LOS ANGELES — Thinkbox Software (www.thinkboxsoftware.com) will unveil the Draft at the 2012 SIGGRAPH show in LA. The lightweight compositing and video processing tool is designed to automate typical post-render tasks.
Draft is a plug-in for Thinkbox's Deadline render farm management software. It automates the creation and processing of QuickTimes, thumbnails and other deliverables in a pipeline.
The tool helps prepare renders for editorial without any user intervention. It also generates slates using metadata provided by a production management database such as Shotgun Software. Draft automatically converts renders to a variety of formats as needed, and can resize, composite, and converts images. A text annotation system renders slates and templates for video clips. The tool supports video formats such as H.264 and MPEG4, and with Python API, offers customization possibilities.
“Draft allows you to streamline your workflow by saving you from having to manually create QuickTimes, thumbnails, contact sheets, or other production elements,” explains Thinkbox Software founder, Chris Bond. “Whatever you render is automatically converted into formats you need or assembled as QuickTimes and information from your database can be automatically imported – an artist can submit one render and get a dozen different deliverables pushed out automatically, allowing you to focus on the art.”
Draft has been in beta at several VFX houses, including Encore VFX in Hollywood. It will be available for free to clients on an active support and maintenance subscription with Deadline.