TEWKSBURY, Mass
-- Avid Technology, Inc. unveiled its next-generation 3D system, code
named Sumatra, at Siggraph '99. In addition, Avid previewed the upcoming
release of Softimage|DS, the company's versatile, integrated post-production
studio for creating and finishing graphics and effects-centric projects
with extensive new features, enhancements and increased performance.
Avid also announced Version 6.0 of Softimage Media Illusion, its digital
effects and compositing software for film and television. The company
also showcased Version 2.0 of Avid Symphony, its nonlinear editorial
finishing system designed to meet the needs of high-end television programming.
In addition, it also demonstrated the newest technology for its Media
Composer and Film Composer solutions, Marquee (3-D title animation application)
and the Avid Unity MediaNet, as well as a technology preview of a new
product code named "Avid HD."
"SIGGRAPH '99 is an exciting venue for Avid," Patrick Dumas,
Avid's Vice President of Marketing. "We're pleased to unveil our
new state-of-the-art animation, effects and editing solutions aimed
to vastly improve performance and productivity for our customers. Attendees
will have the opportunity to view these new exciting products as well
as take a look at our complete offering for the nonlinear production
environment for television and film."
Sumatra: New Graphics, Effects and Animation Solution
With this upcoming release, the company will introduce the world's first
truly nonlinear animation (NLA) environment. This includes features
such as seamless NURBS modeling, animation mixing, interactive rendering,
render passes and comprehensive scripting using industry-standard languages.
Building upon the same concepts that made Softimage 3D the most productive
tool in production, this new system goes a step further in breaking
down the barriers to effective animation. A highly efficient workflow,
powerful and intuitive tools, and a flexible suite of modeling and animation
controls combine into a system designed from the ground up for the digital
artist.
Softimage 3D v3.8 SP2 Is Shipping
Avid's new release of Softimage 3D 3.8 SP2 is now shipping. The service
pack release of its industry-leading modeling, animation and rendering
system includes mental ray v.2.1 rendering software and offers improved
image quality and significantly faster previewing and rendering.
Softimage DS
Avid announces new performance and functionality levels for Softimage
DS, the company's versatile, integrated post-production studio for creating
and finishing graphics and effects-centric projects. This next version
has now entered its beta phase and is expected to ship by the end of
the year. Key features include: increased performance, extensive user
interface improvements, a newly integrated advanced 3-DVE, titling enhancements
including 3-D titling support, an interactive process tree for building
composites, high-resolution media support, "Mix and Match" compositing,
high-speed editing with swift menus, warping and morphing based on Elastic
Reality and Toonz plug-in software extensions.
Softimage Media Illusion Version 6.0
Avid is also introducing Softimage Media Illusion Version 6.0. The latest
version of this resolution-independent digital compositing and effects
system delivers extensive performance and workflow improvements including
a new animation editor, on-screen motion paths for 2-D animations, motion
tracker enhancements and full Y2K compliance.
Softimage Toonz
Toonz is a leading 2D cell-animation software for traditional cell animators
who work in film, video, interactive games and other visual media. Providing
an environment familiar to cell animators, Toonz includes functions
and modules based on the traditional cell-animation process, including
audio input to scanning, pencil test, set palette, ink and paint, special
effects and compositing. Customized modules can be added for scanning,
ink and paint, and rendering, and animators can combine traditional
hand-drawn images with computer-generated elements for a modern look.
Avid Unity Storage Media Net
Avid Unity MediaNet 1.0 will connect editors, artists, sound-designers
and effects specialists throughout a digital facility to the same network,
significantly improving workflow, raising productivity and enhancing
creativity by eliminating many of the mundane, mechanical tasks associated
with managing today's part linear, part nonlinear post-production process.
Included in Avid Unity MediaNet are advanced media transfer utilities
and the very latest in server-assisted shared storage and networking
technologies, providing support for a wide-range of applications and
platforms. Avid Unity MediaNet 1.0 will also feature direct connection
of the Macintosh platform, as well as network attachment to Windows
NT and SGI IRIX platforms.
Avid Symphony Version 2.0
Avid is readying Version 2.0 of Avid Symphony, its nonlinear editorial
finishing system designed to meet the needs of high-end television programming.
The upcoming release further extends the Symphony system's finishing
feature set, highlighted by a new, advanced scene-to-scene color correction
engine, and introduces a revolutionary new capability -- 24P Universal
Editing and Mastering -- which will enable content creators to work
with 24 frame progressive content in its native format and deliver it
in a multitude of formats from a single source at the push of a button.
Symphony will expand into two models with the 2.0 release, Symphony
and Symphony Universal. Avid Symphony Version 2.0 is currently planned
for shipment in Q3 1999; Avid Symphony Version 2.1, which includes the
new color correction engine is planned for shipment in Q4 1999.
Media Composer XL and Film Composer XL Version 9.0 for Windows NT
Avid is also readying Media Composer and Film Composer 9.0, which
will be available for the XL family of Windows NT-based models in Q3
1999. Version 9.0 continues to advance the Media Composer and Film Composer
systems in the areas of productivity and collaboration, bringing real-time
uncompressed images and Universal Offline Editing capabilities to this
family of award-winning film and video editing systems.
HD Solutions
Avid will also be previewing its first creative finishing system of
projects in a variety of uncompressed HDTV and 601 resolutions. Currently
under development, this new system, code named "Avid HD" will be capable
of conforming and finishing Media Composer, Symphony and Softimage DS
projects as well as delivering a complete set of editing, audio, graphics
and effects tools for producing the highest quality HD masters.
About Avid Technology, Inc.
Avid Technology, Inc., of which Softimage is a subsidiary, is an international,
industry-leading provider of digital audio and video tools for information
and entertainment applications. Avid's products are used by a variety
of customers worldwide including film, television and interactive content
producers, TV news broadcasters, corporate communicators and consumers.
For more information, visit Avid's Web site at www.avid.com
or the Softimage site at www.softimage.com
