Autodesk, Inc. today
launched its Academy Award-winning Discreet Inferno visual effects system
running on the Linux operating system. The Discreet Inferno system enables
the world's top digital artists in broadcast facilities, post-production
houses and film studios to deliver extraordinary moving imagery. This
system contains a robust creative toolset for high-speed compositing,
advanced graphics and interactive design. It has shaped blockbuster feature
films and television programming – such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as well as numerous Super Bowl
commercials and premium television channel branding.
"Autodesk's Discreet Inferno system on a blazingly fast dual-core Linux
workstation allows our artists more time and opportunity to do what they
love best – be creative," commented Wilaiwan Leelachart, Managing Director,
Fame Post. "Moreover, the system has strong brand recognition and
incomparable performance, delivering top results that help us attract and
retain the prestigious clients that drive our business. We've adopted the
Discreet Inferno system because we need to deliver complex, high-end visual
effects work without compromising quality or wasting time."
"Autodesk's Discreet Inferno visual effects system provides the ultimate
interactive experience," said Martin Vann, vice president of Autodesk's
Media & Entertainment Division. "With the Discreet Inferno system's rich
toolset on a high-powered, multi-core Linux workstation, users will benefit
from even faster processing speeds and greater interactivity. For customers
who create demanding visual effects with multiple layers and heavy data
sets, the Discreet Inferno system on the Linux workstation can offer up to
five times the performance (per CPU) of previous SGI platforms such as the
Onyx 2."
In November 2005, Autodesk launched a Linux-based configuration of the
Discreet Inferno 6.5 system exclusively for the Japanese market. As a
result of global customer interest and immediate success in Japan, Autodesk
is extending a similar offering worldwide. The Linux-based Discreet Inferno
system will be available worldwide on an IBM dual-core AMD workstation. The
Discreet Inferno system is already available on the IRIX operating system.
Teruo Shirakawa, Director of Video Process Group, Video Imaging Division,
IMAGICA WEST Corp. in Japan, explained, "We chose Autodesk's Discreet
Inferno system running the Linux operating system because it delivers
project efficiency and high-quality results. The system helps us keep our
clients satisfied and excited about the projects we present and deliver to
them."
The Discreet Inferno system is renowned for its interactivity, allowing
digital artists to explore visual concepts with their clients in real time.
Shirakawa continued, "We use Autodesk's Discreet Inferno system running
Linux primarily for our client sessions. Each time we use the system, we're
pleasantly surprised at its real-time response rate and high rendering
speed, in addition to its stability and reliability. The efficiency of our
workflow has dramatically improved; it has removed all barriers as we
consider moving our complete facility to Linux."
Availability
The Discreet Inferno system running on Linux-based workstations will be
offered in addition to the currently shipping version of Discreet Inferno
on the SGI Onyx 350 Visualization System. The Discreet Inferno visual
effects system running on dual-core IBM, AMD Linux-based workstations will
begin shipping worldwide in late April 2006. For additional information on
Autodesk Discreet systems, please visit: www.autodesk.com/me