New version delivers scalable, collaborative, and efficient artist workflows enabled to run on Amazon Web Services; other mods include enhanced HDR user interface and improved animation editor.
Autodesk announced updates to Flame, Flare and Flame Assist with new features enabling the products to run on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Additional upgrades include enhanced HDR and animation workflows.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to support a cloud-based production ecosystem for the media and entertainment industry, our engineering team worked closely with AWS and system integrators to bring artists an alternative to working with Flame via on-premises workstations,” commented Steve McNeill, director of Engineering at Autodesk. “Artists can now tap into Flame on the AWS cloud, helping teams scale up capacity during crunch times without needing to purchase additional hardware. Working on the cloud further supports seamless collaboration with remote artists, as globally dispersed teams are tasked with managing increasingly complex productions.”
"Embracing a fully cloud-based VFX workflow enables creative studios like Preymaker, an early pioneer and adopter of Flame on AWS cloud, the ability to recruit talent from around the world,” added Preymaker founder Angus Kneale. “Preymaker is all about having the finest talent using the best technology and running Flame in AWS allows us to recruit and work with exceptional talent who live anywhere. Having Flame projects live in the cloud, with artists collaborating in multiple locations, we are able to create exceptional work for our clients. Our colorist in Los Angeles can start a project, with our Flame artist in London doing the conform, ready for our CGI team in New York to continue work. Ultimately, the cloud gives us the flexibility to execute highly complicated, demanding, and compute-intensive projects in a collaborative cloud-based workflow.”
Updates in this Flame release include:
- Flame on AWS: Now able to run on AWS cloud, the upgrade offers a scalable and secure work environment with a selection of compute and storage services. Artists can connect to a Flame instance anytime, anywhere with solutions like Teradici CAS remote desktop software using PCoIP technology. With parallel distributed file storage solutions built with WEKA, artists can safely store and playback shots in real-time.
- Improved Animation Editor: A redesigned Animation Editor panel provides an enriched workflow for manipulating curves. More intuitive framing and filtering of curves, enhancements that fine-tune the selection of points in complex graphs, and simplified terminology in drop-down menus and buttons further expedite artist workflows.
- Enhanced HDR User Interface: To support demand for HDR workflows, new setting optimizes Flame’s user interface (UI) on HDR monitors. Artists using on-premises workstations can accurately view and manipulate high-quality imagery. Artists can now see the viewport picture and background interface together in HDR fidelity on HDR capable monitors.
- Apple M Series Support: Compatibility with Apple M series devices via Rosetta 2 offers new hardware options and improved performance for artists.
- More Capabilities: Autodesk’s Flame Family of products can run on Rocky Linux 8.5 with updated camera RAW formats like RED, Blackmagic RAW, and Sony X-OCN from VENICE 2 6K and 8K cameras.
The latest update to Flame, Flare, and Flame Assist is now available at no additional cost to Flame Family subscribers. Additional information is available here.
Source: Autodesk
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
