eyeon Software Inc. will introduce Generation 2.0 at IBC in Amsterdam, September 11-15. Generation fills a gap in post and VFX workflows by giving producers, supervisors, artists, and editors a common ‘visual effects desktop’ for shot management and review and approval. Generation 2.0 builds on the success of earlier versions, adding support for RED .r3d and OpenEXR file formats, stereoscopic 3D playback, expanded LUT support, new editing tools, and much more. The result is a highly-flexible front-end application for managing complex projects on tight deadlines.
“Generation provided an organic visual tracking tool that worked well inside our custom pipeline,” said Marc Weigert, Co-producer and Visual Effects Supervisor on Roland Emmerich’s 2012. “We could make it do pretty much whatever we needed with very little time and effort.”
Generation 2.0 features an open architecture that allows facilities to easily integrate the application, with its editing and playback tools, into their existing infrastructure. “Fitting in with existing pipelines, rather than forcing studios to adopt our pipeline, has always been a key feature of Generation,” said Eric Westphal, Product Manager Europe of eyeon Software Inc.
The new stereoscopic playback features support a vast range of display devices and encoding technologies. “This allows anybody in the workflow, from the VFX supervisor with his $20,000 stereo monitor down to the individual artist with his cardboard anaglyph glasses, to quickly check the look and feel of the shots,” explains Westphal.
Other new features include python scripting support, an expanded set of dissolves, new interface refinements, new tool bars and features for faster navigation, import and export of Scratch projects via XML, and support for a wide variety of LUTs that can be applied on a per-clip or per-project basis, including monitor calibration LUTs to ensure accurate viewing across the whole facility.
“In Generation 2.0, we’ve been able to incorporate many new tools and capabilities based on detailed user feedback,” said Joanne Dicaire, Director of Marketing and Business Development at eyeon Software. “Visual effects facilities worldwide are using the system to manage complex effects projects, and the latest version gives them a more powerful system to keep projects on track, even when last-minute changes are necessary.”
Generation facilities have been enthusiastic about the system. “We are extremely pleased with eyeon’s software, not only because we are very selective in what we use, but because Generation performed every task as we wanted,” said Bo Christiansen, General Manager at Gimmick Visual Effects A/S in Copenhagen. “We have been working on a film called The Wild Swans, based on a fairytale by H.C. Anderson, in cooperation with the Queen of Denmark, H.M. Margrethe II. This is a very special project for us and we could not have done it without eyeon Generation.”
Even the Queen herself had something to say. “The amazing computer work is pure magic,” noted Her Majesty Margrethe II in a recent interview about the project. “I could only watch in wonder and excitement.”
New Features in Generation 2.0 Include:
* Red and EXR Support
Generation 2.0 offers native support for RED .r3d files. OpenEXR playback allows artists to check any combination of layers using OpenGL blending modes, together with an advanced channel selector.
* Stereo Playback Support
Generation 2.0 supports a broad range of stereoscopic display and encoding technologies.
* Dissolves and Improved Editing Controls
Easier editing and dissolves between clips make it easy to conform an EDL into an online project.
* LUTs Per Clip and Multiple View LUTs for Monitor Calibrations
A wide variety of LUTs can be applied on a per-clip and per-project basis. The quick selector bar allows artists to switch between different LUTs on the fly to ensure that the output matches the client’s wishes.
* Python Scripting Support
Artists can customize Generation and control it with any combination of LUA or Python scripts.
* XML Conversion for Scratch-style Projects
Import and export of Scratch projects via XML.
* New Interface Features and Refinements
New interface features include display of handles and annotations during playback for faster communication. A sophisticated search-function allows artists to define in-house filename conventions as a pattern and search by fields.
* Multi-Playback Layout
Multiple clips can be played back simultaneously with a user-definable offset to compare versions and check continuity.
* Local and Network Proxies
To increase workflow speed, proxies can be stored on the network or on local drives. Artists and supervisors can toggle between faster local playback and facility-wide synchronized proxies.
* New Tool Bars and Features
Redesigned controls and functions are laid out for faster navigation of features and commands, including user-definable scripting menus.