Initially posted on 5 December 2018. Scroll down for information of the Flix 6.6 replace.
Foundry has up to date Flix, its ‘story growth hub’ system for animation and visible results initiatives.
Flix 6.0 splits the software program into separate server and shopper functions, “fully overhauls” the UI, improves the annotation, dialogue and search instruments, and provides new actions to assist automate frequent duties.
A ‘collaborative hub’ for story growth
Initially developed in-house at Sony Footage Imageworks, Flix is meant to allow administrators, producers and editors to work collaboratively with artists throughout story growth.
The platform gives a central repository for storyboard pictures scanned in or created in different software program – primarily Photoshop – full with revisioning capabilities.
Flix then processes and packages these pictures, changing them to the dimensions and side ratio required for the manufacturing, and exporting them as robotically generated storyboards.
For producing animatics, Flix gives two-way hyperlinks to Media Composer, Remaining Lower Professional and Premiere Professional, plus native instruments for timing a picture sequence to an audio observe or recording voiceovers.
(Notice: the software program additionally used to combine with Maya, though there’s no point out of this within the on-line documentation for Flix 6.0. We’ve contacted Foundry to ask if that is nonetheless the case.)
Up to date 30 July 2019: Maya integration has been eliminated. Foundry “wish to restore Maya in future”, however is contemplating whether or not a devoted integration or a extra common USD-based answer is preferable.
Now accessible as separate server and shopper apps
Foundry describes Flix 6.0 as a “full re-architecture”, overhauling the design of the software program and updating the applied sciences on which it’s constructed.
Below the hood, the largest change is that Flix has now been divided into two separate functions, Flix Server and Flix Shopper, making it simpler to deploy in massive studios.
The replace introduces a brand new database to interchange the earlier file-based system, a RESTful API to make it simpler for studios to customize installations, and new person permissions controls.
The interface has been “rewritten from the bottom up”, changing the previous Flash-based structure with one based mostly on HTML5, JavaScript and CSS.
Flix can be now a local desktop app, which ought to enhance entry to OS options just like the file system, and allows customers to have a number of Flix home windows open concurrently when working throughout a number of sequences.
As well as, there’s now a person preferences system, making it attainable to customize issues like file paths, export codecs and the way Flix interacts with third-party instruments like Photoshop.
New shopper options: higher Photoshop integration, annotation and dialogue-editing instruments
Integration with Photoshop – additionally a spotlight of the earlier launch – has been additional improved, with Flix getting its personal devoted Adobe CEP panel inside the picture editor.
There are additionally two new Photoshop actions to automate frequent duties: Open as Separate Recordsdata and Open Present Picture, which opens the panel at present chosen inside Flix.
Inside Flix itself, the annotation instruments have been improved, together with brush thickness controls and an on-screen color palette when drawing onto a storyboard panel.
Dialogue administration additionally will get an replace, together with the choice to make dialogue revisions straight inside Flix, plus help for textual content styling and the choice to show subtitles within the Participant.
Different adjustments embody the choice to filter file searches by sequence, artist and date vary; and a brand new export system geared in direction of exporting a number of variations of storyboard panels concurrently.
Up to date 25 July 2019: Flix 6.1 has been launched. The replace provides a brand new round-tripping system with Media Composer, changing a sequence into an AAF file that may be imported into the modifying software program.
Modifications made inside Media Composer to panel timing, results or audio could be despatched again to Flix.
Different adjustments embody a system of clickable keyword-based ‘chips’ to assist generate constant file paths when exporting belongings; and an autosave system.
There may be additionally a brand new migration device to automate the migration of Flix 5 initiatives to Flix 6.1. You could find a full listing of adjustments by way of the hyperlinks beneath.
Up to date 28 November 2019: Flix 6.2 is transport. The replace reinstates native help for storyboarding app Storyboard Professional, eliminated in Flix 6.0, plus a brand new feedback system for managing suggestions on boards.
The discharge additionally provides a Good Panel Reuse system, stopping information which have beforehand been imported from being reuploaded, as a substitute reusing the prevailing model of the picture.
