Autodesk Media and Entertainment#Creative finishing

Montreal-based Discreet Logic was founded in 1991 by former Softimage Company sales director Richard Szalwinski, to commercialize the 2D compositor Eddie, licensed from Australian production company Animal Logic.{{cite web|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/17/Discreet-Logic-Inc.html |title=Discreet Logic Inc. - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Discreet Logic Inc |publisher=Referenceforbusiness.com |access-date=2012-03-04}} Eddie was associated with Australian software engineer Bruno Nicoletti, who later founded visual effects software company The Foundry, in London, England.

In 1992, Discreet Logic entered into a European distribution agreement with Softimage, and shifted its focus on Flame, one of the first software-only image compositing products, developed by Australian Gary Tregaskis.[http://www.toysatellite.org/babel/eye/iftech/articles/compositing.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611103215/http://www.toysatellite.org/babel/eye/iftech/articles/compositing.html|date=June 11, 2008}} Flame, which was originally named Flash, was first shown{{cite web|url=http://www.fxguide.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=209|title= NEWS: Toxik in depth + new screen shots ! |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123165007/http://www.fxguide.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=209 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |access-date=October 3, 2010 }} at NAB in 1992, ran on the Silicon Graphics platform, and became the company's flagship product.

In July 1995, Discreet Logic's initial public offering raised about US$40 million.

On May 26, 1995, the company acquired the assets of Brughetti Corporation for about CDN$1 million, and in October acquired Computer-und Serviceverwaltungs AG, located in Innsbruck, Austria and some software from Innovative Medientechnik-und Planungs-GmbH in Geltendorf, Germany.

After a 2-for-1 stock split on October 16, 1995, a secondary offering in December 1995 raised an additional $28 million.{{Cite web |title= Quarterly Report For the Quarter Ended April 30, 1996 |date= July 11, 1996 |author= Discreet Logic Incorporated |publisher= US Securities and Exchange Commission |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/943318/0000927016-96-000409.txt |access-date= September 8, 2013 }}{{third-party-inline|date=September 2013}}

On April 15, Discreet invested $2.5 million in privately held Essential Communications Corporation.{{third-party-inline|date=September 2013}}

Autodesk originally created a San Francisco multimedia unit in 1996 under the name Kinetix to publish 3D Studio Max, a product developed by The Yost Group.{{cite web|url=http://area.autodesk.com/maxturns20/history |title=3dsMax 20th Anniversary |publisher=Autodesk |year=2010 |access-date=September 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024145611/http://area.autodesk.com/maxturns20/history |archive-date=October 24, 2015 }}{{third-party-inline|date=September 2013}}

In August 1998, Autodesk announced plans to acquire Discreet Logic and its intent to combine that operation with Kinetix.{{cite news |url= http://news.cnet.com/Autodesk-to-buy-Discreet-Logic/2100-1001_3-214690.html |title=Autodesk to buy Discreet Logic |work= CNET News |author= Dawn Kawamoto |date= August 21, 1998 |access-date= September 7, 2013 }}

At the time, it was its largest acquisition, valued at about $410 million by the time it closed in March 1999 (down from an estimated $520 million when announced).{{Cite news |url= http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/computer-software/164962-1.html |title= Autodesk Completes Largest Ever Acquisition; Debuts New Discreet Division |work= Software Industry Report |date= March 22, 1999 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100614014448/http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/computer-software/164962-1.html |archive-date=June 14, 2010 |access-date= September 7, 2013 }} The new business unit was named the Discreet division.{{cite web |url= http://design.osu.edu/carlson/history/tree/ani-software.html#3ds |title=Animation Software Companies and Individuals |publisher= The Ohio State University Department of Design |author= Wayne Carlson |date= September 2, 2008 |access-date= September 10, 2013 }}

The combined Discreet-branded product catalog then encompassed all the Discreet Logic products, including Flame, Flint, Fire, Smoke, Effect, Edit, and Kinetix's product, including 3D Studio Max, Lightscape, Character Studio.

