CompuServe Thread

Chris, << Is this true, or just another ugly rumor? >> temporary rumor. jonas[adesk]

"Is this true?" ————————————— The following information was released today, March 1, 1993 at 9:00 am PST. For Immediate Release Contact: Garth Chouteau (415) 491-8853 Tabatha Bonetti (415) 491-8720 Autodesk Announces Plug-In Toolkit for 3D Studio(R) Release 3 Facilitates Creation of 3rd-Party Plug-Ins for the 3D Studio Platform SAUSALITO, Calif.–March 1, 1994–The Multimedia Division of Autodesk, Inc. today announced the availability of its 3D Studio(R) Plug-In Toolkit. This toolkit enables 3D Studio Release 3 customers and independent application developers to create their own special effects, either for proprietary use or commercial resale to other 3D Studio users. Several independent application developers, including Xaos Tools, Inc., The Yost Group and Schreiber Instruments, have announced plans to deliver 3D Studio plug-in effects based on the new Toolkit in the near future. The 3D Studio Plug-In Toolkit is shipping now and carries a suggested retail price (SRP) of US$249. 3D Studio Release 3 is the leading professional modeling and animation software for the PC, commanding almost 60 percent of the market. 3D Studio is favored by design and video professionals across a wide range of markets, from architects to video postproduction specialists to entertainment software developers. The technology used in the 3D Studio Plug-In Toolkit is called IPAS3. IPAS3 stands for the six types of external processes that can be created for use with 3D Studio Release 3: Image processing, Procedural modeling, Animated stand-ins, Solid textures, Keyframe procedures and Bitmap processes. "The IPAS technology enables 3D Studio to remain a source of evolving, innovative special effects and new capabilities between releases," said Bob Bennett, group product manager for the Autodesk Multimedia Division. "In the primary markets where 3D Studio is used, the ability to differentiate your work from that of your competitors is often the key to surviving professionally. The ability to seamlessly extend 3D Studio's core command set is unique among professional animation software tools–the new Plug-In Toolkit makes 3D Studio more extensible than ever." 3D Studio plug-ins are accessed and run from within the 3D Studio software and are identical to the 3D Studio user interface (UI) in look and feel. The 3D Studio Plug-In Toolkit allows the creation of highly graphical, interactive UIs which can include real-time previewing capabilities. In this way, the effect that a plug-in will have on an image or animation can be seen and adjusted prior to the rendering process. "Much of 3D Studio's success to date is due to its open and extensible architecture," said Joe Fantuzzi, general manager of the Autodesk Multimedia Division. "This was instrumental in establishing 3D Studio as the professional animation standard for PCs; Our new toolkit positions 3D Studio Release 3 as a 'development platform' on which any and all types of 3D modeling, rendering and animation technology can be built." The IPAS effects technology, first introduced in 3D Studio Release 2, is the cornerstone of 3D Studio's open, extensible architecture–there are currently more than 100 plug-in effects on the market. 3D Studio Release 3 ships with plug-ins, representing each of the six IPAS3 types, including: – vblur.IXP: An image-processing effect that provides a vertical blur filter for Y-axis smoothing. – ripple.PXP: A procedural object generator that makes radial waves from a center point. – tornado.AXP: Generates tornadic particle systems made of icosahedron objects. – dents.SXP: A solid-texture procedure that creates dents by generating fractal noise patterns. – bounce.KXP: A keyframe process that simulates collision detection between an object selected to bounce, and a flat surface to bounce upon–with optional gravitational decay. – chk.BXP: A bitmap external process which produces four-color checkerboard bitmaps procedurally. "The 3D Studio Plug-In Toolkit really represents a tremendous opportunity for imaginative independent application developers," said Gary Yost, lead developer on 3D Studio. "With an installed base of almost 30,000, the 3D Studio user effect can make sense commercially." Positron Publishing, a developer of animation software, is a beta site for the Plug-In Toolkit, and has been using it to produce a dynamics module that will simulate effects such as gravity, friction, wind and collision detection within 3D Studio Release 3. "The IPAS3 Plug-In technology is enabling us produce these new animation tools with relative ease compared to other platforms," said Brent Malnack, president of Positron Publishing and former product manager for NewTek's Video Toaster. "The real-world physics simulated in our 3D Studio dynamics package are quite sophisticated, but plugging them into the 3D Studio environment was comparatively easy," Malnack stated. Positron Publishing's new 3D Studio plug- in module will be available in early summer of 1994. The 3D Studio Plug-In Toolkit begins shipping today at a suggested retail price of $249, and is available through Authorized Autodesk Multimedia Dealers or by calling 800-879-4233. From outside the US and Canada, fax your request for information to 415-491-8303. Autodesk's Multimedia Division was established in 1990 to develop and deliver affordable visualization software products for professionals such as architects, engineers, designers and videographers. The Division's products are aimed at automating and enhancing a wide range of tasks, from modeling and rendering to animation and beyond. Autodesk is the world's leading supplier of desktop computer-aided design automation software. Autodesk develops, markets and supports a family of computer-aided design automation software products, as well as professional multimedia software products for use on personal computers and workstations. A global company since its founding in 1982, Autodesk offers products that are now available in 85 countries and 18 languages. Autodesk shares are traded on NASDAQ under the symbol ACAD. For more information on Autodesk, please call 415-332-2344 or type GO ADESK on CompuServe(R). -30- Autodesk, the Autodesk logo and 3D Studio are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. CompuServe is a registered trademark of H&R Block. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.