Normally, we’re not big on simply regurgitating press releases from manufacturers. But based upon our looks in the past on Digital Grading, this is fairly impressive news for 5D.
London, August 13th, 2002 — Post-production systems developer 5D today announced that Laboratoire Éclair in Paris, one of the leading film laboratories in Europe, has installed a 5D Colossus, digital colour timing and finishing system, into its Digital Intermediate pipeline. Éclair, a beta site for 5D Colossus, has adopted the system as its front-line digital colour timing and mastering tool and expects to run as many as 12 feature films through the system this year.
Éclair was established in 1907 and has been involved in the post production of many of the major motion pictures emanating from the French movie-making industry over the last century. Along with providing facilities for the bulk duplication of 35mm release prints, DVD, digital cinema, storage and film studio facilities, the company has taken a lead in Digital Intermediate processing, whereby all post production on a feature film is handled digitally.
5D Colossus has been integrated into a Digital Intermediate environment at Éclair capable handling 30Terabytes of film data at any one time. Laboratory director Patrick O’Rourke and Philippe Reinaudo, the company’s head of scanning and networking, oversaw the installation. 5D’s Paris-based reseller Post Logic facilitated the sale to Éclair, which also included a 5D Commander, record and review system for 2K film data. 5D Colossus was piloted during the beta phase by freelance colourist Julius Friede, who used it on several film projects for directors including Luc Besson and Claude Chabrol.
“We realised 5D Colossus was the way forward for digital film grading as soon as we saw it,” said Éclair’s Patrick O’Rourke. “We needed a new grading system anyway, but in today’s digital film market it’s all about dealing with massive amounts of film data as efficiently as possible. Along with providing very powerful digital grading, 5D Colossus also offered us the best possible evolutionary route for the future. Because it is ‘open’ Colossus can grow in different directions and adapt as we change and re-organise our workflow. Unlike a black box system we can industrialise Colossus. 5D have been very responsive in helping us integrate the system, which is the beauty of working with a smaller company.”
Julius Friede, freelance colourist operating Colossus at Éclair, commented: “The potential for Colossus is huge. For a brand new product it’s already very sophisticated. 5D have provided the right combination of high-quality film data handling with artistic tooling, and we’ve had an excellent response from the directors and cinematographers who have already used it. They realise they now have ultimate control over each pixel, and can optimise what has been shot on film in post production.”
Marc Dando, a director of 5D, said: “When a progressively-minded company like Éclair turns round and takes notice of your technology, you know you’re working at the very highest levels of the industry. Their adoption of 5D Colossus and 5D Commander vindicates the approach we are taking towards providing a coherent strategy for Digital intermediate.”
5D Colossus v1:
5D Colossus, is a software-based, digital grading and mastering solution. Like all 5D tools it is designed to boost productivity and workflow by putting advanced tools at the disposal of digital artists, colourists and cinematographers. Delivering both log and linear grading for the first time and providing cinema-quality, interactive colour-correction, 5D Colossus is dedicated to making the grading of multiple scenes as fast and as efficient as possible.
The new v1 version, which was formally launched at NAB 2002 in April, offers improved operational speed and background rendering performance, over previously seen beta versions, along with advanced dust and grain tools for the highest quality digital mastering.
About 5D:
5D is media solutions company built on world-class credentials in film and video visual effects. The company’s IRIX, Linux and Windows 2000-based solutions are essential commodities for digital artists worldwide, helping to boost productivity, creativity and workflow in film and video post production. 5D’s compositing and creative effects/editing division delivers 5D Cyborg, a revolutionary integrated effects system, which combines advanced, resolution-independent, image-processing tools into a central working environment. For digital film grading and mastering 5D offers 5D Colossus, an acclaimed, software-based digital grading and finishing solution. 5D’s Plug-Into division provides 5D Monsters, a renowned range of more than 400 visual effects plug-ins for advanced animation and compositing systems, plus 5D Masher, an offline effects and network connection system for Quantel systems. Chief among 5D’s workflow, storage and infrastructure products is 5D Commander, a full-frame 2K film and video record/review solution.
About Éclair:
Éclair is, and has been for almost a century both in France and worldwide, one of the major companies devoted to the 7th art and its industry. Over 400 people work on 2 sites totalling 22 acres in various departments such as Post-Production, 35mm Release prints, Video, DVD, Digital Cinema, Storage and Film Studios. Éclair’s values and passion for cinema have enabled the company to anticipate ever-changing needs and to develop the most up-to-date technologies in the cinema-imaging arena. This commitment and the adaptability of personnel and material is a key element of Éclair’s strategy aimed at maintaining high quality services. Éclair’s reputation results from the confidence expressed by its clients over the years, clients who have remained loyal to the company.