In March 2005, Autodesk renamed its business unit Autodesk Media and Entertainment and discontinued the Discreet brand (still headquartered in Montreal).{{Cite web |title= Discreet to be rebranded Autodesk Media and Entertainment |url= http://www.gfxdiary.com/node/1130 |work= GFX Diary |date= April 21, 2005 |access-date = September 10, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= Autodesk Re-brands Discreet – Its Industry Leading Film, Television, Post-Production and Gaming Business as Autodesk Media and Entertainment |work= Press release |date= March 24, 2005 |url= http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=5393058&linkID=14271593 |access-date= September 10, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160110190511/http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=5393058&linkID=14271593 |archive-date= 2016-01-10 |url-status= dead }}

Through the years, Autodesk augmented its entertainment division with many other acquisitions. One of the most significant was in October 2005, when Autodesk acquired Toronto-based Alias Systems Corporation for an estimated $182 million from Accel-KKR, and merged its animation business into its entertainment division.{{cite web |url= http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?linkID=14271593&id=5983502&siteID=123112 |work= Press Release |title= Autodesk Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Alias |publisher= Autodesk |date= October 4, 2005 |access-date= September 7, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223743/http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?linkID=14271593&id=5983502&siteID=123112 |archive-date= 2013-10-04 |url-status= dead }}

Alias had been part of SGI until 2004.{{Cite web |title= Autodesk acquires Alias |work= PC World |date= October 4, 2005 |author= Peter Cohen |url= http://www.macworld.com/article/1047264/alias.html |access-date= September 10, 2013 }}

In 2008, it acquired technology of the former Softimage Company from Avid Technology.{{Cite web |title= Autodesk Acquires Softimage For $35 Million |work= Gamasutra |date= October 24, 2008 |author= Simon Carless |url= http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20799 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130124172617/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20799 |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 24, 2013 |access-date= September 10, 2013}}

In 2011, Autodesk acquired image tools and utilities that use cloud computing called Pixlr.{{cite web |author= Robin Wauters |url= https://techcrunch.com/2011/07/19/autodesk-acquires-online-photo-editing-service-pixlr/ |title=Autodesk Acquires Online Photo Editing Service Pixlr |work=Tech Crunch |date= July 19, 2011 |access-date= September 7, 2013 }}

By 2011, these products were used in films that won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for 16 consecutive years.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalmedia-world.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3057:autodesk-tools-build-pipelines-for-oscar-winners-and-nominees&catid=38:visual-effects-vfx-cg&Itemid=54 |title=Autodesk Tools Build Pipelines for Oscar Winners and Nominees |work=Digital Media World |date=March 15, 2011 |author=Adriene Hurst |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321192009/http://www.digitalmedia-world.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3057%3Aautodesk-tools-build-pipelines-for-oscar-winners-and-nominees&catid=38%3Avisual-effects-vfx-cg&Itemid=54 |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=September 10, 2013 }}

Much of Avatar's visual effects were created with Autodesk media and entertainment software. Autodesk software enabled Avatar director James Cameron to aim a camera at actors wearing motion-capture suits in a studio and see them as characters in the fictional world of Pandora in the film.{{cite web | url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/a/-/technology/6832309/fiction-film-technology-to-shine-at-academy-awards/ | title=Fiction Film Technology to Shine at Academy Awards (7 News)}} Autodesk software also played a role in the visual effects of Alice in Wonderland, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Inception, Iron Man 2, King Kong, Gladiator, Titanic, Life of Pi, Hugo, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn and other films.{{cite news |url= http://www.fastcompany.com/1731618/autodesk-the-secret-star-behind-oscar-winning-visual-effects | title=Autodesk: The Secret Star Behind Oscar-Winning Visual Effects |work= Fast Company |author= E.B. Boyd |date= February 25, 2011 |access-date= September 10, 2013 }}

In November 2010, Ubisoft announced that Autodesk's 3D gaming technology was used in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.{{cite web |url= http://www.cadcamnews.in/2010/11/ubisoft-uses-autodesk-games-technology.html |title=Ubisoft Uses Autodesk Games Technology in Ubisoft 'Assassin's Creed® Brotherhood' Production Pipeline : CAD CAM News|work=cadcamnews.in |year=2011 |access-date=9 August 2011}}

