Jim Parsons (NewTek)
(913) 228-8000
Hollie Wendt (Communications Consultant)
(408) 688-1193
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), Las Vegas, NV -- NewTek, Inc. today announced a new release of its LightWave 3D™ animation system. LightWave 3D version 5.0 allows users to view solid objects and lighting effects interactively as animation is created. Other new high-end tools simplify creation and animation of smooth, flowing objects. LightWave 3D can be used independently or as a part of the NewTek Video Toaster® Television-Studio-In-A-Box; to create ultra-realistic animation previously available only on much higher-priced systems.
According to Tim Jenison, Chairman and Founder of NewTek,
"LightWave 3D 5.0 introduces the key feature of an OpenGL® implementation. OpenGL tremendously enhances the user's ability to meet the need of projects where success is dependent upon realistic animation, such as James Bond's Golden Eye, Babylon 5, Space: Above and Beyond, and Star Trek."
Through OpenGL, LightWave 3D users see objects and lights in shaded views in real time. The level of interactivity provided by OpenGL drastically reduces the guesswork traditionally involved in the creation of 3D animation.
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 looks. Splines, though a more complicated approach to modeling, 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.
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 vendor providing this high-end feature in the price range of LightWave 3D.
In addition to the OpenGL implementation, MetaNURBS, and MetaBalls, LightWave3D 5.0 includes well over 100 new features that enhance the user's ability to create visual effects (see attached page for feature list).
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 that allow users to create stunning images and animations. At $1,495, LightWave 3D has the most comprehensive feature set of any 3D program, providing workstation performance at a PC price.
Due to its unparalleled rendering 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, videogames, print, and much more. LightWave 3D is available for Windows 95® and Windows NT® on Intel, DEC Alpha®, and MIPS®, as well as Silicon Graphics and Amiga® workstations.
"LightWave 3D has completely changed the way we work; we can turn out up to 60 photo-realistic effect shots each week where we had estimated turning out only 20 or 30," said Tim McHugh, founder of Area 51 Visual Effects (Pasadena, CA). "Frankly, Space: Above and Beyond would not have been possible without LightWave 3D."
LightWave 3D 5.0 is available through more than 200 dealers and 25 distributors worldwide.
U.S. list price for LightWave 3D 5.0 upgrade is $495.
The complete system is priced at $1,495.
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 Babylon5 and Star Trek. NewTek headquarters are located in Topeka, Kansas in the middle of the Silicon Prairie.
Video Toaster is a registered trademark of NewTek, Inc.
LightWave 3D, Television-Studio-In-A-Box, and MetaNURBS are trademarks
of NewTek, Inc.
Amiga is a trademark of Amiga Technologies.
Windows 95 and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
DEC Alpha is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation.
MIPS is a trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc.
UNIX is a registered trademark of Unix Labs.