Autodesk has unveiled improvements to Flame that it says simplifies VFX artist’s day-to-day work and boosts creative collaboration. Building on machine learning (ML) capabilities that address specific tasks in Flame, the update brings ML to Flame’s core toolset in the form of next-gen camera tracking technology which delivers automatic camera solves and 3D geometry output in a matter of minutes.
There’s also a more robust finishing toolset for colour grading through FX and editorial, in addition to Network Device Interface video preview streaming for sharing work remotely.
Next-gen camera tracking uses scene reconstruction algorithms similar to autonomous vehicle smart ‘vision’ and reality capture-type point cloud reconstruction. Flame’s new camera tracker ‘auto masks’ or ignores moveable objects like people, cars, bodies of water, and skies, and focuses on the solution on the static scene environment only, so that artists no longer have to spend time manually masking out moving objects to get a reliable result.
A new creative lookup table (LUT) loader lets users import an external file-based LUT or colour transform from a wide variety of file formats directly inside Action and Image toolsets, and apply the ‘look’ to the entire picture or part of it. Additional enhancements include broadened GMask Tracer functionality, expanded support for industry-standard tactile colourist control panels (Arc, Element, Wave 2, Ripple, Element-Vs), and Blackmagic RAW media compatibility.
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Artists can now share high-quality full-screen video with creative stakeholders remotely, either over a closed network or public internet, using any NewTek NDI® receiver software or device for a virtual experience akin to an in-person, over-the-shoulder review session. The new feature is also compatible with webcasting software like OBS Studio and streaming services like YouTube Live, Facebook Live, and Twitch.
‘We’ve been listening to customers to evolve the Flame toolset so that it can help meet both current and future needs of artists’, said Will Harris, Flame Family Product Manager, Autodesk. ‘The latest updates to Flame – including new ML-powered camera tracking, an integrated finishing toolset, and enhanced support for remote workflows – are a direct reflection of these efforts and feedback from the Flame community of artists.’
