GridIron Software has announced GridIron X-Factor 1.5 for Adobe After Effects Professional 6.5. In addition to faster preview processing, X-Factor 1.5 enables the use of large, high-resolution digital video files on network drives and Storage Area Networks and supports the enhanced security features of Windows XP SP2.

Launched at IBC 2004, GridIron X-Factor 1.5 is a software extension that uses grid computing technology to increase the speed of the preview and rendering capabilities of Adobe After Effects Professional 6.5 by dividing and distributing the work ordinarily performed on a single computer among several computers joined together in a network. The new capabilities were developed in response to requests from users working in high-resolution formats for film and high-definition broadcast.

A key X-Factor 1.5 enhancement is the ability to process the Adobe After Effects Render Queue. While preview processing speeds the creative process, many broadcast professionals use the After Effects Render Queue and render options to generate final renders of HD projects.

GridIron X-Factor 1.5 will be available in October 2004 for both Windows and Mac OS X. The enhanced support for network drives and Windows XP SP2 is included with X-Factor Basic edition, and Render Queue processing will be included as a feature of X-Factor Unlimited edition. At $1,995, X-Factor Unlimited provides all the features of X-Factor Plus and allows an Adobe After Effects workstation to use X-Factor with an unlimited number of additional computers

www.gridironxfactor.com