The division's products include Maya, 3ds Max (the new name of 3D Studio Max), Mudbox, MotionBuilder{{cite web |url=http://www.itnewslink.com/article.php?id_article=9983 |title=Autodesk Unveils 2011 Versions of Its Digital Entertainment Creation Software |publisher=ITnewsLink |access-date=2012-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313081057/http://www.itnewslink.com/article.php?id_article=9983 |archive-date=2012-03-13 |url-status=dead }} the game middleware Kynapse, and the creative finishing products Flame, Flare, Lustre, Smoke,{{cite web |url=http://www.itnewslink.com/article.php?id_article=10220 |title=Autodesk Announces 2011 Versions of Flame, Flare, Smoke and Lustre |publisher=ITnewsLink |access-date=2012-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313081125/http://www.itnewslink.com/article.php?id_article=10220 |archive-date=2012-03-13 |url-status=dead }} Stingray game engine (discontinued, but still supported until end of subscription).

• Discreet Frost, introduced in 1996, a SGI-based template-based on-air graphics system for news, weather and sports{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Discreet+Logic+introduces+two+new+desktop-based+virtual+sets+systems%3B...-a018192833 |title=Discreet Logic introduces two new desktop-based virtual sets systems; new VAPOUR Preview and Design Station and FROST now support Silicon Graphics Indigo2 IMPACT desktop workstation. - Free Online Library |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=2012-03-04}}
• Matchmover, now bundled with 3ds Max, Maya and Softimage, Retimer and VTour. All acquired from RealViz{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}
• Media Cleaner, a video-encoder for the Mac, and Edit, acquired from Media 100 in 2001{{cite web|url=http://www.animationartist.com/2001/08_aug/news/autodesk_buys_m100.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718214646/http://www.animationartist.com/2001/08_aug/news/autodesk_buys_m100.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |title=Autodesk to Acquire Media 100 Software Line |publisher=Animationartist.com |date=2001-08-30 |access-date=2012-03-04}}
• Lightscape, real-time radiosity software for Microsoft Windows acquired in December 1997 by Discreet,{{Cite web |title= Form 8-K: Acquisition or Disposition of Assets |publisher= US SEC |date= December 30, 1997 |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/943318/0000927016-98-000098.txt |access-date= September 10, 2013 }} was incorporated in 3ds Max in 2003.{{cite web |author= Steve Gilbert |url= http://forums.cgarchitect.com/2769-lightscape-retired.html |title= Lightscape to be retired |publisher= CG Architect Forums |date= December 16, 2002 |access-date= September 10, 2013 |archive-date= September 11, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130911083036/http://forums.cgarchitect.com/2769-lightscape-retired.html |url-status= dead }}{{cite web |author= Steve Gilbert |url= http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/autodesk_lightscape_retires |title= Autodesk Lightscape retires! |publisher= CG Society |date= January 31, 2003 |access-date= September 10, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130909210704/http://www.cgsociety.org/index.php/CGSFeatures/CGSFeatureSpecial/autodesk_lightscape_retires |archive-date= September 9, 2013 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}
• Discreet Plasma, released in 2002, a simplified version of 3ds Max for Adobe Flash authoring{{cite web|url=http://www.flashmagazine.com/reviews/detail/discreet_plasma/ |title=Discreet Plasma > Reviews > |publisher=Flash Magazine |date=2002-10-04 |access-date=2012-03-04}}{{cite web |url=http://investors.autodesk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=117861&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=303022&highlight |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110190511/http://investors.autodesk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=117861&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=303022&highlight |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-01-10 |title=Autodesk :: Investor Relations :: News Release |publisher=Investors.autodesk.com |date=2002-06-05 |access-date=2012-03-04 }}
• Discreet GMax, a simplified version of 3ds Max customized for game modders
• Autodesk Toxik, introduced in 2007, compositing software that allowed users to coordinate work on a production.{{cite web|url=http://www.studiodaily.com/main/technology/pvr/Autodesk-Toxik-2007_6387.html |title=Autodesk Toxik 2007 |publisher=Studio Daily |date=2006-04-20 |access-date=2012-03-04}} The software could only be bought for a minimum of 3 PCs, underlining its focus on collaborative, database-driven workflow. With its collaborative functions and databases removed, and renamed "Composite",{{cite web|url=http://www.fxguide.com/qt/1390/toxik-rip-sort-of-new-maya-2010 |title=Toxik RIP (sort of) + New Maya 2010 |publisher=fxguide |date=2009-08-03 |access-date=2012-03-04}} it is now bundled with Maya 3ds Max, and Softimage.
• Autodesk Softimage, acquired by Autodesk from Avid Technology in October 2008, was a 3D computer graphics application that was discontinued after the release of Autodesk Softimage 2015 on April 14, 2014. Softimage was used in the film, video game, and advertising industries for creating computer generated characters, objects, and environments
• Combustion - acquired in 1997 as Illuminaire Paint and Composition from Denim Software running on Windows NT and Mac OS.[https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/a/NASDAQ_ADSK_2000.pdf Annual report NASDAQ 2000] annualreports.com Rebranded as paint* and effect* and integrated into a suite with edit*. Finally unified as Combustion, a desktop shot compositor and motion graphics application for Mac OS and Windows. Shared some technologies and user interface elements with discreet systems-based products (Flame, Smoke).
• SketchBook Pro
• Autodesk Smoke - non-linear video editing software that integrates with Flame. When sold as a turnkey system, e.g. with an IBM Linux workstation, 2004 pricing started at US$68,000.{{cite web | url = http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=5603448&linkID=14271594 | date = October 28, 2004 | title = Press Release – Discreet Ships New Versions of inferno, flame, flint, fire, smoke and lustre Systems | publisher = Autodesk | access-date = 2013-09-16 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130701072737/http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=5603448&linkID=14271594 | archive-date = 2013-07-01 | url-status = dead }} A version for Mac OS X was announced in 2009, initially priced at US$14,995.{{cite web | author=Business Wire | url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091215005110/en/Autodesk-Smoke-Software-Mac |title=Autodesk Smoke Software Comes to the Mac |publisher=Business Wire |date=2009-12-15 |access-date=2013-06-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.autodesk.com/products/smoke/overview|title=Autodesk Smoke|accessdate=24 February 2024}}

