The Korea Herald

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Korea-developed supercomputer targets visual effects industry

By Korea Herald

Published : July 11, 2013 - 20:13

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Korea’s leading IT solution provider LG N-Sys and world’s top computer chipmaker Intel have come together to create Korea’s largest supercomputer infrastructure for developing computer graphic visual content, especially for motion pictures.

Dexter Digital ― Korea’s leading visual effects film producer ― together with LG N-Sys and Intel Korea on Thursday held a media event to showcase the technology behind its latest production “Mr. Go,” which had been made possible by the new technology.

Making the most out of LG N-Sys’ Smart Render service powered by 5,000 cores of Intel’s Xeon E5 processor, Dexter Digital was able to complete the rendering process of transforming two-dimensional still images into a Hollywood-quality high-definition 3-D motion picture, according to the visual effects company.

Rendering is a process in which various elements such as lights, background images, distance and shadows are added to two-dimensional still images through computer graphics.

Unlike the Hollywood filmmakers who can take advantage of their own supercomputer infrastructures, Korean VFX film artists have suffered from the lack of technological infrastructure although their know-how and skills in generating computer graphics have been recognized as world-class.

Acquiring this supercomputer infrastructure for Korean VFX artists in essence is impossible due to the high upfront investment cost.

“Through our Smart Render service, many medium or small Korean film producers will now benefit from the low cost and have the opportunity to be more innovative,” LG N-Sys CEO Kim Do-hyun said.

“Intel Korea will continue to contribute to the Korean film industry by providing the latest technological solution for simulation-based design technology,” Intel Korea’s country manager Lee Hee-sung added.

Dexter Digital’s new blockbuster “Mr. Go” ― which will be released on July 17 ― is 90 percent computer graphics.

By Kwon Bum-joon (bjkwon@heraldcorp.com)