The high-end visual effects and creative finishing tool now supports a 4K end-to-end workflow.
Autodesk today revealed the 2015 update to Flame, its toolset for high-end visual effects and creative finishing. Leading the list of new features is support for 4K and Ultra HD workflows.
The new high-definition workflow supports industry standard 4K formats; 4K/UHD color management supporting ACES and REC-2020 color spaces; real-time monitoring and playback via SDI of 4K/UHD material at 50P and 60P; timeline effects and batch nodes performance optimization and 4K capable substance textures; and 16 Gb fiber channel controllers in high-performance storage for real-time throughput of high resolution images.
Flame 2015 now supports the addition of a second GPU card in the Flame workstation. Background Reactor helps accelerate rendering by allowing artists to send their shot, sequence, or batch setup to the second GPU for rendering while continuing to work interactively on certain other tasks in the foreground. Background Reactor requires two Nvidia Quadro K6000 GPUs (for HP Z820 workstations) or two Nvidia Quadro 6000 GPUs (for HP Z800 and Z820 workstations).
Autodesk says the 2015 version of Flame “takes the unified modern application workflow to a new level,” creating tight integration between freeform desktop reels, timeline and batch while introducing a dynamic Library view into the Flame workflow. Artists can now perform complex editorial and effects work on batch sources in the timeline while monitoring the impact on the batch compositing tree in a new batch context view.
Other new tools:
3D Shape: Similar in use to the existing Gmask, 3D Shape enables workflows such as quick modeling, projection mapping, logo design, motion graphics and relighting;
Replica: a new creative tool in Action allows artists to interactively create, manipulate and animate cascading effects using a single cloned object;
Matchbox enhancements: the ability to add Matchbox effects directly to shots and transitions in the timeline and the ability to protect shader code with packaging and encryption.
Flame Premium ships with the full release of Flame 2015 plus:
Lustre: Autodesk’s color grading software;
Flare: A shot-based visual effects application used to help augment the creative capabilities of Flame workflows;
Flame Assist: A Mac-based, timeline-centric assistant station that can be used to take on a variety of tasks related to starting and completing Flame Premium projects.
