Simian Unveils Latest Updates, Launches Creative Cloud Plugin

Simian, the production asset management platform used globally by creative leaders, is closing out the spring season by unveiling a range of new features and updates, including an upgrade to Infusion, its Adobe Creative Cloud plugin. Also being introduced is improved Media Library functionality, along with closed captioning implementation and two-factor authentication support.

Infusion is now fully compatible with Adobe After Effects, in addition to Adobe Premiere, extending the plugin’s access to Adobe’s widely used visual effects tool. Now editors and VFX artists can tap all of the functionality of Simian without having to leave the After Effects or Premiere environments. 

“We’re always listening to our clients and striving to enhance their workflow,” Kellie Atton, head of sales at Simian explains. “Infusion lets Simian users take their entire review and approval process straight to their workspace, saving time during the post production process.” The latest version of Infusion can be downloaded here.

Simian’s Media Library has received new capabilities too, as  managing and editing both categories and credits has been streamlined significantly. “Users can now simultaneously edit categories and credits across their entire Media Library,” says Jay Brooks, Simian’s chief technology officer. “This makes it easier to fix typos and other errors. We’ve also made it possible to change the tagging properties between individual categories.”

Also new to the Media Library is the ability to add links for media hosted on other platforms, which can be given thumbnails and added to reel presentations as well as Projects. “We wanted to streamline the process of sharing work that our users may not be able to easily upload themselves,” Brian Atton, Simian’s chief operating officer explains. “Content creators and social media influencers especially tend to do everything on their phones and as a result, rarely save any work onto their computers. Link uploading is going to make it much easier to present media of all kinds.”

Simian is also improving accessibility by enabling closed captioning while viewing video. “It’s as simple as opening up file details, uploading the appropriate video text track and clicking save,” notes Brooks. Once a video is paired with a VTT file, a button to toggle subtitles on and off will be present in the media player.

Finally, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is now available for enterprise Simian users. “2FA is especially vital to large companies that need even more stringent security than other clients,” says Kellie Atton. The feature is currently available via request.

Ultimately, these improvements are part of Simian’s ongoing efforts to refine and enhance its product, in order to keep pace with the changing demands of its clients in the advertising production arena. “We keep hearing from our users that Simian is always evolving and that’s exactly how we want it to be,” says Brian Atton. “We’re going to continue to strive to help our users work smarter. It’s the foundation of who we are as a company.”