Autodesk Consulting Provides Linux Pipeline Implementation for Mudbox Digital Sculpting and Texture Painting Software
Autodesk has announced that DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NASDAQ: DWA) and Sony Pictures Imageworks are integrating Autodesk Mudbox software into their Linux-based production pipelines. Autodesk Consulting's custom development team worked collaboratively with teams at Imageworks and DreamWorks to port the digital sculpting and texture painting software to the Linux platform. Mudbox for Linux is available through Autodesk Consulting services.
"Mudbox was first developed as an integral part of WETA Digital's film production pipeline, putting the digital artist at the center of the software's design process," explained Dave Rhodes, Autodesk vice president, worldwide consulting services. "This enabled Mudbox to solve key production challenges that other applications weren't addressing. It is an approach that Autodesk has remained faithful to by developing the Linux version in collaboration with some of our leading film clients."
"The Linux port is an exciting and essential element of getting the Mudbox toolset integrated into our production pipeline at DreamWorks Animation," said Ed Leonard, CTO at DreamWorks Animation. "We applaud our partners at Autodesk for their continual commitment to tool innovation and their support of Linux as a first rate platform for high end visual effects and animation."
"Mudbox is a great tool for us in that it can combine sculpting and texturing into a single workflow, which gives our artists more flexibility in how they approach creating the art for our films," said Rob Bredow, CTO at Imageworks. "The Mudbox approach really fits into our overall strategy of letting our artists create art using multiple areas within our pipeline. Mudbox is more creatively satisfying and more efficient, allowing us to put more on the screen."
Autodesk Consulting offers custom engineering, support and consulting operations serving the computer graphics industry. Drawing on extensive production knowledge, the group's developers and consultants provide large feature film, visual effects and game development facilities with custom technology, pipeline extensions, asset management solutions, support and more.
"Cross-platform support is a key part of the Mudbox product strategy," added Stig Gruman, Autodesk vice president, Digital Entertainment Group. "Earlier this year Autodesk shipped the first version of the software for the Apple Macintosh platform, and this development is a major step toward offering Linux support to artists working in feature film production."