London, Dec 1, 2017 -- Creative software developer, Foundry, has today announced the launch of Cara VR 2.0, the next chapter for the cutting-edge virtual reality plug-in toolset for Nuke.

Building on the first-of-its-kind plug-in debuted in 2016, Cara VR 2.0 boasts improved stitching and stabilisation, allowing for more efficient creation of seamless VR and 360 video content with the highest levels of quality. The new version features major updates in stitching, the introduction of 360 match-move tracking and automatic stabilisation, with new tools for stereoscopic corrections using the cutting edge algorithms from Ocula.

Craig Rodgerson, CEO  of Foundry commented: “To fully realise the potential of VR, we need to enable content creators to build experiences that are more immersive than anything before. The first iteration of our Cara VR toolkit was hugely well-received, and this latest version will help usher in the next level of VR experiences. Artists can now better meet the demand for VR content thanks to our industry-leading creative toolset.”

Key benefits to Cara VR 2.0 include:
New stitching tools

The new GlobalWarp node speeds up delivery of stitches while producing a high quality 360 stitch with minimal ghosting. Global Warp adds additional controls for lining up key features in overlapping areas and allows you to add constraints to reduce warping on known straight lines, even for objects overlapping multiple camera views, helping users achieve the highest quality stitch faster.

360 match-move and stabilisation
Cara VR 2.0 includes a redesigned Tracker which accelerates the process of stabilisation and match-moving for a more comfortable VR experience and easier alignment of 3D elements.  Automatically track a 360 stitch for stabilisation and create a 360 match-move camera to assist in 3D corrections and CG insertion. The Tracker node now simplifies stabilisation, adding 3D stabilisation to remove parallax changes, and brings match-moving to Cara VR.

Stereo correction tools based on Ocula for Nuke

Cara VR 2.0 includes a suite of tools adapted from the powerful Ocula toolset which have now been optimised to work with 360 video, making these powerful algorithms accessible to VR content creators and more efficient to use in a 360 video workflow.

These tools take the headache out of stereo cleanup, allowing for efficient correction of alignment, focus and color across stereo views resulting in sharp and accurate stereoscopic content.  This release includes updated versions of the Disparity Generator node, which generates high quality disparity vectors for depth estimation, Disparity To Depth for calculating depth from the disparity vectors, a new Stereo Colour Matcher for unifying color between left and right views, and New View, allowing you to rebuild one stereo view from another, all optimized for use with 360 footage.

Cara VR 2.0 goes on sale today and is available for purchase on Foundry’s website and via accredited resellers.

Notes to Editors

As with Cara VR 1.0 and Foundry’s extended product suite, additional updates and improvements will be added to Cara VR 2.0. Cara VR 1.0 will continue to be supported, however will no longer be updated.

Cara VR 2.0 will be compatible with the following products:

• Nuke, NukeX, and Nuke Studio version 10.5 and 11.0
• Production Collective (with Nuke Studio 10.5 or 11.0)
• Support for Nuke 11.1 will be available shortly after Nuke 11.1v1 is released.

Cara VR 2.0 requires users to upgrade and cannot be used with Cara VR 1.0 licenses.

For further information or interviews please contact Email Contact / 0203 077 2000

About Foundry

Foundry designs creative software technologies used to deliver award-winning visual effects and 3D content for the design, visualisation and entertainment industries. Foundry’s software advances the art and technology of visual experience in partnership with creative leaders across the globe. It enables clients like Pixar, Mercedes-Benz, ILM, Weta Digital, The Moving Picture Company and Sony Pictures Imageworks to turn incredible ideas into reality by solving complex creative challenges.