Thursday, September 26th, 2013 Posted by Jim Thacker

ftrack releases ftrack 2.0

130926_ftrack2

ftrack 2.0 represents an extensive update to the low-cost production-tracking system, offering a reworked UI and core workflows, and out-of-the-box compatibility with key software packages including Nuke, Maya and RV.

Swedish developer ftrack AB has released ftrack 2.0, an update to its production-tracking and asset-management system, overhauling the UI and core tools, and offering better compatibility with The Foundry’s software.

The system was developed for use in-house at local VFX house Fido in 2008. Since being released commercially in 2011, ftrack has been adopted by studios including Cinesite and The Netherlands’ Filmmore.

New UI, workflows and planning tools
According to the developer’s blog, new features in ftrack 2.0 include:

  • New workflows
    We’ve worked hard to reduce the number of clicks in ftrack. It’s now easier than ever to create and manage projects, users, planning, scheduling and assets. Overall, every page, toolbar and menu have been cleaned up and improved.
  • New planning tools
    You asked for it, and we now have a new planning tool in ftrack where you can block out your projects, assign artists to phases instead of individual tasks and much more.
  • Asset builds
    Asset builds are now a separate entity in ftrack and you can link these to shots. This will automatically give you access to versions from linked asset builds when working with shots.
  • Task templates
    You can now create task templates and apply to projects, episodes, sequences, and shots.
  • Improved unified inbox
    New improved inbox that gives you full control of what you are seeing, and easily accessible from any page in ftrack.
  • Improved Artist page
    New landing page for artists where they can manage their tasks using agile task boards.
  • Improved notifications
    New notification engine that will push updates to any browser or application, and you can even have native desktop notifications on your computer.
  • Improved notes
    We have completely re-written how we manage, create and edit notes in ftrack. Drag and drop attachments, you have option to delete or edit your notes, you can star important notes and ftrack even keeps track if you’ve read the note or not.
  • Improved team planner
    Throughout the system we now work with “drag and drop” task boards and we added a new team planner / task assigner to ftrack.

Ongoing collaboration with The Foundry
As part of the developer’s ongoing collaboration with The Foundry, announced earlier this year, ftrack 2.0 integrates out of the box with Nuke and Hiero, as well as Maya and RV.

Its asset-review system, ftrackreview, which can run in a standard web browser, also integrates out of the box with Hiero, Hieroplayer and RV. A cloud-based version, ftrackreview.com, will be available later this year.

Pricing is pretty competitive, too: you can rent a three-user package for $39 per month, or buy a permanent licence for $495 per user.

Read more about ftrack 2.0 on the ftrack blog