Screenshot of Wam!Net ROD Render in SOFTIMAGE|3D. From the Softimage web site back in 2000/2001.

Press release from April 2000:

Softimage Works With WAM!NET to Offer High-Speed Rendering to the Animation and 3-D Special Effects Industries

NAB2000

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 9, 2000

Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID), and WAM!NET Inc. today announced that WAM!NET has joined the Softimage Developer program as a Gold Level Partner to provide its ROD!(TM)service (Render On Demand). ROD! is designed to give SOFTIMAGE(R)|3D and SOFTIMAGE(R)|XSI(TM) artists and animators a strong alternative to traditional rendering and asset management.

This relationship will give digital content creators an option to farm out the rendering process using the WAM!NET(R) ROD! service. Studios and small production facilities alike can reduce production costs and accurately estimate projects with the ROD! service, which provides the much-needed computing power for larger projects. This additional “as-needed” computing power allows animation and special effects studios to reduce overhead costs and accurately estimate project requirements, enabling them to remain competitive in the growing animation and special effects industry.

“Softimage is one of the top innovators in three-dimensional and two-dimensional graphics technology,” said Keith Elzia, vice president of strategic development at WAM!NET. “WAM!NET is an e-services company that believes in providing best-of-breed technology to its subscribers. Softimage is a technology leader in the animation and special effects industry. As a Gold Level Partner, our joint marketing and sales effort with Softimage will help build a stronger ROD! service for the animation industry with the two popular Softimage software applications available on ROD!.”

“WAM!NET has provided a powerful and cost-effective rendering service that is an excellent alternative for all of our customers regardless of size,” said David Miller, director of business development at Softimage. “The benefit of the WAM!NET ROD! service is that it is available on an ‘as-needed’ basis to provide added coverage and economic flexibility for the ebbs and flows of animation and special effects projects.”

WAM!NET’s ROD! service provides high-speed, wide-area rendering services and offers an effective way for all studios to do high-speed rendering and bid with confidence on large projects that require tremendous rendering power and asset management capabilities. WAM!NET’s services eliminate the need to upgrade or add to existing hardware and software to access high-speed, on-demand rendering.

The Benefits of WAM!NET

WAM!NET provides many benefits to SOFTIMAGE|3D, SOFTIMAGE|XSI and mental ray(R) customers, including:

–The ability to offload computer-intensive, time consuming rendering functions to WAM!NET’s high-speed, wide-area media network to save both money and time on projects;

–Asset management features and offsite archives provide an efficient method of storing and managing their rendering workflow;

–Access to WAM!NET’s distributed rendering on a high-speed, privately managed and secure network;

–The ability to utilize the WAM!NET ROD! service to outsource their computer-intensive rendering needs and enjoy increased profits and improved productivity as artists free up their workstations for more projects; and

–Most importantly, large or small studios alike will be able to enjoy WAM!NET’s ROD! service and confidently pursue larger projects with the processing power to meet tight deadlines on a pay-as-you-go basis.

About WAM!NET Inc.

WAM!NET Inc., with its digital media management service, sets the industry standard for electronic collaboration in the graphic arts, advertising, marketing and entertainment industries. WAM!NET’s Industry Smart(TM) high-speed transportation network, on-line archiving service and production workflow application software allow subscribers to digitally collaborate with thousands of global trading partners with one simple connection. Since its incorporation in the state of Minnesota in 1994, WAM!NET has attracted more than 1,900 users of direct services and over 6,800 users of its dial-up and Internet Gateway service. WAM!NET services are available throughout America, Europe and Japan.

WAM!NET is headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, with offices throughout North America, Europe and Japan. The company has benefited from strategic relationships with SGI, MCI WorldCom and Winstar Communications. For more information about WAM!NET, call 800.611.9006, or visit WAM!NET’s Web site at http://www.wamnet.com.

WAM!NET(R) is a registered trademark and Industry Smart(TM) and ROD!(TM) are trademarks of WAM!NET Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid Technology, Inc., of which Softimage Co. 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 the Softimage site at http://www.softimage.com or Avid’s Web site at http://www.avid.com.

(c)2000 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. Avid and Softimage are registered trademarks and XSI is a trademark of Avid Technology, Inc. WAM!NET is a registered trademark and Industry Smart and ROD! are trademarks of WAM!NET Inc. mental ray and mental images are registered trademarks of mental images GmbH & Co. KG in the USA and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.