Duiker Research Announces Color Symmetry 2.0

Duiker Research Corp., creator of the Color Symmetry plug-in suite, announced today Color Symmetry 2.0. Version 2.0 encompasses new capabilities that make it possible to create and emulate production looks, accurately view color and correctly exchange color data across a variety of film- and emerging all-digital production pipelines in motion pictures, television, commercials and games.

The ability to see and handle color consistently in animation, graphics, visual effects and post-production systems, including 2D and 3D software, is one of several modern workflow challenges uniquely solved by Color Symmetry. Color Symmetry also supports another growing industry demand by letting users author and properly use different film and created production looks directly within their everyday tools.

Color Symmetry Version 2.0 ensures broad application of these benefits with today’s emerging color exchange standards and digital acquisition workflows. Key features include:

– Color Handling for RAW – Color Symmetry 2.0 introduces a consistent color workflow for digital acquisition solutions and increasingly popular RAW formats by supporting the RAW color spaces of digital cameras by RED, Panavision, Arri and Dalsa.

– Expanded LUT and Interchange Support – Color Symmetry 2.0 can read, export and convert from among a comprehensive range of industry-standard Look-Up Tables (LUTs). All Color Symmetry applications now also directly support color descriptions and transformations through open source Color Decision List (CDL) technology as well as the ASC’s Color Transformation Language (CTL).

– XML Configurability – Color Symmetry 2.0 provides increased flexibility for individual client and project needs with support for Extensible Markup Language (XML).

“Using Color Symmetry already saves us time and guesswork because we know the imagery we are seeing across our shot creation and rendering pipeline is correct,” said Oystein Larsen, Visual Effects Supervisor, Toxic Norway. “We also know any film or created look we need to deal with will be properly used and viewed. Version 2.0 only increases our confidence in being able to work according to accepted industry standards for color with film as well as evolving non-film digital acquisition and delivery methods.”

“Many potential workflows exist right now, from film-based motion picture delivery to all-digital game engine delivery,” stated Haarm-Pieter Duiker, Duiker Research. “People are finding that they need to manage color across multiple creative toolsets, facilities and pipelines. Color Symmetry 2.0 is about introducing features that let users quickly bring their applications and pipelines up to the industry standards for color data exchange, and allow them to access common color tools for manipulating imagery regardless of whether the imagery originated digitally or on film, or whether it will be mastered digitally or on film.”

Color Symmetry Overview
Color Symmetry is the industry’s first solution for creating, viewing and consistently handling production looks and color within 2D and 3D animation, graphics, effects and post-production toolsets. Color Symmetry works across products and platforms to help users in feature film, commercials, television and games build robust color pipelines and reduce guesswork in maintaining accurate color throughout the creative process. Production looks can be created and viewed interchangeably through Color Symmetry within industry-standard applications by various different collaborators. Color Symmetry also enables identical color handling across vastly different software packages and color spaces, including 2D live-action color imagery and 3D high-dynamic color range.

Supported Products and Platforms
The Color Symmetry plug-in suite includes platform-transparent support for Windows (including Windows 64), Linux (including Linux 64) and Macintosh OSX operating systems. A single license of Color Symmetry provides color handling and film look capabilities within all of the following applications:

Pricing & Availability
Color Symmetry with Universal Look Authoring is available now. Color Symmetry Version 2.0 is scheduled for availability in Fall 2008. For sales and purchasing information, please contact info@duikerresearch.com or call (415) 771-8991.