The Foundry forge support for Open FX plug-in standard

The Foundry, a leading producer of visual effects plug-ins, has announced OpenFX (OFX), a collaborative effort by visual effects developers to devise an Open Plug-in solution for leading software applications; setting the new standard for industry plug-in development and support.
Plug-ins are essential to the visual effects industry as they allow for third party development of effects and tools by making them available to end users through leading Software applications.
The current range of proprietary and incompatible plug-in formats has produced inefficiencies between development and support. Plug-in developers have to engage in costly porting exercises, while application developers pursue the support of plug-in writers limiting the end users plug-in availability.
OFX is designed to avoid compatibility difficulties by setting a single open standard for visual effects plug-ins. Created with a wide range of input from both plug-in and application developers, OFX addresses numerous industry shortfalls.
By providing an Open API, plug-in developers can be sure of the support of applications that participate in the OFX programme, allowing for unlimited plug-in support that greatly benefits the end user and reduces development inefficiencies.
The core of the OFX standard, developed with the participation of the following organisations, has been established, and will be actively supported by several software applications developers and plug-in manufacturers in second quarter 2004.
The Foundry Visionmongers is a software developer specialising in plug-in visual effects for the film and video markets.
Set up in 1996 by Bruno Nicoletti after writing custom effects for flame operators at Rushes Post Production in London, soon afterwards Simon Robinson joined to form the partnership.
The Foundry was the first sparks developers for Discreet Systems Products and now has its Tinder set of plug-ins on the leading compositing platforms and customers throughout the world.
The company also sells a blue/green screen keyer, Keylight, and a set of colour tools, Anvil.
For more information visit www.thefoundry.co.uk.
(SP)