News

Autodesk announces new features for Inferno, Flame, Flint, Fire and Smoke 2008 (7/9/2007)

Shipping in autumn 2007.

The 2008 releases of Autodesk's visual effect and finishing solutions include new workflow and interoperability improvements. These enhancements make the solutions ideal for the rigorous demands faced by today's post production facilities, which function in collaboration with several artists, in multi vendor environments and under tight budgets and deadlines.

Key New Features and Enhancements

1. Standard File Systems Support offers alternative workflows
* Facilities can now choose to mount their Autodesk system to a standard file system volume, such as a SAN or NAS storage device. One of the key features in IFFFS 2008 is the ability to leverage fast, centralised storage as an alternative to direct attached, local storage. Additionally, standard file systems write in standard image file formats, for easy sharing with other applications in the facility. This facilitates creative, concurrent workflows between multiple artists as centralised image data can be instantly accessed throughout the facility. Working concurrently with standard file formats opens up exciting workflow possibilities between Autodesk systems and other applications in the facility.

2. Interoperability enhancements
* Between IFFS, Lustre and 3D applications; as well as integration into multi vendor workflows. Interoperability features include: o Unified DVE/Action compositing environments: The DVE in Smoke 2008 has been transformed into a new Action-style 3D compositing environment giving Smoke artists access to many of Action's features. Meanwhile, Action gains DVE objects, thus making some effects quicker to build in Flame and making it easier for Smoke users to transition to Flame. DVE objects are self-contained and retain the functionality of previous versions of DVE. Artists can even set a preference to automatically work with DVE objects in Smoke's DVE or Flame's Action module. Smoke users gain multicamera set ups and expressions in the new DVE. o 100% compatibility between Flame/Smoke setups & clips. o Multi layer, multi track timeline for Flame for increased interoperability with Smoke. o 3D interoperability by standardising on a common camera model via FBX.

3. Workflow Improvements
* Concurrent workflows are possible due to improvements in metadata handling and Infiniband networking. This can be done either with direct attached storage, or through a SAN, due to the support of standard file systems. As a result, several artists can work on the same footage, accomplishing different tasks, all at the same time, and without duplication of media.

4. New User Interface
* Most of the UI has been redesigned to take advantage of the extra desktop space on 16 x 9 monitors. This puts more menus on the desktop and reduces the need to toggle and navigate.
* Considerable work has been done to align the Smoke and Flame user interfaces, so it is more intuitive to switch from one application to the other.
* On screen tool tips have been added to enhance the user experience.

5. Expanded audio features for Flame, Flint & Inferno
* New support for unlimited audio tracks and real time playback of 32 audio tracks.
* Audio Soft Effects can be applied to audio tracks in the timeline.
* Dolby E coding support.

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