DNEG to launch xStudio

DNEG is to launch xStudio, an open source playback and review application. 

The VFX and animation studio will use xStudio to replace all other image review tools across DNEG’s content creation pipeline, moving them into a unified application on Linus, Mac, and Windows.

xStudio will be released as an open source project, allowing each industry partner and filmmaking team to download and use it for free and integrate the application into its own pipeline. The aim is for it to become the industry standard toolset for collaborative review.

DNEG will create a pipeline-agnostic core application, while also providing a full Python API, C++ plugin framework and extensive use of open-source libraries to allow contributors full control of its integration into their pipelines.

Chas Jarrett, senior VFX supervisor at DNEG, said: “VFX supervisors, artists, directors, DoPs, studio executives, producers - we all look at images every day in many different ways. xStudio will give us a common industry toolset for organizing and displaying all types of media, annotating and editing them, and then securely sharing the results with each other, on our laptops, in screening rooms or over the internet.”

DNEG global chief technology officer Paul Salvini added: “Our teams across the globe design, create, animate and submit thousands of visual effects shots and animation sequences across multiple projects every day.

“In xStudio we have created a modern, flexible, feature-rich playback and review application that we hope will become the new industry standard. By freely sharing xStudio as an open source project with our clients and our industry partners we are encouraging everyone to use and develop the toolset, so that we all benefit from the collective expertise in our community.”