Blackmagic Design announced that Fusion 8 and Fusion 8 Studio are now available for download from the Blackmagic Design website for both Mac OS X and Windows.
The release of Fusion 8 is the first Mac-compatible release of Fusion, which was previously a Windows-only product. Fusion 8 Studio is now also available in 10, 20 or 50 multi-user licenses, making it easy to install in larger creative groups and studios. The multi-user licenses feature a single USB dongle programmed with multiple licenses that plug into a machine running Fusion Server, which is installed by default with Fusion Studio. Fusion Server manages the licenses across the ethernet network. That means licenses can be floating and are not tied to any single machine, making it easy to administer in large facilities with lots of users.
Projects can be easily moved between Mac and Windows versions of Fusion so customers can work on the platform of their choice. Fusion 8 features a more intuitive and modern looking interface that makes it easier for new users to learn how to use the software, while maintaining the consistency that long-time users need to continue working without having to relearn anything. As part of the port to Mac OS X, the underlying architecture in Fusion has been modernized.
Featuring a node-based interface, Fusion makes it easy to build sophisticated visual effects compositions quickly. Nodes are small icons that represent effects, filters and other image processing operations that can be connected together in any order to create unlimited visual effects. Nodes are laid out logically like a flow chart, so customers won’t waste time hunting through nested stacks of confusing layers with filters and effects. Unlike timeline-based applications, it’s easy to see and adjust any part of a project in Fusion by simply clicking on a node.
With a toolset consisting of hundreds of built in tools, customers can pull keys, track objects, rotoscope, retouch images, animate titles and create particle effects, all in a true 3D workspace. Fusion can also import 3D models, point cloud data, cameras or even entire 3D scenes from Maya, 3ds Max or Lightwave and render them seamlessly with other elements. Deep pixel tools can be used to add volumetric fog, lighting and reflection mapping of rendered objects using world position passes so customers can create amazing atmospheric effects that render in seconds.
Fusion 8 is available in two versions. Fusion 8 for Mac and Windows is free for customers and is now available to download from the Blackmagic Design website. Fusion 8 is a full professional 3D visual effects and compositing system that is suitable for independent effects, motion graphics and broadcast design artists.
Fusion 8 Studio for Mac and Windows is available starting at $995. Fusion Studio has all of the same features as the free version, but also adds advanced optical flow image analysis tools for stereoscopic 3D work, retiming and stabilization. Fusion Studio also includes support for third-party OpenFX plugins, unlimited distributed network rendering, and Generation for studio-wide multi-user collaboration to track, manage, review and approve shots when working with large creative teams on complex projects.
