Autodesk Introduces Extensions for VFX and Finishing Systems

Autodesk announces extensions for the Autodesk Smoke 2009 finishing effects system and the 2009 versions of Inferno, Flame and Flint visual effects systems. Available to customers on subscription, these extensions provide features including:

• Real-time deliverables for mastering to multiple formats without rendering
  
• Enhanced floating point toolset
  
• More than 80 new particle system presets for Inferno, Flame and Flint
  
• Improved Smoke editorial workflow
  
• Additional compressed format support
  
• Greater interoperability with the Autodesk Lustre digital color grading system.

(Today, Autodesk also announced the upcoming availability of Autodesk Lustre 2009 and Incinerator 2009. Read the story here.)

"We're meeting the demands of postproduction houses that want to expand and differentiate their businesses by offering highly creative, effects-centric finishing," says Stig Gruman, Digital Entertainment Group vice president, Autodesk Media & Entertainment. "With powerful new creative capabilities, complete clip compatibility between Flame and Smoke, native playback of streaming media formats, and expanded codec support, our customers are poised to benefit from the most open, collaborative and affordable Autodesk systems to date."

"We are delighted that Autodesk's visual effects and finishing systems will support AVC-Intra natively," said Tadao Shimozuru, director of Professional AV Systems, Panasonic AVC Networks Company. "With the new P2 VariCam, AJ-HPX2700/3700, launching in the same time frame, customers will be able to enjoy an ideal file-based workflow with full raster, 10-bit video quality."

Highlights of Extension 1 for Smoke 2009

Editorial Enhancements

• Side-by-Side Source and Record Views
  Enables Smoke operators to build a narrative structure from the ground up. Includes side-by-side Source and Record players, instant access to basic editing functions, the means to easily create sub-clips, and the ability to work with a source and record a clip simultaneously.
  
  
• Audio Gain Rubberbanding
  Allows the user to quickly and easily set audio levels in the timeline.

Workflow Improvements and Expanded Format Support

• Real-Time Deliverables
  When multiple resolutions from a high-quality master need to be output, this new mastering-to-VTR tool improves efficiency by providing real-time up and down conversions without having to render. Outputs source files of up to 2K 12-bit images to most video formats.
  
  
• Support for Additional Compressed Media Formats
  Supports Apple QuickTime animation with alpha and QuickTime motion-JPEG, XDCAM, XDCAM HD codecs, and Panasonic P2 AVC-Intra media at 50 and 100 modes.
  
  
• Improved Support of QuickTime Metadata
  To further increase interoperability with Apple Final Cut Pro, Smoke now uses timecode and reel-name information contained in Apple QuickTime files when importing or soft-importing QuickTime metadata.
  
  
• Advanced Import Image Browser
  Artists can work more efficiently with industry standard digital acquisition formats. It is faster and easier to browse and recursively scan clips in P2 and XDCAM directory structures.
  
  
• Support for External Proxies
  When working with high-resolution images such as film scans, existing proxies can be imported rather than re-generated.
  
  
• Full-Image Resolution Output to the Broadcast Monitor
  Ability to send a selected clip to the SDI output of the Nvidia graphics card to offer clients a full-screen view on the broadcast monitor.

OpenEXR Workflow Enhancements

• Floating-Point Processing in the Color Corrector and Color Warper
  Support for 16-bit floating-point processing has been extended to the Color Warper and Color Corrector, providing greater control over the entire original color range of 16-bit file formats.
  
  
• Remote Rendering of 16-bit Floating-Point Action Setups
  With the addition of the Nvidia Quadro FX 3700, artists can use the latest GPU-accelerated version of Autodesk Burn software to remote render Action setups based on 16-bit OpenEXR files.
  
  
• New HDR Viewer
  Provides a more accurate and flexible view of logarithmic, linear and video images in modules supporting multiple viewers, and the Player exposes even more image detail.

Highlights of Extension 1 for Inferno 2009, Flame 2009 and Flint 2009

New Creative Tools

• Animated GMask 3D Extrude*
  This new tool extends 3D compositing with the ability to import free-form GMask geometries into Action and extrude them to create textured 3D objects. GMask geometries can be animated to more easily design graphic looks.
  
  
• Better Auto-stabilization*
  The precision of the new Auto-stabilization tool has been extended to automatically track an object based on the region of interest.
  
  
• Object Tracking with the 3D Tracker*
  Advances the fast, accurate 3D tracker in Flame by giving artists the ability to isolate moving objects in a complex scene. Along with camera tracking, object tracking offers tools that help integrate new elements with complex moving scenes.
  
  
• Motif tool*
  A fast, symmetrical pattern (kaleidoscope) generation tool that can be used to make textures with ease.
  
  
• Exposure Node
  With support for 16-bit floating-point processing, the Exposure node allows artists to design both realistic and creative effects by adjusting the exposure and the contrast of their images.
  
  
• Particle Presets
  More than 80 new particle presets provide artists with a fast and easy way to harness the Inferno, Flame and Flint systems' powerful 3D particle effects.

* Not available in Flint.

Workflow Improvements and Expanded Format Support

• Real-Time Deliverables
  When multiple resolutions from a high-quality master need to be output, this new mastering-to-VTR tool boosts efficiency by providing real-time up and down conversions without having to render. Outputs source files of up to 2K 12-bit images to most video formats.
  
  
• Support for Additional Compressed Media Formats
  Supports QuickTime animation with alpha and QuickTime motion-JPEG, XDCAM, XDCAM HD codecs, and Panasonic P2 AVC-Intra media at 50 and 100 modes.
  
  
• Greater Support of QuickTime Metadata
  To increase interoperability with Final Cut Pro, Smoke now uses timecode and reel-name information contained in Apple QuickTime files when importing or soft-importing QuickTime metadata.
  
  
• Advanced Import Image Browser
  Artists can work more efficiently with industry-standard digital acquisition formats. It is faster and easier to browse and recursively scan clips in P2 and XDCAM directory structures.
  
  
• Support for External Proxies
  When working with high-resolution images such as film scans, existing proxies can be imported rather than re-generated.
  
  
• Full-image Resolution Output to the Broadcast Monitor
  Ability to send a selected clip to the SDI output of the Nvidia graphics card, to offer clients a full-screen view on the broadcast monitor.

OpenEXR Workflow Enhancements

• Floating-Point Processing in the Color Corrector and Color Warper
  Support for 16-bit floating-point processing has been extended to the Color Warper and Color Corrector, providing greater control over the entire original color range of 16-bit file formats.
  
  
• Remote Rendering of 16-bit Floating-Point Action Setups
  With the addition of the Nvidia Quadro FX 3700, artists can use the latest GPU-accelerated version of Autodesk Burn software to remote render Action setups based on 16-bit OpenEXR files.
  
  
• New HDR Viewer
  Provides a more accurate and flexible view of logarithmic, linear and video images in modules supporting multiple viewers, and the Player exposes even more image detail.

Availability
Autodesk anticipates that Extension 1 for Smoke 2009 and Extension 1 for the 2009 versions of Inferno, Flame and Flint will be available in October 2008. Autodesk Subscription customers will receive these extension releases as a benefit of subscription.

Training Users can get up to speed quickly on new features through free online training videos for Smoke and Flame. Autodesk also offers classroom-based and on-site training for artists of all levels, who are looking to further sharpen their skills.