Autodesk has announced that it's ready to start
shipping Autodesk Smoke 2010 for Mac OS X
(http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=5561833&siteID=123112
), a software-only editorial finishing tool and
the first Autodesk finishing product designed to
run on the Mac.

Smoke software's proven editorial finishing tools
harness the 64-bit power of Snow Leopard to
provide an interactive, all-in-one finishing
experience, says Stig Gruman, Autodesk vice
president of digital entertainment. Autodesk
Smoke helped define editorial finishing by
combining the timeline workflow of a non-linear
editor with advanced visual effects tools, he
adds.

Customers have used Smoke to help shape such
television programs as "House," "NCIS," "CSI: NY"
and "Entourage" as well as popular Super Bowl
commercials, including Coke Zero "Mean Troy" and
Cash4Gold.com's "One Up." CCTV in China used
Smoke to help create its 2008 Beijing Olympics
packaging and promotions as well as for content
production during the Games. Autodesk Smoke 2010
for Mac OS X Feature Highlights

As a software offering, Smoke easily integrates
into existing Mac-based workflows using Final Cut
Studio or Media Composer. Gruman says some of its
benefits are:

° An all-in-one toolset for editorial finishing:
editing, conform, 2D and 3D titling,
sophisticated color correction, image
stabilization, precision tracking and keying, 2D
and 3D compositing, paint, rotoscoping, retouch
and design;

° Autodesk Modular Keyer, Master Keyer and Colour
Warper advanced image-processing technologies;

° The ability to import entire timelines from
Apple Final Cut Pro or Avid Media Composer using
the AAF or XML format and even finish projects
using Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHD media used in
creative cut;

° Native support for files-based formats:
QuickTime, Panasonic P2 HD and Sony XDCam files
Support for uncompressed DPX, TIFF and OpenEXR
workflows

Smoke 2010 for Mac OS X license is available at a
suggested retail price of US$14,995. Autodesk
Subscription is available for purchase
simultaneously with the product license for
$1,995 SRP per year. Autodesk's Subscription
program benefits include software extensions,
version upgrades, product support as well as
access to exclusive training materials. Smoke
2010 on Mac OS X is also available for a free
30-day trial download.