Creative Tools Provide Improved Performance, Open Platforms and Interoperability

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At IBC 2009 -- Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) launched Autodesk Lustre 2010 digital color-grading software and Extension 1 releases for the 2010 versions of its visual effects and editorial finishing software: Autodesk Flame, Autodesk Inferno, Autodesk Flare, Autodesk Flint and Autodesk Smoke. Autodesk will showcase these releases at Autodesk Booth #7-D21 during the International Broadcasters Convention (IBC) 2009 in Amsterdam's RAI Convention Center, September 11 - 15, 2009.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090910/SF67737)

"This year we've continued to increase value for our customers," said Stig Gruman, vice president, Autodesk Digital Entertainment Group. "We are focused on providing not only a broader set of creative tools, but also a more efficient workflow with improved support for open platforms and cross-product data formats like RED and Avid DNxHD."

Autodesk systems products have helped shape several of this summer's biggest movies, including " G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra," " Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and " Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Autodesk solutions have also been used in the creation of television programs, " Mad Men," " House," " Entourage," " Sid the Science Kid" and " Little Krishna" and many commercials, the recent Orbitz' campaign and popular Super Bowl 2009 ads like "Budweiser's "Fetch," Career Builders' "Tips" and Bridgestone Tires' "Taters."

Autodesk Lustre 2010 Highlights

Autodesk Lustre color-grading software for creative look development gives artists greater control over final color and lighting effects for both stereoscopic and standard television and film projects. Lustre is available in stand-alone turnkey configurations and is also available as a software-only companion when installed on the same platform as Smoke and Flame software. "The implementation of the new Degrain tool in Lustre eliminates the need for an external degraining solution, saving us time, extra bandwidth and nightshifts. Plus, with 48 layers in Lustre, I really can't think of a situation where I'd run out of layers," said Sebastian Gohs, Lustre 2010 beta tester and colorist at Cinepostproduction, Berlin.

Lustre 2010 Key Features and Creative Tools

    --  Four times more secondary grading power than Lustre 2009 with 48 layers
        and unlimited shapes per layer
    --  New Degrain tool with ability to degrain entire shots as well as defined
        areas
    --  New Grade Bin providing large view of grades and associated metadata

Lustre 2010 Workflow Enhancements

    --  Improved interoperability with Flame and Smoke with bidirectional
        multilayer timeline exchange and cross-product codec compatibility
    --  New support for MXF with Avid DNxHD (import)
    --  Enhanced RED workflow adds RSX file support, ability to copy transcode
        settings from shot to shot and support for real-time 2K streaming of 4K
        R3D files
    --  Improved efficiency through proxy-sharing between color-grading and
        visual effects applications

For a complete list of features and benefits visit http://www.autodesk.com/lustre

2010 Extension 1 Releases of Autodesk Flame, Inferno, Flare, Flint and Smoke

With interoperability as a key focus area for Autodesk tools, these extension releases share many of the same improvements to their feature sets and all contain the same workflow enhancements. Flame, Inferno, Flare and Flint are visual effects finishing software for high-speed 2D and 3D compositing, advanced graphics and interactive client-driven design. Smoke is an advanced timeline-based system for high-value editorial finishing and visual effects.

Beta Tester Feedback

"Autodesk did it again. Not only am I in love with the new Degrain tool in Lustre, but now I will be able to share my entire multilayer timeline between Lustre and Smoke without flattening it first. This interoperability will enable me to conform different versions of visual effects shots on Smoke or Flame and send the timeline over to our Lustre grading suite....What a timesaver!"

--Ivar Beer, Digital Post Production Manager, Cinepostproduction, Berlin, Germany

"Substance splatter and Substance noise are the kind of Flame tools that will satisfy our creative appetite for a long time. You will be able to keep playing and creating to your and your client's hearts' content."

--Nick Mueth, Visual Effects Artist, Fast Cuts, Dallas, Texas

"The tools in Flame will help us to work faster, work more confidently and improve the return on investment on all of our Autodesk systems."

--Scott Malkie, Post Supervisor/Flame Artist, The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va.

Extension 1 Key Features and Creative Tools

    --  New Substance tool (Flame, Inferno and Flare)
    --  Around 90 New 3D Text presets (Flame, Inferno, Flare, Flint and Smoke)
    --  Approximately 50 New 3D Particle presets (Flame, Inferno, Flare and
        Flint)
    --  New Audio Tracker (Flame, Inferno, Flare, Flint and Smoke)
    --  New Auto-stabilization tool (Flint and Smoke)

Workflow Enhancements (Flame, Inferno, Flare, Flint and Smoke)

    --  New support for MXF with Avid DNxHD (import)
    --  New support for Sony XDCAM EX (import)
    --  Cross-product codec compatibility
    --  Enhanced RED workflow adds RSX file support plus user-definable
        transcoding range

For a complete list of features and benefits visit www.autodesk.com/flame, www.autodesk.com/inferno, http://www.autodesk.com/flare, www.autodesk.com/flint and www.autodesk.com/smoke

Availability

Autodesk anticipates that Lustre 2010 will be available in October 2009 and Extension 1 for Flame, Inferno, Flare, Flint and Smoke will be available in September 2009. Autodesk Subscription customers will receive extension releases as a benefit of Subscription.

Training

Users can get up to speed quickly on new features through free online training videos for Flame, Inferno, Flare, Flint and Smoke. Autodesk also offers classroom-based and on-site training for artists of all levels, who are looking to further sharpen their skills. fxphd offers online professional vfx, post and production training for Autodesk software -- http://www.fxphd.com/courses.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com .