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Part 1:
Getting to know FrameCycler
Part 2:
Moving to Linux
Part 3:
Looking to the Future
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Meteor Studios first discovered IRIDAS at SIGGRAPH in 2002. One of their artists saw a demonstration of FrameCycler and was
impressed. The company downloaded a trial version from the IRIDAS web site and began testing it in their
facility.
So, what was your first impression of FrameCycler?
Jami: We liked FrameCycler a lot. It loaded quickly and we loved the
features: like being able to compare two sequences side-by-side, or the ability to do basic comp
layers. We found that it really accelerated our review process.
Claude: Being able to use different LUTs (Look Up Tables) was very
useful. It helped us keep our pipeline consistent from beginning to end without having to juggle between too many different
applications.
How did you test it?
Jami: We had the render wranglers do a lot of testing when they were checking sequences after rendering
(when raw 3D data are transformed into finished 2D images). It didn’t take long until FrameCycler became an established piece of our
infrastructure.
How has FrameCycler helped you in your work?
Claude: We are always looking for ways to improve our workflow. FrameCycler is a big help in that
respect. Right from the beginning, Meteor Studios worked on demanding projects with tight budgets and
timelines. That forced us to be very efficient. We still have that focus
today. It’s a big part of our success.
Jami: For example, we have integrated FrameCycler into our file
browser, so everyone in the facility can review any sequence with just a mouse
click. It adds up to a huge time savings that has significantly boosted our overall productivity
— especially in the critical area of quality
control.”
In 2003 Meteor Studios began the ambitious of project of moving their infrastructure to
Linux. Meteor was already doing rendering on Linux, but now the decision was made to convert the whole facility to that
platform. Of course, the process brought with it the challenge of managing two different OS environments during a transition that will not be entirely complete until 2005.
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Jami Levesque is Meteor Studios’ Director of Technology.
As one of the first people to join the Meteor team, he played a key role building the facility’s infrastructure.
Currently, besides overseeing technical operations (and the never-ending search for more disk space!), Jami is leading Meteor in their transition to Linux. It is a challenge which he finds fascinating
and — at least in retrospect — very satisfying.
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