Foundry, creative software for the media and entertainment industries, has released Nuke 13.
Kicking off the next series of Nuke releases, Nuke 13 introduces a flexible machine learning toolset, a new Hydra 3D viewport renderer and extended monitor out functionality, enhanced workflows for collaborative review, Python 3 support, and much more.
The Machine Learning Toolset allows artists to harness the power of machine learning directly in Nuke 13. Developed by Foundry’s A.I. Research team, it enables artists to create bespoke effects with a high-quality result in relatively little time. Applications of this flexible toolset include upres, removing motion blur, tracker marker removal, beauty work, garbage matting, and more.
Key components of the machine learning toolset include:
- CopyCat – an artist can create an effect on a small number of frames in a sequence and train a network to replicate this effect with the CopyCat node. This artist-focused shot-specific approach enables the creation of high-quality, bespoke models relatively quickly within Nuke without custom training environments, complex network permissions, or sending data to the cloud.
- Inference – is the node that runs the neural networks produced by Copy Cat, applying the model to your image sequence or another sequence.
- Upscale and Deblur – two new tools for common compositing tasks were developed using the ML methodology behind CopyCat and open-source MLServer. The ML networks for these nodes can be refined using CopyCat to create even higher-quality shots or studio-specific versions in addition to their primary use for resizing footage and removing motion blur.
Nuke 13.0 also includes the introduction of Hydra support within Nuke’s 3D viewport, offering a higher quality image much closer to Scanline Renderer’s output, enabling artists to work closer to their final image. Using hdStorm for rendering also provides a more consistent experience to other applications using Hydra.
Introduced in Nuke 12.2, Sync Review has been extended to support syncing of editorial actions as well as playback and annotations. Now fully supported in Nuke Studio, Hiero, and HieroPlayer, Sync Review offers a new way to collaborate on review remotely and share the vision of the final image.
Christy Anzelmo, sr. director of product, Foundry, commented, “This release presents the biggest step forward for artists using Nuke. Nuke 13.0 combines what we’ve learned from studios over the last year by introducing new technologies that expand what’s possible within Nuke while maintaining the creative workflows and technical control that artists love. With the new machine learning toolset, we are putting the power of machine learning directly into the hands of artists as they can now create bespoke tools to enable them to stay creative, while also addressing the most common VFX challenges for creating high-quality shots.”
Thiago Porto, VFX and compositing supervisor, said, “I believe CopyCat will change the way VFX artists work. A shot that previously took me three days to create can now be completed in just a few hours.”
Review: Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s “Heretic”
"Heretic" opens with an unusual table setter: Two young missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussing condoms and why some are labeled as large even though they're all pretty much a standard size. "What else do we believe because of marketing?" one asks the other.
That line will echo through the movie, a stimulating discussion of religion that emerges from a horror movie wrapper. Despite a second-half slide and feeling unbalanced, this is the rare movie that combines lots of squirting blood and elevated discussion of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Our two church members — played fiercely by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East — are wandering around trying to covert souls when they knock on the door of a sweet-looking cottage. Its owner, Mr. Reed, offers a hearty "Good afternoon!" He welcomes them in, brings them drinks and promises a blueberry pie. He's also interested in learning more about the church. So far, so good.
Mr. Reed is, of course, if you've seen the poster, the baddie and he's played by Hugh Grant, who doesn't go the snarling, dead-eyed Hannibal Lecter route in "Heretic." Grant is the slightly bumbling, bashful and self-mocking character we fell in love with in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but with a smear of menace. He gradually reveals that he actually knows quite a bit about the Mormon religion — and all religions.
"It's good to be religious," he says jauntily and promises his wife will join them soon, a requirement for the church. Homey touches in his home include a framed "Bless This Mess" needlepoint on a wall, but there are also oddities, like his lights are on a timer and there's metal in the walls and ceilings.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood — who also... Read More