Autodesk Shows 2008 Versions of Its Postproduction Systems

Archive notice: This article was originally published on September 6, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.At IBC 2007, Autodesk is showing the new versions of the visual effects systems Inferno, Flame and Flint, as well as the editing/finishing systems Fire and Smoke. The 2008 versions are delivered on Linux PCs, so that Autodesk’s products for visual effects and editing/finishing are now affordable not only for the high-end market but also for the mid-range market.

The new versions offer open file systems that improve interoperability with third-party applications. They also have 100 percent clip compatibility with Autodesk’s entire visual effects and editing/finishing pipeline.

The 2008 product versions can be seen at the Autodesk stand (No. 7-420) at IBC 2007 in the RAI convention centre in Amsterdam.

“The new Autodesk versions for visual effects, editing and finishing create new possibilities for the workflow. Because customers can access their data from anywhere via directly attached storage media, storage area networks (SAN) or mass-storage units attached to the local network (NAS),” says Stig Gruman, Vice President Advanced Systems at Autodesk Media & Entertainment. “Interoperability with all postproduction technologies significantly improves collaboration and data management. This in turn opens up new markets for us, for example that of medium-sized postproduction studios and television broadcasters.”

Indianapolis-based television broadcaster WTHR TV NBC 13 was the first local station in Indiana to broadcast a news programme in HD resolution. “There is now real market potential for Autodesk systems in medium-sized production and broadcasting studios. The prerequisite for this was Autodesk’s standard file systems and Wiretap technology, as well as third-party tools for integrating the complete facility,” says Brian Mulligan, chief editor at WTHR and an Autodesk Smoke system artist. Smoke was used to create WTHR’s new Eyewitness news trailer and Super Bowl commercial.

In addition, the 2008 versions have a new, uniform cross-product user interface that makes it easier to switch between applications. The new user interface also provides users with additional tools. Alex Ortoll, Flame artist and visual effects supervisor at Estudios Alcine, says: “On the new 16:9 interface, I have many more tools directly at hand, so I no longer have to comb through layers and submenus. Although it took me a few days to get used to the new layout, the higher performance is clearly noticeable.” Estudios Alcine recently used Flame for the film epic The Heart of the Earth and is currently working in Spain on the feature film Open Graves.

Highlights of the new Autodesk visual effects and editing/finishing systems 2008 include:

• Support for standard file systems improves the workflow and enables the direct exchange of clips between system and third-party applications without data having to be duplicated. Data can be edited directly on SAN or NAS storage media.
• Expanded, simultaneous workflow between visual effects, editing and colour grading thanks to metadata handling and improved InfiniBand networking.
• OpenEXR support and expanded support for Autodesk’s FBX software allow greater interoperability between Flame and Maya. The visual effects products can now import NURBS objects. Artists can match their compositions with the 3D department by exporting camera data, axis positions and 3D point clouds.
• 100 percent compatibility of settings and clips between Flame and Smoke; clips and metadata can be exchanged freely within the visual effects and finishing product line.
• New multi-layer timeline and audio tools in Flame, Flint and Inferno expand flexibility and interoperability with Smoke and Fire.

• New 16:9 user interface with a large selection of directly accessible tools.

• The new Smoke and Flame user interfaces enable more intuitive switching between the applications.

• To increase user-friendliness, even more tools are now directly accessible on the screen.

• The expanded DVE 3D compositing environment in Fire and Smoke offers higher performance for visual effects and an appearance that makes it easier for artists to switch between Smoke and Flame. The new Expressions tools replace the manual keyframing process, so that animations can be created quickly.

These versions also include functions that were introduced with Extension 1, 2007 and had previously been accessible only to Autodesk subscribers. A complete list of the new functions and enhancements in the 2008 versions of Autodesk Inferno, Flame, Flint, Fire and Smoke is available on the website.

Autodesk expects the 2008 versions of Inferno, Flame, Flint, Fire and Smoke to be available in autumn 2007. The new systems are delivered on HP 9400 workstations running the Linux operating system.

Further Links:

• Autodesk Media&Entertainment