SOFTIMAGE LAUNCHES NEW VERSION OF MENTAL RAY DISTRIBUTED RENDERING
ENVIRONMENT

Provides Easy, Production-Proven, High-Quality Rendering For Windows
NT-Based Workstations and Servers and Silicon Graphics Systems; Attractive
Network License Pricing to Foster Low-Cost Renderfarms

LOS ANGELES - MAY 16, 1996 - As part of its latest high-end 3-D modeling,
animation and rendering software, Softimage Inc. is introducing a more
powerful version of mental ray, its distributed, fully programmable
rendering environment for Softimage 3D. With this new release, available
with Softimage 3D Extreme or as a concurrent user network license, mental
ray is significantly more capable, faster and easier to use. It supports
many new innovations, including interface enhancements, an extensive
library of shaders and effects, a robust development environment and
support for cross-platform distributed rendering. All mental ray features,
including distributed rendering, are now available for the first time on
Intel Pentium Pro, Alpha and MIPS RISC 4400-based systems for the
Microsoft Windows NT operating system and Silicon Graphics platforms.

In addition, Softimage has announced attractive pricing for network and
standalone concurrent user licenses of mental ray that will enable
customers to build extremely cost-effective distributed rendering
networks, also called renderfarms. Renderfarms speed production work and
lower costs.

As part of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) here, Softimage is
demonstrating a massive renderfarm, with mental ray, running in a network
of more than 30 Windows NT and Silicon Graphics laptops, single and
multiprocessor workstations, and servers based on Intel Pentium Pro, Alpha
and the MIPS RISC 4400 microprocessor.

Several independent software developers, including Lightscape Technologies
Inc. and The VALIS Group, are demonstrating new plug-in applications that
enhance mental ray's rendering capabilities. These plug-in applications
are based on Softimage's new software development kit.

Through a combination of advanced ray-tracing capabilities, procedural
shaders, volumetric rendering, distributed processing and a programmable
architecture, mental ray has established the benchmark for rendering
quality by producing the industry's most detailed, photorealistic images
for films, videos, commercials and games.

Most recently, Buf Compagnie (France) used mental ray to produce imagery
for the feature film "The City of Lost Children" ("La Cite des Enfants
Perdus"). R/Greenberg Associates (New York) used mental ray to create a
photorealistic version of the Statue of Liberty for an Oldsmobile Aurora
commercial. Digital Domain (Los Angeles) used mental ray to produce a
stunningly realistic animated character, the T-Meg, for the Terminator 2
3-D attraction at Universal Studios Florida.

"Even the best animation system is not complete without the extendible
capabilities of a fully functional, high-quality rendering solution," said
Daniel Langlois, founder of Softimage and senior director at Microsoft.
"With mental ray, artists can easily create the type of complex,
photorealistic and innovative imagery that provide a competitive edge in
the industry."

All mental ray enhancements are available for Windows NT-based workstations
and servers and Silicon Graphics systems. The enhancements include the
following:

* DISTRIBUTED RENDERING. Mental ray is a distributed rendering solution
that can take advantage of multiprocessor and networked hardware,
including Windows NT-based workstations and servers and Silicon Graphics
systems, to dramatically reduce the time it takes to render a complex
animation scene. Availability of mental ray on Windows NT allows customers
to choose from a variety of high-performance, low-cost hardware platforms
based on Alpha, Intel Pentium Pro and MIPS R4400 microprocessors for fast,
cost-effective renderfarm solutions.

* SHADER LIBRARY. Softimage 3D Extreme ships with an extensive library of
mental ray shaders and effects, including some of the most challenging
effects such as hair, smoke, fog and environmental effects such as sunsets
and sunrises. Shader libraries are updated continually at no charge
through Softimage's World Wide Web site, HTTP://WWW.SOFTIMAGE.COM/.
Through an Internet browser, customers can quickly view an effect in
action to determine how it can be used in an animation scene.

* ENHANCED PROGRAMMABILITY. With mental ray programmable shaders, animators
can differentiate their imagery with unique, visually exciting custom
effects. An open application programming interface based on C, made
available through the Softimage software development kit (SDK), enables
customers to directly access the mental ray rendering engine for building
custom shaders that match their unique creative environments. To help
bolster a community of plug- in applications, Softimage in February
introduced the Softimage Developers Connection program.

* INTERFACE ENHANCEMENTS. Mental ray is now fully integrated into Softimage
3D, making it easier to render images. A new render preview window also
saves time in getting the right effects. A new shader ball allows
customers to find the desired effect quickly.

In addition to mental ray distributed rendering, Softimage 3D version 3.5
includes many other significant enhancements including full NURBS
(nonuniform rational B-spline) modeling, an enhanced particle animation
system and other features. (For more information on Softimage 3D, see the
"Microsoft Introduces Major Upgrade of Softimage 3D" news release.)

PLUG-IN APPLICATIONS

As part of E3, several ISVs plan to demonstrate applications developed with
the Softimage SDK. Lightscape Technologies (San Jose, Calif.) is
demonstrating the integration of the Lightscape Radiosity Server and
Softimage 3D using the Softimage SDK. A viewer linked to the server will
provide real-time display and navigation of the radiosity solution from
within Softimage 3D. The VALIS Group (Tiburon, Calif.) will announce it
plans to ship several cross-platform, procedural shaders that eventually
will be included as part of its Shader of the Month Club for Softimage 3D.
The VALIS Group develops and markets special-effects applications and a
series of procedural shaders for Renderman.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

Softimage 3D and Softimage 3D Extreme are shipping today for the Silicon
Graphics platform; Windows NT-based versions are scheduled to be available
in August. Licensed users of Softimage 3D version 3.5 can obtain networked
or standalone, cross-platform concurrent user mental ray licenses.
Approximate U.S. prices are single license, $2,495; four-pack, $7,995;
eight-pack, $13,995; 16-pack, $23,995; 24-pack, $29,995; and 48-pack,
$47,995.

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 modeling, animation and rendering),
Softimage Eddie (compositing) and Softimage Toonz (2-D cel animation). The
company was acquired in 1994 by Microsoft Corp. 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.
 
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