Up to date 5 March 2020: Flix 6.3 is out, including HTTPS (SSL/TLS) as an additional safety layer between the shopper and Flix Server, on high of the prevailing safe signing and authentication.
The replace additionally streamlines workflow with Avid’s Media Composer: particularly, dialogue could be exported as a textual content file, making a separate clip for every dialogue entry when imported into the software program.
As well as, import efficiency has been improved: Foundry says that the time taken to bulk-import storyboard panels has been lower “by greater than half” since Flix 6.2.
Up to date 28 Might 2022: Foundry has launched Flix 6.4.
The replace overhauls workflow for exporting belongings, including a Switch Queue desk to point out the progress of background transfers, and making it attainable to make adjustments to a revision whereas transfers are in progress.
Switch processes and file imports are additionally now “10% sooner than Flix 6.3”.
Customers of Storyboard Professional get help for its .sbpz packed undertaking file format, and higher round-tripping of panels with digital camera strikes or layer transforms between Storyboard Professional and Avid software program.
Different adjustments embody help for compositions with 1:1 and 1:2.2 side ratio.
As well as, macOS help for Flix Server is being deprecated, so future variations of the software program might be accessible for Linux solely. Flix Shopper continues to help each macOS and Home windows.
Up to date 19 January 2023: Foundry has launched Flix 6.5.
Key adjustments embody a brand new permissions administration system, which allows admins assign to roles to customers throughout a number of teams and initiatives.
Different adjustments embody the choice to create customized layouts for Contact Sheets.
When editors create new storyboard panels by comping collectively current panels, Flix now tracks which supply panels have been used, making it simpler for storyboard artists to recreate the brand new panels correctly.
Storyboard Professional customers get a brand new panel relinking and versioning system.
Panels are additionally now versioned robotically when imported manually from apps aside from Storyboard Professional, Media Composer, Photoshop and Premiere Professional.
As well as, Flix now helps the CY2022 specification for the VFX Reference Platform, whereas Flix Shopper now helps Apple Silicon processors natively, making it the primary Foundry utility to take action.
Up to date 18 Might 2023: Foundry has launched Flix 6.6.
The replace provides help for reverse proxy servers, letting studios customise the connections between Flix Purchasers and Flix Servers, to load stability or pace up community infrastucture.
Flix’s model monitoring system has been up to date to make it extra dependable, and the e-mail notification on publishing from Flix to editorial and from editorial to Flix has been redesigned.
Pricing and availability
Flix 6.6 Shopper is accessible for Home windows 10+ and macOS 11.0+. Flix 6.6 Server is appropriate with 64-bit CentOS 7 Linux. The software program is simply accessible on subscription, and is priced on enquiry.
Learn an outline of the brand new options in Flix on Foundry’s web site
Learn a full listing of recent options in Flix 6.0 to Flix 6.6 within the on-line launch notes
Tags: Actions, Adobe CEP, animatic, animation, annotation, Apple Silicon, side ratio, authentication, automation, autosave, Avid, background switch, batch export, batch import, feedback, contact sheet, CSS, CY2022, dialog, dialogue, function animation, Remaining Lower Professional, Flix, Flix 6.0, Flix 6.0 Shopper, Flix 6.0 Server, Flix 6.1, Flix 6.2, Flix 6.3, Flix 6.4, Flix 6.4 Shopper, Flix 6.4 Server, Flix 6.5, Flix 6.6, Flix Shopper, Flix Server, Foundy, HTML5, HTTPS, picture evaluate, JavaScript, M1, M2, Mac help, macOS help deprecated, Maya, Media Composer, Media Composter, native deskop app, new options, notification e mail, permissions, Photoshop, Premiere Professional, worth, proxy server, relinking, spherical tripping, scripting, safety, Good Panel Reuse, Sony Footage Imageworks, story growth, storyboard panel, Storyboard Professional, storyboarding, system necessities, Switch Queue, USD, person permissions, person preferences, model management, versioning, vfx, VFX Reference Platform, visible results
