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Date: Fri, 29 Jul 94 09:29:27 PST
Message-ID: <9406297754.AA775499367@smtpcc.autodesk.com>
To: 3dstudio@autodesk.com
Subject: Autodesk Announces 3D Studio Release 4

July 25, 1994.

For your benefit, we have highlighted the key messages of the release:

-With the introduction of Release 4, 3D Studio now boasts workstation-level
production efficiency, in addition to the workstation-level quality and
performance which were achieved with Release 3.

-3D Studio is the #1 professional animation software, regardless of
platform, according to industry researcher Robi Roncarelli.

-New features, in the form of plug-ins, include True 3D Inverse Kinematics,
Spline-based Modeling, Fast Preview Rendering and a Keyframe Scripting
Language.

For Immediate Release

Press Contact:
Garth Chouteau, Autodesk, Inc. 415-491-8853

Autodesk Announces 3D Studio(R) Release 4
#1 Professional 3D Animation Product Adds Workstation-Level Production
Efficiency

ORLANDO, Fla.--July 26, 1994--The Multimedia Division of Autodesk, Inc. today
announced Autodesk 3D Studio(R) Release 4, a major upgrade of its extensible 3D

modeling, rendering and animation software for 386/486/Pentium(R)-based PCs.
Using the software's open architecture, 3D Studio Release 4 boasts many new
production-level features via a series of powerful plug-ins.  Focusing in part
on character animation, free-form, organic modeling and data-driven motion, 3D
Studio Release 4 includes new modules for true 3D inverse kinematics, spline-
based modeling, fast preview rendering, a keyframe scripting language and
perspective matching.

"In 3D Studio Release 4, we've used the open, plug-in architecture of the
product to deliver a major upgrade in roughly half the time it previously
took," said Bob Bennett, group product manager for Autodesk's Multimedia
Division.  "As always, we've listened to our customer base, and have
incorporated the most sought-after 'production efficiency' enhancements into
this new release.  In total, we've added more than 75 new features and
architectural improvements.  We expect that Release 4 will further position 3D
Studio as the open standard for professional 3D graphics and animation,"
Bennett stated.

The open architecture of 3D Studio has enabled independent software developers
to build new effects and capabilities to extend the product's core feature set,

thus making it an increasingly attractive solution for a range of industries,
including video and motion-picture production, medical and legal visualization,

video-game and multimedia title development, and computer-aided design,
engineering and manufacturing.

According to Robi Roncarelli, author of The Roncarelli Report on Computer
Animation, 3D Studio has not only maintained its lion's share of the 3D
animation market on the PC, but has actually increased its market dominance,
from 57 percent in 1992 to almost 63 percent in 1993.  "This growth in market
share is particularly remarkable given the tremendous market expansion
occurring in the PC segment of the computer animation industry," said
Roncarelli.  "Even while the market is inundated by new software packages, many

targeting the PC, 3D Studio continues to establish itself as the de facto
industry standard, while also maintaining its leadership position across all
professional platforms--SGI, PC and Macintosh."

New Features
3D Studio Release 4 sports a range of powerful enhancements designed to further

improve production efficiency, particularly in the modeling and animation
processes.  New features include:

Inverse Kinematics
A sophisticated keyframe animation technique traditionally associated with
UNIX(R)-based solutions, the Inverse Kinematics capability enables hierarchical

object chains, such as a skeleton's bones and joints, to be linked and then
animated in an intuitive way.  Once an object chain has been created, realistic

motion of the entire chain is accomplished by merely moving one end of the
chain; the software computes each object's intermediate position in the chain
over the specified number of frames.  An invaluable tool for character
animation, the Inverse Kinematics offered in 3D Studio Release 4 is truly 3D,
meaning that the user can apply the effect along any of the x/y/z axes.

