NAB 2009: Autodesk Introduces Smoke 2010, Flint 2010 and Lustre 2009 Extension Latest Visual Effects Systems Help Boost Efficiency and Promote Creative Freedom on Film and TV Projects
announced the 2010 releases of Autodesk Smoke and Autodesk Flint software
for editorial finishing and visual effects. The company also unveiled the
2009 Extension 1 releases of Autodesk Lustre and Autodesk Incinerator color
grading software. In addition, the company launched Autodesk Flare
software, a creative companion to the 2010 releases of Autodesk Flame and
Autodesk Inferno visual effects systems (announced separately). The new
releases are being showcased in the Autodesk booth SL2120 at the National
Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas which runs from April
20-23, 2009.
meet today’s artistic and business challenges,” said Stig Gruman, Digital
Entertainment Group vice president, Autodesk Media & Entertainment. “We are
focused on promoting creative freedom for projects large and small and our
new systems releases feature creative 3D tools, improved interoperability,
and expanded format support, including RED, across multiple platforms.”
Autodesk tools have been used on some of this year’s highest profile
entertainment projects, including the TV shows “NCIS,” “Bones,” “Prison
Break,” “Smallville” and “Dexter”; as well as blockbuster movies such as
“Milk,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Changeling,” “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and “The
Day the Earth Stood Still”. The software was also used to help shape the
Super Bowl commercials Pepsi “Pass” and “Refresh,” General Electric
“Scarecrow” and Pedigree “Crazy Pets.”
Quotes from beta testers:
o “Smoke continues to make my jobs easier with each release.” à˜Mark
Sullivan, VFX Artist, 3008
o “The increased integration between Flame and Smoke is huge.” à˜Jake
Parker, Visual FX Supervisor, Fischer Edit
Autodesk Smoke is a nonlinear, timeline-based system for editorial
finishing and visual effects in short- and long-form post-production and
broadcast design. With an extensive set of editorial and finishing
features, Smoke provides intuitive, powerful and high-speed tools to
editors as well as finishing and effects artists.
Autodesk Flint is a cost-effective system for designing complex visual
effects and motion graphics in a real-time environment for post-production
and broadcast design. It is used primarily for promotions, stations ID
packages, commercials and brand graphics. Smoke and Flint 2010 feature
highlights are:
o New 3D creative tools: 3D displacement, UV Mapping and enhanced 3D Text
o Modular Keyer with easier-to-use presets
o Extended support for professional digital-media formats: REDCODE RAW,
multichannel OpenEXR and Avid DNxHD with Apple QuickTime for expanded media
conform capabilities
o Faster and more flexible file-based conform capabilities with a powerful
new search engine with definable search criteria; configurable import
settings to control metadata mapping; and relink rules to more easily match
media to the original source
o Support for Advanced Pulldown removal from clips with Advanced, Standard
and PAL Pulldown with automatic pulldown detection
o Extended floating point processing support in Batch
New Feature Highlights in Lustre/Incinerator 2009 Extension 1
Quote from beta tester:
o “I love the Diamond Keyer in Lustre. It opens up a new way of working for
me. Nothing is impossible.” Ivar Beer, Head of Digital Post Production,
CinePostproduction GmbH
Autodesk Lustre is a high-performance graphical processing unit
(GPU)-accelerated digital intermediate color grading solution for film and
television projects. Autodesk Incinerator is the real-time accelerator
within Lustre that enables interactive grading sessions, ultra high-speed
clustering and intelligent system management. Top benefits are:
o New color isolation capabilities based on the Autodesk Diamond Keyer,
featuring pre-filtering options, enhanced post-Key filters, quick color
presets and control panel implementation
o 3D lookup table (LUT) support on input and color matte view to make it
easier to perform complex color transformations
o Expanded format support for REDCODE RAW and Avid DNxHD with Apple
QuickTime
o 16 audio tracks I/O via embedded SDI signal as well as project-based
audio file format setting for capture
o Improved interoperability between Lustre and Flame, Inferno and Smoke
Online Resources
For a complete list of new features and enhancements in Autodesk’s latest
visual effects, editorial finishing and digital color grading products,
visit the Media & Entertainment website. For additional press information,
including imagery, visit the Autodesk Virtual NAB Press Room.
Product Availability
o The 2010 releases of Flame, Flare, Flint, Inferno and Smoke will be
available later this month.
o Autodesk Lustre 2009 Extension 1 and Autodesk Incinerator 2009 Extension
1 are anticipated to be available to Autodesk Subscription customers on
April 22, 2009.
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