CineForm, Inc. today announced that QuickTime versions of its HD and 2K CineForm Intermediate™ codecs are shipping in production for Intel-based Macintosh computers running Mac OS X 10.4 or later. CineForm QuickTime movie files are now compatible on both Windows and Mac OS X computers. CineForm QuickTime files eliminate the need for massively large DPX files as a common exchange format between platforms, thus enabling the industry’s first practical cross-platform and cross-application post-production workflow. Mac OS X software applications supported with the first production release include Adobe ®’s CS3 Production Premium, Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Motion, and QuickTime Player, Media 100, and Pomfort Silverstack. CineForm is also offering a free decoder for Intel-based Macs called Neo Player Mac.

“Adobe and CineForm have enjoyed working together for many years to optimize online digital workflows for independent filmmakers”, said Simon Hayhurst, director of product management, Dynamic Media Organization for Adobe. “As the market expands, we’re looking forward to collaborating with CineForm to enable the industry’s most powerful cross-platform compatibility using CineForm Intermediate technologies within Adobe CS3 Production Premium”.
“The biggest workflow frustration expressed by our customers has been the lack of file compatibility between platforms,” said David Taylor, CEO of CineForm, Inc. “Historically each platform has been an “island”, inefficient for cross-platform project collaboration. With our CineForm Intermediate QuickTime codec for Mac, we’re enthused to offer our customers a forward step towards simplifying collaborative digital workflows and reducing costs”.

The CineForm QuickTime codec is now shipping with CineForm’s Neo HD/2K and Prospect HD/2K products. The Neo and Prospect product families provide high-definition editing support for a broad range of industry post-production software, including from Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Media 100, Sony, and others. Each product purchase provides both a Windows and Mac OS X activation emphasizing the new simplicity of cross-platform compatibility. CineForm’s QuickTime codec supports digital workflows from standard definition all the way to 2048×2048, including the 12-bit CineForm 444 format suitable for film scanning, animation, and high-end compositing. CineForm’s free Neo Player for Mac allows all users of Intel-based Macs to play CineForm QuickTime files within most Mac video applications, including Adobe CS3, Apple Final Cut Pro, and QuickTime player, regardless of whether the files were created on Windows or Mac.

Pricing and Availability
NEO HD/2K and Prospect HD/2K, which include the CineForm QuickTime codec for Mac OS X, are available for immediate purchase with a starting price of $599. Certain free upgrades and special pricing is available to existing CineForm customers. Neo Player for Mac is available as a free download from CineForm’s website. Visit CineForm’s website www.cineform.com for more details. Purchases may be made from CineForm’s website or from CineForm’s network of resellers.