Animation workflow, pipeline, asset management & production control.

As announced in Highend3D , a new version of openPipeline "an open source framework for managing animation production data and workflow" implemented as a "MEL-based plug-in for Autodesk Maya" has been released. OpenPipeline "handles specific aspects of production: automatic directory structures, file naming conventions, revision control, and modularity that makes multi-artist workflows possible."

Miguel A. kindly informs: "Not long ago a new audiovisual project management software came out, ir is called "Project Overlord" , seems to be based on Alienbrain, but it is completely focused to management of sequences, shots and asset libraries. And the best part, it´s only 50 $ per licence..." Thanks for the info!

A couple of interviews: California State Polytechnic University Pomona held an INTERVIEW with Disney character design supervisor, Chen Yi Chang. The interview, which can be streamed over the net HERE , covers a number of different topics from Chang’s background, a rough breakdown of the production pipeline of a feature film, as well as character design and technique. A bit outdated interview to Technical Director VK Gupta (Berliner Film Companie., Berlin, Germany) on Pipelines Some projects I have found. I haven´t tested them, and they might work or maybe not, but are always interesting and might give you ideas. The Web3D Consortium will support a collaborative environment and drive programs to develop and advance an open standards, royalty free 3D interchange format based on XML, along with tools to represent and communicate 3D scenes and objects between diverse authoring and presentation hardware and software on the web, distributed networks and mobile devices. Maybe you know...

It´s been a while since the last post, so I thought I should update it a little bit and check older posts, dead links, etc. As always, I would love to receive your comments, news, suggestions, tips, tricks, ideas, questions... P.D. If you want to know what is keeping me busy, have a look at El Viaje Imposible blog .

Juan Carlos sent me this link: "Scott Squires, a heavy weight in VFX and cinema industry (programmer of the old "Commotion" among other things) has a blog on tricks and other things of the industry . He also has a podcast. He just added an entry on "Naming Conventions & Workflow" Thanks for the hint, JC!

FolderShare is a great help for group work, it keeps a selected folder synchronized among a group of computers (Windows and Mac) connected through internet. (From their web): "FolderShare TM allows you to create a private peer-to-peer network that will help you to synchronize files across multiple devices and access or share files with colleagues and friends. (...) FolderShare allows you to share and sync important information instantly with anyone you invite(...) Share files up to 2 GB in size Unlimited file transfers - no limits on quantity or size of files transferred Any file type - files are synced and transferred in their original format" Best of all, it is free, at least by now (it seems to have been aquired by Microsoft).

You might be interested in this site: (from their web) "With wikiCG , we are trying to build a Computer Graphics encyclopedia, where you will be able to find in one place anything related to the Computer Graphic community. You can see a list of all the pages that are inside wikiCG. " Of course I found the Production Management Software article specially interesting. P.S. It seems the website is off at this moment. Any one has any news?