LAS VEGAS, April 7 1997 /PRNewswire/ — Softimage Inc., the world’s leading
high-end 3-D animation software company and a wholly owned subsidiary of
Microsoft Corp., today announced at the National Association of Broadcasters
convention (NAB ’97) the release of its new Softimage(R) Software Development
Kit (SDK) version 1.7. The Softimage SDK version 1.7 further opens up the
Softimage 3D architecture, allowing developers deeper access into Softimage 3D
and programmatic control over both custom shaders and channel drivers. For
the first time, developers will be able to build custom effects that unite the
full power of the SDK’s SAAPHIRE (special effects), Mental Ray (custom shader)
and CDK (channel driver) toolkits. Furthermore, plug-ins developed with the
SDK version 1.7 will be compatible with Softimage 3D and Softimage’s next-
generation animation system, code-named “Sumatra.”

Because the new Softimage SDK makes it easier to create special effects
and plug-ins, industry support continues to grow with more than 100 developers
committed to creating plug-in applications for Softimage 3D. Currently
companies such as 4Dvision, Lume Inc., Infografica, Kaydara Inc. and DnA soft
have shipped clever plug-ins enhancing everything from 3-D paint and organic
modeling to real-time software for motion capture control. In addition, many
leading Softimage customers, such as Blue Sky Productions, DreamWorks
Interactive, Electronic Arts (Canada) Inc. and R/Greenberg Associates Inc.,
are using the SDK to create custom tools and applications to distinguish
themselves in the market.

“The goal of the new SDK is to provide artists with an environment to
express their own personal vision,” said Jean-Jacques Hermans, group manager,
developer relations for Softimage. “That’s why the new SDK allows for better
access to the Softimage 3D 3.7 architecture. By bringing together the power
of SAAPHIRE, motion capture and custom shaders, Softimage 3D becomes even more
extensible and customizable, allowing the artist’s own creativity to
flourish.”

Developers Applaud SDK

“Many impressive realistic effects require that the plug-ins have access
to both the animation and the coloration description of a scene,” said Karl
Stiefvater, founder and president of Lume Inc. “By tightening the connection
between SAAPHIRE effects and Mental Ray shaders, the new SDK opens the door to
many interesting possibilities. We’re very excited.” One of the first Mental
Ray plug-ins, Lume’s line of shaders, Lume Tools, was also used extensively
throughout Riven, the sequel to Cyan’s Myst. Lume Tools will be available in
April 1997.
“With the addition of new features, the new SDK SAAPHIRE gives more
control over effects and allows us to easily customize Softimage 3D to our
specific needs,” said Michel Besner, president of Kaydara. “The integration
of FiLMBOX with Softimage 3D’s SDK helps us to continue to deliver the best
software solution for the motion capture industry.”

Key Benefits

With the first two releases of the SDK, Softimage gave developers three
toolkits for building three distinct types of plug-ins: SAAPHIRE, Mental Ray
and CDK in Softimage 3D. Now, with the new SDK version 1.7, SAAPHIRE allows
developers programmatic control over both custom shaders and channel drivers,
bringing together the complete power of all three toolkits. Key benefits for
enhancing and easing development include the following:

— Ability to build custom effects that streamline the animator’s workflow
when using custom Mental Ray shaders.

— A SAPPHIRE effect can encapsulate and customize the application of any
number of Mental Ray shaders to supported 3-D elements such as
materials, textures and lights.

— Low-level details of setting shader parameters can be handled by a
custom effect, freeing animators to make high-level choices about
rendering effects.

— SAAPHIRE can be used to individually keyframe shader parameters, since
shader fcurves now may have different key point numbers, giving
customers more control over the animation.

— Custom effects can be used for a custom shader to obtain data such as
light or color from the Mental Ray renderer.

— Ability to create effects that initialize and run channel drivers,
retrieve channel DOF values and perform take recordings.

New SDK Enhances Game Development
The new Softimage SDK makes it easier for game developers to create
stunning 3-D graphics by allowing straightforward creation of cross-platform
shaders, productivity tools and other plug-in applications within Softimage 3D
3.7. The new SDK also lets you build export tools for any supported platform
by providing low-level access to Softimage 3D’s modeling, animation, motion
capture and rendering functions.

“The SDK plug-ins we wrote were used extensively to import and massage all
our motion capture data and get them into a suitable form to export into our
games,” said John Rix, technical director, advanced graphics for Electronic
Arts (Canada). “This gives us motion that looks a lot more realistic and
fluid and allows for a large volume of moves while staying within a tight
production schedule and budget.” Electronic Arts (Canada) is a beta tester of
Softimage 3D 3.7 and the SDK version 1.7 and has used Softimage 3D and the SDK
to create many of its hit games, such as FIFA 97, NBA Live 97, Triple Play
Baseball 97 and ReBoot (currently in production).

Softimage Third-Party Resource Guide

The Softimage third-party resource guide is a comprehensive catalog where
all third parties such as ISVs, hardware vendors and training centers can
advertise and get to Softimage channels and the user base. The catalog is
mailed to 50,000 names four times a year. Softimage is currently preparing
the second edition after a very successful first edition, sent in February
1997. The third-party resource guide will continue to grow along with the SDK
program. Additional information about the Softimage third-party resource
guide can be found via the Internet at http://www.softimage.com/ or by calling
(800) 576-3846.

Softimage Information

Founded in 1986, Softimage develops software for media-rich applications
including video, film, interactive games and CD-ROM applications. Products
include Softimage 3D (high-end animation), Softimage Eddie (compositing) and
Softimage Toonz (2-D cel animation). Additional information about Softimage
and Microsoft can be found via the Internet at http://www.softimage.com/ and
http://www.microsoft.com/, respectively.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products
and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of
making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full
power of personal computing every day.
Softimage is a registered trademark of Softimage Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft
Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
For more information on Softimage, contact: 800-576-3846 or 818-365-1359,
or on the Internet: http://www.softimage.com/

Plug-Ins Currently Shipping or Scheduled to Ship Within Six Months

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.