;IFF

Inferno, Flame, and Flint (collectively known as IFF) is a series of compositing and visual effects applications originally created for MIPS architecture computers from Silicon Graphics (SGI), running Irix.

Flame was first released in January 1993; by mid-1995, it had become a market leader in visual effects software, with a price around US$175,000, or US$450,000 with a Silicon Graphics workstation. Time with the software was typically rented at a post-production house with an operator.{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Discreet-Logic-Inc-Company-History.html |title=History of Discreet Logic Inc. – FundingUniverse |publisher=Fundinguniverse.com |access-date=2013-06-01}} The Flame software is licensed in a variety of forms, including Flint, a lower-priced version of Flame with fewer functions,{{cite web | url = http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Creative_Finishing/enu/2012/Help/01_Flame_--_Flame_Premium/0008-Feature_8/0009-About_Fl9 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130916100009/http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Creative_Finishing/enu/2012/Help/01_Flame_--_Flame_Premium/0008-Feature_8/0009-About_Fl9 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-09-16 | title = Autodesk WikiHelp – About Flint Feature Differences | access-date = 2013-09-16 | publisher = AutoDesk }} and Inferno, introduced in 1995, a version intended for the film market, with a price of about US$225,000 without hardware. Traditionally Inferno ran on the SGI Onyx series, while Flame and Flint ran on SGI Indigo² and Octane workstations.

