"Francois II" follows last year's "Francois I" and "Picture Book," and showcases the capabilities of the HP Photosmart 375, which can print color photos, without the use of a computer, in under :60. In the latest spot, director Francois Vogel takes the self-portrait concept of "Francois I" to the next level, artfully framing his face and then creating frames within to illustrate the expediency and versatility of the HP 375.

To create the effect, Zoic Studios composited various layers of imagery using After Effects. The spot was finished in HD using Autodesk Flame. Vogel's VFX supervisor Francois Colou of Paranoid Projects, Paris, worked closely with the studio providing Zoic with a conceptual road map for the project in After Effects.

Creative director/VFX supervisor Chris Jones oversaw the Zoic Studios team as they created the final version. Steve Schofield served as executive producer and Trista Wahl was producer. After Effects artists included Kyle McCulloch, Jared Sandrew, Christina Garranchan and Antony Graf.

Mike Pethel of Company 3 in Santa Monica handled telecine services. The spot was edited by Hal Honigsberg of Chrome in Santa Monica. Prologue in Malibu, CA, provided titles and graphics. The spot feature the track "Out of the Picture" by The Robins. Loren Silber of Lime in Santa Monica handled the final mix.