Autodesk releases Smoke on Mac OS X

Autodesk is ready to start shipping Autodesk Smoke 2010 for Mac OS X for around $15k, a software-only editorial finishing tool and the first Autodesk finishing product designed to run on the Mac platform.

Since the software’s Inter BEE technology preview in Japan last month, the creative community has been anticipating the launch of this established editorial finishing offering for the Mac. Smoke has helped define this sector of the market on other platforms by combining the timeline workflow of a nonlinear editor with advanced visual effects tools.

Smoke can now harness the 64-bit power of Mac OS X Snow Leopard to provide an interactive, all-in-one finishing experience. As a software offering, Smoke can run on Mac hardware already in place for creative cut work using Final Cut Pro or Media Composer. This makes it easier to integrate Smoke’s editorial finishing tools into existing Mac-based workflows. Top benefits include:

• An all-in-one toolset for editorial finishing: editing, conform, 2D and 3D titling, sophisticated colour correction, image stabilization, precision tracking and keying, 2D and 3D compositing, paint, rotoscoping, retouch and design
• Autodesk Modular Keyer, Master Keyer and Colour Warper advanced image-processing technologies
• Ability to import entire timelines from Avid Media Composer or Apple Final Cut Pro using the AAF or XML format and even finish projects using Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHD media used in creative cut
• Native support for popular files-based formats: QuickTime, RED, Panasonic P2 HD and Sony XDCam files
• Support for uncompressed DPX, TIFF and OpenEXR workflows

“The business of post-production is evolving. Post-production and broadcast facilities alike are seeking more affordable, integrated creative tools that can help them stand out from the crowd,” said Stig Gruman, Autodesk vice president of digital entertainment. “Smoke 2010 on the Mac has been designed to help editors increase creative output, project quality and turnaround times. It brings production-proven finishing capabilities to the extremely talented community of artists already using the Mac platform in broadcast and post-production.”

Smoke has helped shape many high-profile television programs such as ‘House,’ ‘NCIS,’ ‘CSI: NY’ and ‘Entourage’ as well as popular Super Bowl commercials, including Coke Zero ‘Mean Troy’ and Cash4Gold.com’s ‘One Up.’ CCTV in China used Smoke to help create its 2008 Beijing Olympics packaging and promotions as well as for content production during the Games.

Michael Sandness, Colorist/Finishing Artist, Splice Here was one of the beta testers for the new release: “We started our business with Final Cut and After Effects, but we’re always looking for new capabilities to enhance what those tools already do and to be more competitive,” said Sandness. “Smoke seamlessly integrated into our existing Mac workflow and allowed us to bring our creative work to an even higher level.”

Valeria Petit, Motion Graphics Artist, Ottoblix was another keen beta tester: “We have to do everything fast and cool,” she explained. “Since all the tools I need are in Smoke, I don’t lose any time going into other programs. There’s prestige working on a Smoke.”

“We could quickly do editing, colour correction and 3D visual effects in a single affordable application,” said Charles Verret, Assistant Editor at Post Moderne. “If you want to create a project from A to Z with Smoke, now you can.”

A Smoke 2010 for Mac OS X license is now available at a suggested retail price of $14,995. Autodesk Subscription is available for purchase simultaneously with the product license for $1,995 SRP per year. Both figures are U.S. pricing only and international pricing may vary.

Smoke 2010 on the Mac is also available for a free 30-day trial download.

Visit Autodesk for more information and hardware requirements