Flame/Inferno were implemented on Linux in 2006. Autodesk said the use of more powerful hardware allowed complex 3D composites to be rendered more than 20 times faster than on the previous SGI workstations.{{cite web | title = 20 years of flame | url = http://area.autodesk.com/flame20 | access-date = 2013-09-16 | publisher = AutoDesk | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130901172445/http://area.autodesk.com/flame20 | archive-date = 2013-09-01 }}

The first movie to use Flame was Super Mario Bros.; the software was then still in beta.{{cite web|last1=Stuart|first1=Keith|title='The stench of it stays with everybody': inside the Super Mario Bros movie|url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/mar/22/super-mario-bros-movie-killing-fields-chariots-fire-video-game|work=The Guardian|date=22 March 2018 |access-date=22 March 2018}} The software also saw use on PBS's 1995 graphics package, designed by PMcD Design and animated by Black Logic.

At the 1998 Academy Scientific and Technical Awards, Gary Tregaskis (design), Dominique Boisvert, Phillippe Panzini and Andre Le Blanc (development and implementation) received a Scientific and Engineering Award for Inferno and Flame.{{cite web | title = 1998 (71st) Scientific and Engineering Awards | publisher = Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | url = http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearch?action=searchLink&displayType=6&BSNominationID=47138 | access-date = 2013-09-16 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130916103855/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearch?action=searchLink&displayType=6&BSNominationID=47138 | archive-date = 2013-09-16 }}

;Flare

Flare, a software-only subset of Flame for creative assistants, was introduced in 2009 at around one-fifth the cost of a full-featured Flame seat.{{cite web|title=Autodesk Adds Flare to Flame and Inferno |author=Matt Armstrong |date=April 19, 2009 |url=http://www.studiodaily.com/2009/04/autodesk-adds-flare-to-flame-and-inferno/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311222108/http://www.studiodaily.com/2009/04/autodesk-adds-flare-to-flame-and-inferno/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |publisher=StudioDaily }}

;Lustre

Lustre is color grading software originally developed by Mark Jaszberenyi, Gyula Priskin and Tamas Perlaki at Colorfront in Hungary. The application was first packaged as a plugin for Flame product under the name "Colorstar" to emulate film type color grading using printer lights controls. It was then developed as a standalone software. It was introduced through British company 5D under the Colossus name in private demonstrations at [http://www.ibc.org IBC] show in Amsterdam in 2001. Alpha and beta testing were held at Eclair Laboratoires in Paris. During the trials, Colossus was running on the Windows XP operating system, but the same code base was also used on the IRIX operating system.

After the demise of 5D in 2002, Autodesk acquired the license to distribute the Lustre software,{{Cite web|url=http://www.colorfront.com/index.php?page=AWARDS&spage=Academy%20Award|title=Autodesk acquires license for Lustre|accessdate=24 February 2024}} and later acquired Colorfront entirely.{{cite web |url=http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?linkID=14271593&id=5567597&siteID=123112 |title=Autodesk acquires Colorfront |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110190511/http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?linkID=14271593&id=5567597&siteID=123112 |archive-date=2016-01-10 }} In the 2009 Academy Scientific and Technical Awards the original developers received a Scientific and Engineering Award for Lustre.{{cite web|title=2009 (82nd) Scientific and Engineering Awards |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearch?action=searchLink&displayType=6&BSNominationID=48966 |access-date=2013-09-16 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

;Flame Premium

In September 2010, Autodesk introduced Flame Premium 2011, a single license for running Flame, Smoke Advanced and Lustre together on a single workstation.{{cite web|url=http://www.fxguide.com/qt/2816/fxguidetv-from-ibc-flame-premium |title=fxguidetv from IBC: Flame Premium + Full Length 2011×1 Feature Videos |publisher=Fxguide.com |date=2010-09-09 |access-date=2013-06-01}} At launch, new licenses were priced from US$129,000 excluding hardware, with upgrades from existing Flame licenses priced from US$10,000. Existing users of Smoke Advanced or Lustre could upgrade from US$25,000.{{cite web | url = http://www.cgchannel.com/2010/09/autodesk-launches-flame-premium-2011/ | title = Autodesk launches Flame Premium 2011 | author = Jim Thacker | publisher = CG Channel | date = September 13, 2010 | access-date = 2013-09-16}}

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Media and Entertainment

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