ASSIMILATE today announced the open-Beta version of SCRATCH 8.5, the latest version of its advanced, real-time post-production tools and workflow for dailies, conform, grading, compositing, and finishing. Also announced is the open-Beta for the new SCRATCH VR Suite. Both open-Beta versions give all creators the opportunity to actively use the full suite of SCRATCH and SCRATCH VR tools, while evaluating and submitting requests and recommendations for additional features or updates. SCRATCH Web for cloud-based, real-time review and collaboration, and SCRATCH Play for immediate review and playback, are also included in the ecosystem updates. Current users of SCRATCH 8.4 can quickly download the SCRATCH 8.5 open-Beta at http://www.assimilatesupport.com/akb/Download50814.aspx. Post-production artists and creators who are new to SCRATCH can access the SCRATCH 8.5 open-Beta version for a 30-day free trial at http://register.assimilateinc.com/registration.aspx?p=1. The SCRATCH VR open-Beta version can be accessed for a 30-day free trial at http://register.assimilateinc.com/registration.aspx?p=3.

SCRATCH 8.5. Highlights
SCRATCH has always been known for its advanced creative tools, as well as superior data management features and functions. The design of SCRATCH is based on the concept of easily managing thousands of shots, versions, grades and timelines in a single project. SCRATCH v8.5 continues to build on this capability, now introducing:

  • Easy validation of availability of physical media and file references throughout a project, timeline and render
  • Fast access to all external resources (media / LUT / CTL / etc.) through bookmarks
  • Full set of ACES transforms as published by the Academy
  • Publishing media directly to Facebook
  • Option to launch SCRATCH from a command-line with a series of xml-script commands, which allows closer integration with post-infrastructure and third-party software and scripts.

Additional features
HDR support - apply a PQ transfer function to primary or secondary / reference output with a single click. Integrates into the SCRATCH color management with no need for using external LUTs

  • Increase grading efficiency by single clicking your thumbnail timeline to copy grades from one shot to the next
  • And more...

SCRATCH VR Suite Highlights

The new SCRATCH VR Suite includes all the features and functions of SCRATCH 8.5 SCRATCH Play, SCRATCH Web, plus substantial features, functions, and enhancements that are specific to working in a 360 media environment.

To learn more, watch the SCRATCH VR Tutorial Videos and see The Movie...

The movie: https://vimeo.com/156395178

The sequel: https://vimeo.com/162653407

“SCRATCH continues to provide bleeding-edge real-time tools and workflows that DITs, post-production artists and all filmmakers need to be creative, productive, and competitive,” said Jeff Edson, CEO at Assimilate. “The SCRATCH 8.5 and SCRATCH VR Suite open-Betas give creators a heads-up on the latest digital-cinema technologies and the opportunity to contribute in the development of the unique SCRATCH ecosystem that boosts their storytelling capabilities to the highest level of quality.”

Price and Availability
SCRATCH 8.5 open-Beta and the SCRATCH VR Suite open-Beta are available immediately. Those who purchase open-Beta versions will automatically be upgraded to the final versions when the products ship. Learn more about SCRATCH at http://www.assimilateinc.com/products/. Learn more about the SCRATCH VR Suite at http://www.assimilateinc.com/products/scratch-vr/. Purchase both at the Assimilate Store http://store.assimilateinc.com/categories.php?category=ASSIMILATE-Software

About ASSIMILATE
ASSIMILATE is the premier provider of real-time post-production and workflow tools that have proven essential to the successful creation of 2D/3D/VR studio and independent feature films, documentaries, TV episodes, and music videos. The SCRATCH product line, running on Windows and OS X, equips directors, DPs, on-set DITs and post-production artists with the state-of-the-art, cost-effective, data-centric solutions they need to meet the challenges of increased creativity and productivity amid ever-shrinking budgets. SCRATCH is resolution independent, supporting multiple formats, including ARRI RAW, KineRAW, Sony F5/55/65 and Cyber Shot s700, Phantom, Panasonic Varicam 4K, Canon C300/C500, Canon 3DGoPro, as well as enhanced support for all RED cameras. SCRATCH is the only post-production tool to support native Kinefinity RAW (KRW and DNG) files. SCRATCH enables mixing and matching of any camera format, resolution or color space (including ACES) on the same timeline. Additionally, ASSIMILATE offers the only professional end-to-end VR workflow and tools in the SCRATCH VR Suite for Learn more at www.assimilateinc.com.