Autodesk release of Smoke 2010 for Mac OS X editorial finishing solution combines editing, color correction and compositing into one application designed to run on the Mac. Smoke can perform on Final Cut Pro edit system, import FCP timelines via XML, and reference the original FCP media with transcoding.
Smoke on Mac is competitively priced and uses QuickTime libraries so it can understand QuickTime acquisition/intermediate codecs natively, instead of users having to transcode to image sequences. Smoke software’s proven editorial finishing tools harness the 64-bit power of Snow Leopard to provide an interactive, all-in-one finishing experience.
“Smoke 2010 on the Mac has been designed to help editors increase creative output, project quality and turnaround times.” said Stig Gruman, Autodesk vice-president of digital entertainment. “It brings production-proven finishing capabilities to the extremely talented community of artists already using the Mac in broadcast and post-production.”
“Snow Leopard is the world’s most advanced operating system, ideal for high performance applications like Smoke 2010,” said Ron Okamoto, Apple’s vice-president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “We’re delighted that Autodesk is bringing its premier editorial finishing tool to creative professionals on the Mac.”
“The business of post-production is evolving. Post-production and broadcast facilities alike are seeking more affordable, integrated creative tools that can help them stand out from the crowd.”
Autodesk Smoke helped define editorial finishing by combining the timeline workflow of a non-linear editor with advanced visual effects tools. CCTV in China used Smoke to help create its 2008 Beijing Olympics packaging and promotions as well as for content production during the Games.
Autodesk Smoke 2010 for Mac OS X feature highlights include: • An all-in-one toolset for editorial finishing: editing, conform, 2D and 3D titling, sophisticated color correction, image stabilization, precision tracking and keying, 2D and 3D compositing, paint, rotoscoping, retouch and design • Autodesk Modular Keyer, Master Keyer and Colour Warper advanced image-processing technologies • Ability to import entire timelines from Apple Final Cut Pro or Avid Media Composer using the AAF or XML format and even finish projects using Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHD media used in creative cut • Native support for popular files-based formats: QuickTime, Panasonic P2 HD and Sony XDCam files • Support for uncompressed DPX, TIFF and OpenEXR workflows
Smoke is fast and easier at many finishing tasks, especially pulling keys and motion tracking. It is also all available in a single application, so baking effects, round-tripping, and managing edits is simplified. Smoke simplifies workflow and reduces finishing time. The Final Cut workflow, basic keying and motion tracking is tight, the rendering is fast, and the output is good.
Facilities providing editing and compositing, or who frequently do client sessions will see the advantage. Smoke’s built-in color corrector comes with a primary and three secondaries.
The 2010 release features an extensive creative toolset, expanded format support and increased interoperability with certain third-party applications. Smoke provides an extensive and all-in-one set of conform, editorial and compositing tools.
Smoke on the Mac is particularly suited to the pressures of television post-production and helps deliver production-proven performance, reliability, and flexibility at a very affordable price.
3D Effects and Finishing Smoke software features a powerful 64-bit architecture and industry leading tools for tracking, paint, titling, character generation, graphic design and visual effects creation in the Action 3D compositing environment.
Conform Smoke is equipped with expanded digital media support for RED files, Panasonic P2 and Sony XDCAM file formats, and expanded Apple QuickTime codec support, as well as support for EDL, AAF, OMF, and FCP XML. Operators can work smoothly at native resolutions or use an efficient proxy workflow for film resolution projects.
Autodesk Color Management The system eliminates the confusion over color values and ensures that users across the Autodesk visual effects and finishing software pipeline are working with and approving images with the same color. Projects ranging from commercials, long-form, bumpers and promos are processed from cut to conform to visual effects on a single system.
Autodesk Color Management tools provide a more consistent and accurate color rendition of film-originated material. The integrated solution is built upon high-precision spectral analysis of common print film stocks to achieve high-quality print simulation and high-fidelity color space conversion in the form of a 3D lookup table (3D LUT).
Color Correction For sophisticated color correction, Smoke offers faster, more accurate color isolation, correction, and matching. The intuitive color-correction interface has advanced capabilities to adjust shadow, midtone, and highlight regions of the image independently.
Powerful Keying Capabilities Smoke has high-quality keying tools like the Master Keyer that features one-click keying capabilities, and the comprehensive modular keyer with a customizable processing pipeline environment. Smoke provides an extensive and flexible keying toolset that helps solve keying challenges and work at high resolutions and bit depths, from 8-bit to 10-bit to 16-bit floating points.
Motion Tracking and Stabilization Fix camera shakes and track moving elements for seamless composites. Smoke provides the acclaimed Autodesk tracker for faster and more precise, integrated motion tracking with the ability to handle outgoing and obscured tracking elements.
Interoperability As part of the larger Autodesk family of interactive, 3D-enabled post-production products, Smoke can exchange data with Autodesk Flame in a 100 percent compatible visual effects and finishing workflow.
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