Spline-Based Modeler
The ability to construct or modify objects using a rectangular or cylindrical
mesh of control points that form Bezier patches is accessed from within the 3D
Studio 3D Editor.  After importing geometry from the 3D Editor, users can
create any shape, from smoothly organic to sharply mechanical, using very
localized, free-form deformation tools.  In addition, users can apply optional
view-dependent tesselation during rendering to maximize the image quality of
objects in the foreground of a scene.

Keyframe Scripting Language
Using a familiar, BASIC-like interpreter, the Keyframe Scripting Language lets
users compose a sequence of text-based commands that specify virtually all
aspects of an animation, including motion, rotation, scaling, hiding and
morphing.  Scripts can also trigger graphics commands such as line drawing and
test display.  Scripts can be embedded into .3DS files for easy transfer, and
can be reused, shared with other 3D Studio Release 4 customers, or even sold
commercially.

Fast Preview Renderer
A new tool for reviewing still or animated scenes before final "production"
rendering, the Fast Preview Renderer provides Gourad-level shading with Phong
highlights, while allowing the user to interactively adjust camera positions,
in most cases with real-time performance.  Geometry is imported from the
keyframer into the Fast Preview Renderer, where both slide-bar and videotape
recorder-type controls are available for viewing the animation.

Perspective Match
Intended primarily for use by architects and graphic designers, the Perspective

Match plug-in makes it easy to render a 3D model into a photograph by matching
the perspective of the original photograph.  The new Perspective Match camera
position is automatically created by positioning lines over similar features in

the underlying photograph.

"The expanded capabilities of 3D Studio Release 4, particularly inverse
kinematics, the spline modeler and the keyframe scripter, elevate the product
to a new level of functionality and sophistication," said
Tim Forcade, a leading computer-graphics industry consultant, and president of
the design firm Forcade & Associates.  "3D Studio Release 4 represents a
combination of accessibility and power unique among 3D animation programs,
regardless of platform."

System Requirements
Autodesk 3D Studio Release 4 software runs on IBM(R) or Compaq(R)
386/486/Pentium-based computers or 100-percent compatibles equipped with MS-
DOS(R) 3.3 or later, 8MB of RAM, a hard disk, Super VGA device, math
coprocessor and Microsoft(R) or SummaSketch(R)-compatible pointing device.

Pricing and Availability
Autodesk 3D Studio Release 4 software will begin shipping in third quarter
1994, at a suggest?ed list price of US$2,995 (US domestic only) through
Authorized Autodesk Multimedia Dealers.  Customers who purchase 3D Studio
Release 3 between now and the Release 4 ship date will receive a free upgrade
to Release 4 upon its availability.  Educational pricing is available for
accredited institutions.

Upgrade Policy
Current Autodesk 3D Studio (Release 1, 2 or 3) owners will be able to upgrade
to Release 4 through their Dealer as follows:
-   From Release 3 to Release 4: US$295
-   From Release 2 to Release 4: US$695
-   From Release 1 to Release 4: US$795

For more information, call Autodesk at 800-879-4233 or enter GO ASOFT on
CompuServe(R).  Outside the United States, fax 415-491-8311.

Autodesk's Multimedia Division, established in 1990, creates and delivers
affordable professional software for architects, engineers, designers and
videographers.  Its 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 computer-aided design automation
software, and the sixth largest PC software company in the world.  The company
develops, markets and supports a family of design automation and professional
multimedia software products and component technologies for use on personal
computers and workstations.  A global company since its founding in 1982,
Autodesk markets products in 88 countries and 18 languages.  Autodesk shares
are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACAD.  For more
information on Autodesk, please call 415-332-2344 or type GO ADESK on
CompuServe.

# # #

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo and 3D Studio are registered trademarks of
Autodesk, Inc.   MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
UNIX is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.  CompuServe is a registered
trademark of H&R Block.  All other brand names, product names or trademarks
belong to their respective holders.


[SrM Note: Inverse Kinematics, Splines, Fast Preview and scripting language
           has been in Real-3D ][ right from the start... "every platform..."
           up my ass]
