VFX Project Tools

Listed here, in no particular order, is the big list of VFX project tools. This is a list I made while doing my own research for a VFX project management and tracking application.

Here is a link back to the original blog entry: The List of VFX Project Tools.

If you are looking for my VFX Project Management and Collaboration tool, you can find it at ShotRunner.com.

Digital Content Management systems
These facilitate content management within a facility. They do a good job of cataloging assets, letting you search and preview assets, versioning files, and tracking metadata.

Workflow and Pipeline Tools
These tools help organize the workflow, tracking the dependencies between source materials and work products, allowing versioning, and tracking approvals.

VFX Project Management
These tools are essentially databases for tracking all the assets around a VFX pipeline. Things like telecine transfers, plates, 3D assets, mattes, etc. I see them as “MS Project for VFX Supervisors.”

  • VFX Showrunner is a Filemaker database that seems to do a good job of capturing everything about a VFX production.
  • Shotgun is a system installed at a few big studios. They are working on a low-end offering, but are in stealth mode — their site has no information yet.
  • Project Overlordis a client/server application design to track assets and project data.
  • Cerebro from CineSoft.ru
  • Compbase appears to be a database to track shots and assets. There is no real information on the site, only a PNG showing some of the forms.
  • Invisually seems to be a web-based VFX shot tracking system. Their site has virtually no details on their system, nor can I find any mention of them on the web.
  • Flowsmith is installed in at least one facility in San Francisco I know of. Sadly, their site has no information on it.

Review and Annotation Tools

  • CineSync is a QuickTime-based remote review and approval tool.

Miscellaneous Tools
These are plug-ins and other tools that facilitate some aspect of a VFX pipeline.

  • Foam 2.0 appears to be primarily an asset management system with task tracking. It appears to be using some kind of desktop database. Unfortunately, there is no further information on the site.
  • VFX Tracker 2008 is a plugin for FCP that reads a sequence and outputs a list of the shots you have tagged as VFX shots. It is to track the placement of vfx shots in a FCP timeline.term
  • Bold VFX is a collection of scripts, tools and plug-ins.
  • Gorilla is really a film production database, but has lots of features that apply to post-production as well.