FREMONT, CA — Blackmagic Design (www.blackmagicdesign.com) has released Fusion visual effects software for the Linux platform. The new Linux version of Fusion and Fusion Studio means visual effects artists can select their preferred computing platform, as Fusion is now available on Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. All project files are common, so customers can work collaboratively, even when different artists are running different platforms on the same job.
In addition to the Fusion on Linux announcement, Blackmagic Design announced that Fusion 8.2 is available as a free software download, so customers can immediately download the software and use it for real work today. The Fusion 8.2 software is public beta and available on the Blackmagic Design Website for free of charge. This free version of Fusion can be used on any commercial production without restriction, however the paid edition of Fusion software, called Fusion 8.2 Studio, provides even more powerful features and is available for $995. Fusion Studio customers get unlimited free render nodes and other multi user features. With Fusion Studio's paid license, there are no ongoing subscription, cloud licensing, maintenance fees or additional render node costs.
Featuring a powerful node-based interface, Fusion makes it easy to build sophisticated visual effects compositions very quickly. Its massive toolset consists of hundreds of built-in tools so customers can pull keys, track objects, rotoscope, retouch images, animate titles, create particle effects, all in a true 3D workspace. Fusion can also import 3D models, point cloud data, cameras or even entire 3D scenes from Maya, 3DS Max or LightWave and render them seamlessly with other elements.
"Fusion 8.2 on Linux gives visual effects and motion graphics artists working in facilities of any size a massive tool set," says Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. "Fusion is the only integrated 3D compositing application that can also render 3D models, add volumetric effects, particles and even motion graphics. The most exciting part is that Linux users can download it today free! Then, once our customers grow, they can then purchase Fusion 8.2 Studio without the cost of ongoing subscriptions or render licensing so they can build huge multi-node render farms to speed up their work at no additional charge!"