GridIron Software on Monday announced its X-Factor plug-in for Adobe After Effects 6.5. X-Factor enables After Effects users to preview and render their video effects faster using a grid computing network. The new plug-in is expected to be released at the same time as After Effects Professional 6.5, which is expected in the second calendar quarter.
With the X-Factor plug-in installed, After Effects Pro 6.5 users can divide and distribute their work among multiple networked computers. This doesn’t turn networked After Effects machines into a render farm — the distribution happens while the software is being used. Preview processing and rendering take place in the background, so you can continue to work while X-Factor does its work.
GridIron expects to release a “basic” version of X-Factor for free — it will run on two computers. X-Factor Plus will cost about US$100 per CPU and will support more than two computers; it also includes remote management capabilities. X-Factor Unlimited offers unlimited CPU use for about $2,000.
GridIron Software is demonstrating X-Factor at work at NAB 2004 this week in Adobe’s booth (SL-4730).