Imagineer to debut new compositing systemBy Carolyn Giardina
March 17, 2008
Compositing -- the process of combining separate elements such as live action and animation into a single image -- is critical to visual effects and postproduction, but the tools have not experienced significant change in recent years.U.K.-based Imagineer Systems is aiming to change that by developing a visual effects and finishing system that it is planning to debut next month at the National Association of Broadcasters Show.
The new system, named Mogul, incorporates new Imagineer software and HP hardware. It is described by the company as an "open, collaborative VFX architecture supporting a suite of tightly integrated, modular VFX systems and applications." At its heart, it appears to target the compositing market -- and it is compositors that have been quietly testing the system.Mogul components include a shared storage management system; file browser; disk-based playback and review system; and finishing system with I/O, compositing, editing and color grading tools.The traditional high-end compositing market has long been led by Autodesk Media & Entertainment, whose Flame user base appears to be Imagineer's key target for Mogul.
At the other end of the compositing spectrum, many have been hoping for more lower-cost, software-based option like the discontinued Apple Shake, which still is used at many visual effects houses.The NAB Show is set for April 11-17 in Las Vegas
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
BREAKING NEWS - ImagineerSystems to take on Flame.
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Great post CB... seems this topic is really heating up at the moment!
ReplyDeleteBe good to see what kind of tool set they come out with and how it applies to longform also
And only for three easy monthly installments of $29,999.00!
ReplyDeleteBut, on a serious note... Is this truly a Flame replacement contender?
only NAB will shed further light on either of these methinks - Im still quietly hoping that apple will get off their asses and do something in the way of communicating with the fairly large shake user-base, as to the future of apples footprint in the vfx market.. Personally, I think if they try to combine shake and motion, that'd be a poor choice given they are fairly different programs aimed at different markets - combining them into a single "motion pro" would potentially dilute both programs.
ReplyDeleteI think the general consensus with Apple and Shake, is that they will almost entirely bow out of the high-end post production pipeline, and opt to focus on general consumer level products.
ReplyDeletewhich irritates me to no end, given they had the market effectively cornered at one point between finalcut for cost-effective editing / edls - and Shake for VFX.. Who knows though, I read somewhere that the only reason they got into shake was that they could pinch a large portion of its codebase, and filter it down to make what became Motion..
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