“Autodesk’s new visual effects and editing/finishing releases will create new workflow possibilities, allowing customers to share media throughout their facility using either direct-attached storage, storage area network (SAN) or network-attached storage (NAS) configurations. This ability to interoperate with all technologies present in the post-production facility greatly enhances collaboration and data management, which in turn, opens up new markets, including mid-range post production and broadcast,” said Autodesk Media and Entertainment vice president of advanced systems Stig Gruman.

Indianapolis-based WTHR TV NBC 13 became the first local station in Indiana to broadcast a newscast in high definition (HD). “Now the potential to put more Autodesk systems into mid-level post and broadcast facilities is real, due to Autodesk’s new standard file system support, Autodesk Wiretap technology and third-party tools that bind the whole facility together,” said Brian Mulligan, WTHR’s senior editor and Autodesk Smoke system artist.

Autodesk Smoke was used to create WTHR’s Eyewitness news promo branding and Super Bowl promos.

In addition, the 2008 releases feature an updated user interface (UI) that is streamlined across the products, making it easier for artists to switch between applications. The new UI also provides the user with more tools on the desktop. Alex Ortoll, visual effects supervisor at Estudios Alcine and Flame artist said, “The new 16:9 interface puts many more tools right at my fingertips, thus greatly reducing the need to dig through layers of sub-menus. Though it took me a couple of days to build new ‘muscle memory’ on the new layout, speed improvements are now quite noticeable.”

Estudios Alcine recently used Flame to create the epic film The Heart of the Earth and is currently working on the feature film Open Graves in Spain.