http://www.newtek.com/news/pr_960806-2.html (Amiga Plus Extra No. 5/97, 05/1997)
Jim Parsons (NewTek Director of Strategic Marketing)
(913) 228-8000
Keith Goodman (Vice President, Sales and Marketing)
(303) 448-9700
Hollie Wendt (Communications Consultant)
(408) 688-1193
Siggraph, New Orleans -- NewTek, Inc. today announced that the initial efforts of the NewTek and Apple Computer, Inc. relationship have resulted in a soon to be released version of LightWave 3D™ for the Power Macintosh. LightWave 3D 5.0 for the Power Mac™ brings complete broadcast quality animation, modeling and rendering capabilities to a wide variety of business and education applications, enhancing the ability of Power Mac users to communicate their creative ideas visually. LightWave 3D 5.0 for the Power Mac is the most powerful animation system available in any price range for any Apple Computer and will support Apple's QuickDraw™ 3D format for viewing changes to graphic objects in real time. Users of QuickDraw 3D gain a real time shading capability that supports the creation of highly realistic animation.
"The LightWave 3D Power Mac port will give thousands of loyal Apple computer users the high-end, broadcast quality 3D animation tool they've been asking for," said Tim Jenison, Chairman and Founder of NewTek. "Apple users will now have the tools to meet their needs in the creation of projects where success is dependent on realistic animation. We are proud that LightWave played a prominent role in recent projects such as James Bond's GoldenEye, Courage Under Fire, Babylon 5, and Star Trek."
LightWave 3D is the most powerful animation system available in its price range, offering features such as full ray tracing, motion blur, depth of field, variable lens settings, and many other special effects allowing users to create stunning images and animations. Due to its unparalleled quality and ease of use, LightWave 3D is the artist's choice for creating special effects for popular television shows, feature films, and commercials, as well as graphics for corporate videos, video games, print and much more.
"Macintosh systems are leading platforms for creative applications in all markets -- education, business, publication, and entertainment," said Satjiv S. Chahil, Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Apple. "NewTek's product for the Macintosh platform promises many exciting applications in the area of digital content production."
LightWave 3D is the only product to break the polygon/spline barrier with the introduction of MetaNURBS™. MetaNURBS performs real time transformations between polygons and splines, enhancing the user's ability to create organic (smooth flowing) 3D objects. Polygons are easier to use than splines but make it difficult to achieve certain effects. Splines, through a more complicated approach, are a more powerful modeling technique. MetaNURBS is the first tool to effectively utilize the strengths of both techniques making it easier than ever to create stunning 3D models on any platform.
With MetaBalls, another powerful modeling feature, spheres can be utilized to quickly approximate complex shapes. The MetaBalls function automatically generates a skin based upon that approximation that will transform the rough shape into a complex 3D model. This is particularly effective when creating animals and characters. NewTek is the only vender providing this high-end feature in the price range of LightWave 3D.
The Power Mac version of LightWave 3D 5.0 is in beta test phase and is scheduled to be available in October of the this year through more than 200 dealers and 25 distributors worldwide. At $1,495, LightWave 3D has the most comprehensive feature set of any 3D program, providing workstation performance at a desktop price.
Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, personal digital assistants and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions, products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer, entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in more than 140 countries.
NewTek, Inc. is the leader in providing full-featured video editing and special effects tools at a price that allows anyone to produce professional video and graphics. The company's products are used worldwide on projects from home video to feature film and have won awards for television shows such as Babylon 5 and Star Trek. NewTek headquarters are located in the middle of the Silicon Prairie in Topeka, Kansas. Contact NewTek at 1200 SW Executive Drive, Topeka, KS, 66615, (913)228-8000, (913)228-8099 (fax), http://www.newtek.com.
LightWave 3D and MetaNURBS are a trademark of NewTek,
Inc.
Power Mac and QuickDraw 3D are trademarks of Apple Computer.