SGO has made another significant development upgrade to its compositing software, Mamba FX in version 2.0, which boasts advanced additional features. Redefining VFX and rapidly evolving, Mamba FX’s new toolsets extends the existing SGO product line and draws on Mistika’s powerful compositing and image quality technology, as well as adding a host of innovative features and functionality.
One of the key highlights in Mamba FX 2.0 is the Layer Route Effect, providing support and associated functions for working with multi-layer EXR files. These files are capable of carrying multiple streams of images as well as metadata, in a single file. They are commonly used to hold multiple render passes from CGI software, or to carry multiple matte or alpha channels. Mamba FX 2.0 includes features to split and route the multiple layers, allowing Mamba FX’s other compositing tools to act on individual elements during the compositing phase. Furthermore, Mamba FX’s all new ‘Spatial Isolation Keyer’ interfaces with metadata that can be passed from CGI software via the EXR files. This enables advanced compositing techniques such as isolating elements in a scene by their 3D (XYZ) location, their surface direction (normals), their object ID or their Material ID.
Also new for Mamba FX 2.0 is a high-speed, ‘point cloud’ shape tracker, which enables compositors to track 2D roto-shapes to shots very quickly. Multiple shapes can be tracked and combined using Boolean operations to rapidly create moving matte shapes. Mamba FX 2.0 also includes new colour space conversion tools to aid project colour management including ACES workflows. Other additional features include an adaptive interface for monitor configuration, as well as Dolby EDR support.
CEO of SGO, Miguel Angel Doncel, confirmed, “SGO’s development team is dedicated to deliver ever more efficient and flexible VFX workflow management with finely-tuned integration in Mamba FX ‘s version 2.0. The results are a combination of a powerful, node-based VFX finishing suite designed to empower creative artists and provide them with a new way of working – making the impossible possible at affordable rates.”
Mamba FX 2.0 is available for Windows, Linux and Mac (Mountain Lion 10.8.5) and is fully compatible with SGO’s Mistika. Mamba FX 1.0 customers will receive a free Mamba FX 2.0 update.
Photo: Courtesy of SGO
