Incinerator Inline Processing Cluster Provides 'Turbo Boost' to Lustre System

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced two new products that enable users to more rapidly realize their ideas. Autodesk is introducing Discreet(R) Lustre(R) 2.6 -- the latest version of its industry leading digital color correction system, and the Autodesk(R) Incinerator(TM) 1.0 system that is planned to enhance the real-time performance of future Lustre-based products. New to the market, the Incinerator system is an inline cluster of configurable processing units that connect to one or more Lustre stations, boosting system performance and interactivity during digital color grading sessions. The Lustre 2.6 system delivers a host of new features, including additional conform and editorial capabilities.

The Incinerator system is ideal for production and post-production environments requiring unparalleled, real-time digital color grading and color correction, such as in the creation of high-end advertising and feature film projects. This technology enables colorists to use multiple complex secondary color correction layers and effects like defocus, in real-time at resolutions as high as 2K. Other computationally intensive effects, such as a bleach bypass, are significantly accelerated.

Post-production facility Shortcut (Denmark) is a beta tester for both Lustre 2.6 and Incinerator systems. "We were having a hard time finding a solution that could match our stringent requirements for sophisticated color grading and real-time interaction. When we saw Lustre with Incinerator, we immediately knew that it was the system to fit our needs," said Ivan Schmidt, technical director at Shortcut. "Our testing proves that the combined Lustre and Incinerator systems are far more powerful than any other solution on the market."

Schmidt cited integration as a key advantage to using the Lustre 2.6 system: "We already have a Discreet workflow and the systems work very well together. We also have an ARRI Scanner and an ARRI Laser Recorder -- both integrated effortlessly with Lustre." Shortcut's digital workflow includes a Discreet Inferno(R) visual effects system and two Discreet Flame(R) visual effects systems.

The Incinerator system has a highly flexible, scalable, non-proprietary architecture. Incinerator clusters can be shared between multiple Lustre systems, switched from one online Lustre system to another, used for background rendering, and configured on a node-by-node basis to divert extra processing resources to selected systems.

The Lustre system's extensive toolset is employed in digital intermediate, commercials and film restoration workflows. The Lustre system has been used on numerous blockbuster films, including The Polar Express, The Phantom of the Opera and National Treasure. Cineric (New York) used the Lustre system to restore the 1956 classic musical Carousel. The system remedied severe dye fading in the original film and inconsistencies in overall color. On Ford Mustang's "The Legend Lives, Cornfield" television spot, R!OT (Santa Monica) used the Lustre system for final grading and color matching of footage featuring the late actor Steve McQueen. Pixel Farm (Minneapolis) has also used the Lustre system on in-store spots for Best Buy, and Rapala's "X Rap" television spot.

The Lustre system began shipping less than two years ago, and has enjoyed rapid adoption: more than 60 units have been sold to 40 clients in 15 countries. Clients include ARRI Film & TV (Germany), Eclair Laboratories (France), Weta Digital (New Zealand), Fotofilm (Spain), Pixar Animation Studios (USA), Pacific Title & Art Studio (USA), Sony Pictures Imageworks (USA) and Technicolor Creative Services Hollywood (USA).

Lustre 2.6 System Key Features
-- New editorial metadata architecture and subsystem enabling powerful new conform and editorial capabilities
-- XML-based cut files for more transparent cross-vendor interoperability -- Intelligent handling of EDL's
-- Expanded film key code and video timecode handling
-- Expanded flags system and new integrated notes to facilitate project collaboration
-- Enhanced linear-mode primary color correction
-- User selectable keyer source as pre/post input primary
-- Improved browser performance with fast parsing of huge clip libraries
-- Autodesk Stone(R) Shared optimization for increased real-time
performance from centralized storage area network (SAN)

Incinerator 1.0 System Key Features
-- Ultra high-speed inline clustering technology for HD, 2K and 4K digital color grading
-- Real-time 2K color correction for combined primary and multiple complex secondary color grading and accelerated effects
-- Designed to augment the Lustre system's highly optimized real-time CPU/GPU capabilities for even faster performance
-- Cluster nodes optimized to work in parallel over a high-speed Infiniband network
-- Uses standard file-systems for superior data management and workflow
-- Fully modular and scalable hardware and software architecture
-- Intelligent system management software
-- Turnkey system requires no proprietary hardware components, providing superior workflow integration, faster processing, improved system longevity and more rapid software improvements

Pricing and Availability

The Lustre 2.6 system is anticipated to ship in summer 2005. The Incinerator 1.0 system is anticipated to ship later this year and is sold as a separate product. For further information, contact Autodesk sales at 800-869-3504 or visit www.discreet.com/lustre.

About Shortcut

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, Shortcut is Scandinavia's largest post-production facility and part of the oldest film studio in the world -- Nordisk film, founded in 1906. With four in-house colorists, the facility has been doing Digital Intermediate work for more than five years. Shortcut also provides scanning, grading, online and offline editing, film rerecording and restoration services.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned into reality. With six million users, Autodesk is the world's leading software and services company for the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields. Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage, and share their data and digital assets more effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas into competitive advantage by becoming more productive, streamlining project efficiency, and maximizing profits.

Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California. For additional information about Autodesk, please visit www.autodesk.com.

NOTE: Autodesk, Discreet, Lustre, Incinerator, Inferno and Flame are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Roohi Saeed of Autodesk, +1-514-954-7296, or roohi.saeed@autodesk.com.

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
04/14/2005
CONTACT: Roohi Saeed of Autodesk, +1-514-954-7296, or roohi.saeed@autodesk.com
Web site: http://www.autodesk.com