FrameCycler DDS Helps Drive Vancouver’s Image Engine

Facility Brings IRIDAS’ Direct-from-Disk Playback Application into New Film Pipeline

Munich: December 19, 2006 … IRIDAS, the industry leader in uncompressed playback technologies, has been selected by Image Engine to provide a new direct-from-disk review system for the facility’s new feature film department. With FrameCycler DDS 2006, the Vancouver VFX house now has unlimited playback capabilities for film resolution content in video and frame-based formats.

Building on its excellent reputation for visual effects for television, Image Engine has moved into film work. “Our new film team needed a way to hold 2K digital dailies in real-time with color look-up tables applied,” said Executive Producer Peter Muyzers, Head of Film at Image Engine. “The majority of the film team have been using FrameCycler software for some time, so it was an easy choice.”

“We looked at the alternatives, but none of them could match the ease-of-use or fast load times of FrameCycler,” explained Muyzers. “There’s a lot to like: the ability to use 3D LUTs, the various masking settings, scrubbing, playback speed controls, hotkeys, and command line support.”

Image Engine’s new feature film visual effects department is staffed with artists from throughout the industry. Their work is already attracting the attention of leading VFX producers in Vancouver and abroad. “Our capabilities range from hero creature animation to set extensions and full digital environments,” said Shawn Walsh, VFX Executive Producer at Image Engine. “In 2006 we completed nearly 100 shots for two features.”

Most recently, FrameCycler DDS was used on White Noise 2: The Light (completed) and is currently being used on Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium to final compositing work. In addition to in-house dailies, Image Engine uses FrameCycler DDS 2006 for review and approval with directors, the VFX producers and the VFX supervisors.

FrameCycler DDS is part of the FrameCycler series of uncompressed playback applications. For more information on FrameCycler DDS visit www.iridas.com, or contact IRIDAS at +49 89 330 35 142 or IRIDAS USA at (818) 951-8927.

About IRIDAS
IRIDAS pioneered desktop film-resolution playback in 2001. Its FrameCycler products are now the industry standard for frame-based image review. In 2003 IRIDAS introduced the first non-destructive color correction application. Today SpeedGrade and FrameCycler provide a complete, end-to-end pipeline for uncompressed content and color data. IRIDAS' applications are used by most major animation and post-production houses including Warner Bros. Feature Animation, Industrial Light & Magic, The Moving Picture Company, ReelFX, Cinesite, The Framestore CFC and many others. IRIDAS is an independent, privately held company headquartered in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.iridas.com.