THX® Announces New THX cineSpace™ color management software Advancements at IBC 2011

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IBC 2011 – Hall 7, Stand 7.K01 -- THX Ltd. today announced enhancements to its popular THX cineSpace™ color management software, the de facto standard in film and television post-production for image color accuracy and consistency, with support for 64-bit operating systems on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms, in addition to 64-bit support in cinePlugin versions for Adobe Photoshop™, Apple Shake™, Eyeon Fusion™, Nucoda Film Master™ and Nuke™.

The plugins are tightly integrated into the workflow and functionality of the associated systems and enable highly efficient display calibration and LUT selection. The latest THX cineSpace offerings also add support for the new X-Rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter and the Datacolor Spyder line of colorimeters, providing facilities with more choices in terms of price, quality, accuracy and functionality for display calibration devices.

THX cineSpace products are used in major post-production, visual effects and animation facilities worldwide to calibrate monitors and projection systems, and establish an end-to-end color pipeline. It ensures that visual artists are able to see how an image will appear in a wide range of target environments, including film projection, digital cinemas, plasma monitors and LCD consumer displays. The THX cineSpace product line includes software programs optimized for use in animation and visual effects workstations as well as products for use in Digital Intermediate and mastering facilities.

"The combination of our new color science tools, THX Media Director™ and critical viewing Room Certification are key components in our initiative to help post houses optimize workflow and ensure that artists are working in room environments that support their best creative efforts," said Rick Dean, senior vice president, THX Ltd. "THX cineSpace is one of the most advanced and flexible color management systems on the market and is used by leading facilities all over the world."

THX cineSpace Customer Examples

As one of the oldest and most well-respected effects facilities in the world, Tippett Studio, produces highly complex animation and visual effects sequences for major feature films ranging from fantasies, such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and The Smurfs, to dramatic productions, like the upcoming film, Hemmingway and Gelhorn.

"Realism is key to producing compelling effects sequences. It's absolutely critical that our artists know that what they see on their workstations translates well and tells the story properly when it makes it to the big screen, and then later to the home environment. It's a non-trivial technical challenge and a requirement for success," explained Page Frakes, color pipeline supervisor for Tippett Studio. "The THX cineSpace color management software gives us the tools we need to calibrate our displays accurately and also emulate virtually any target viewing environment, from 2D and 3D digital cinema to LCD flat screens used in the home."

NYC-based Nice Shoes is a full service, artist-driven design, animation, visual effects and color grading studio specializing in high-end commercials, web content, film, TV and music videos.  Nice Shoes grades and finishes commercials for brands, such as Adidas, Cartoon Network, Coca-Cola, Ford and Google.  Its work is seen in digital signage, on movie theater screens and in hundreds of millions of homes.

"The market for post services in New York is extremely competitive and one of the ways Nice Shoes has maintained its edge is by adopting THX cineSpace. It's our standard color management tool," said Chris Ryan, partner, colorist and head of technical operations, Nice Shoes. "THX cineSpace makes it easy for us to emulate every possible viewing environment and we depend on the precision of its 65-point LUTs to ensure our clients that they are reviewing work on the most accurately calibrated displays possible."

MTI Film provides a complete range of post-production services for film restoration and television, such as the new Sarah Michelle Gellar show, "Ringer" and the TNT series, "Rizzoli and Isles." The Hollywood facility was built from scratch in late 2010 and utilizes the best technologies currently available, such as Avid editing systems, dailies processing by Control Dailies, Convey and Nucoda Film Master.

"It's a time-critical business with tight deadlines and hectic schedules. We know that our deliverables will be seen in millions of homes with every possible type of display technology—from high end projection systems to old CRT-based TVs," said Larry Chernoff, CEO, MTI Films. "We have been using the THX cineSpace color management system extensively since we started the business. THX cineSpace supports the quality, efficiency and flexibility we need for our color pipeline; it's essential to our workflow."

With continued investment in THX cineSpace, the growth of its THX Media Director ecosystem and forthcoming critical viewing Room Certification services, THX is providing the tools and expertise to preserve artistic intent and produce an exceptional consumer entertainment experience.

THX is exhibiting its new THX cineSpace color management software at IBC this week, located at Hall 7, Stand 7.K01. For the latest THX Media Director technology and new critical viewing Room Certification announcements, please visit THX Media Director Momentum Release 9/8/11 and THX New Room Certification Release 9/9/11.

If you are interested in evaluating THX cineSpace products, please contact [email protected]

About THX Ltd.

From the big screen to your screen, THX ignites your passion for exciting entertainment experiences. Founded by George Lucas and recognized by audiences around the globe, THX is synonymous with the design and certification of world-class cinemas, premium audio systems, HDTVs, and blockbuster movies and games. Products featuring THX defy convention and define quality in their class, whether in the cinema, home or on the road.

SOURCE THX Ltd.