discreet adj

1 marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint; "his trusted discreet aide"; "a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace" [ant: indiscreet]

2 unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic; "a discerning editor"; "a discreet silence" [syn: discerning]

3 heedful of potential consequences; "circumspect actions"; "physicians are now more circumspect about recommending its use"; "a discreet investor" [syn: circumspect]

English

Etymology

From discret, from discretus, from past participle of discernere.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes with: -iːt

Homophones

• discrete (separable into parts)

Adjective

1. Respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic.

   With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.

   John just doesn't understand that laughing at Mary all day is not very discreet.

2. Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.

Usage notes

• Do not confuse with discrete.

Derived terms

• discreetly
• discretion

Translations

Autodesk Media and Entertainment, formerly Discreet, is based in Montreal, Quebec as the entertainment division of Autodesk. This division produces software used in feature films, television commercials and computer games. It also provides products for storage, management and distribution to complement its primary product line.

History

Autodesk's Yost Group initially developed 3D Studio and later 3D Studio MAX. Autodesk re-named their multimedia division, which included the Yost Group, as well as development teams for their other multimedia-oriented products such as Autodesk Animator Studio and their visual, object-oriented multimedia programming software called Hyperwire, as Kinetix and operated it as a subsidiary in 1996.

Toronto-based MGI Inc. was formed by a consortium of veteran Canadian computer industry professionals, from companies such as ATI, AST and Delrina. Its mandate was to develop the best graphics and video software on the PC market.

Montreal-based Discreet Logic (a maker of high-end UNIX and NT video and graphics software) paid $153 million in early 1999 to buy MGI. This is actually incorrect. Discreet Logic made a bid for MGI, but upon review by the accountants, it was determined that certain facts about MGI had been misrepresented, and as such, the offer was withdrawn and the deal was never consummated.

In 1999, Autodesk acquired Discreet Logic and combined Kinetix with Discreet for several years. In 2005, Autodesk reorganized Discreet as Autodesk Media and Entertainment.

Current software

Software currently produced by this company include Maya, 3ds Max, Viz, Inferno, Flame, Flint, Fire, Smoke, Lustre, Combustion, Cleaner and Toxik. Autodesk Media and Entertainment's advanced compositing and editing product line, or "systems" line, is commonly referred to as IFFFS, which stands for Inferno/Flint/Fire/Flame/Smoke. It is also sometimes referred to as FFI or FFFI (Flint, Fire, Flame, Inferno).

References

External links

• Official home page.

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