Autodesk's Smoke 2015, the latest version of its professional video editing software, adds new creative tools and performance enhancements. It will also be available soon as a desktop subscription so customers can use it on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Smoke 2015 offers improved workflows with tools such as Final Cut Pro. It features 3D Tracker, a new Timeline FX workflow, added hardware support, and optimization for the new Mac Pro running Mac OS X Mavericks. Key features of the upgrade include:

° A re-architected Timeline FX offers new effects capabilities for editors such as direct access to the Action 3D compositing environment as a segment-based effect.

° New timeline-integrated 3D tracker allows editors to match original camera movements in a clip in order to realistically add new elements: video layers, text or 3D objects.

° There's improved support for Blackmagic DesignLink card and UltraStudio for Thunderbolt devices and extended video IO support for AJA Video Systems to offer dual stream stereoscopic output.

° Improved integration with Final Cut Pro X supports more timeline and effects metadata for a fast, high fidelity project transfer between the apps. In addition, Smoke sequences can be exported as XML with accompanying QuickTime media files.

Smoke will soon be available via monthly, quarterly, and annual Autodesk desktop subscription plans. Customers who commit for more than a year save more than US$500. Subscription pricing will be available starting May 8 on the Autodesk eStore for $195 SRP/month, $545 SRP/quarter, and $1,750 SRP/year.