NewTek Unveils Next Generation of LightWave 3D Version 9 Brings Major Core Changes, New Features and Enhanced Workflow Los Angeles, CA -- SIGGRAPH 2005 Booth #1529 -- August 1, 2005 -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, today announced the forthcoming release of LightWave 3D version 9.0, the next generation of the Emmy-winning 3D application. NewTek's development team is implementing a major rewrite and restructuring of LightWave's core with the addition of mesh editing capabilities to Layout, consolidation and enhancement of tools in Modeler, extraction of the renderer from the Layout module, rewrite of the raytracing routines to newer, much faster algorithms, and implementation of adaptive mesh subdivision based on distance-to-camera and visibility. Modeler's toolset is being updated with true edge support throughout, and subdivision surfaces have been re-engineered for improved performance and n-gon support. "The new development team has executed a very careful step-by-step first-phase redesign of the application leading toward version 9," said Jay Roth, President of the 3D Technology Division for NewTek. "The intent during most of our previous cycle was to restructure the core to state-of-the-art for rapid development without breaking things for the users, so that we could continue to deliver new features and regular maintenance enhancements. With 9.0, we have reached the point where we can implement major changes at a radical pace, as the new availability of mesh editing functionswithin the Layout module, added in just the last couple of months, demonstrates. The new structure will allow us to keep pace with the most advanced technologies, and to bring innovation to LightWave users faster than ever before." The modeling capabilities within Layout were achieved by extracting the mesh-editing core from Modeler, and moving it into a common location where Layout and Modeler both have access.Layout's new capabilities extend to running many of the existing plug-ins created for Modeler as well, so many users who have expressed a preference for a single workspace for all model and scene creation will find Layout well on its way to being that single workspace. Those who prefer a dedicated workspace for modeling tasks can retain that workflow with Modeler,as NewTek will continue to develop and provide this unique streamlined environment for model creation. Among the changes that will contribute to enhanced workflow are faster OpenGL performance and additional OpenGL hardware shader support, building on the initial implementation in version 8.5. For many scenes this will provide a very accurate preview of the look of the final image or animation in real time, without the need to create test renders. The GUI is being enhanced to allow for far more user configurability than in the past, so that users can adapt the look to fit their needs and preferences and the interface elements to provide the best workflow for the ways they use LightWave. "All I can say is...WOW! Seriously, these new capabilities are exciting, and I think LightWave users everywhere are in for a treat!" said Wes Chilton, visual effects artist for DNA Productions. "Being neck deep in a feature production using all sorts of new tools, I still appreciate the relative simplicity, power, and SPEED of LightWaveit's pulled our bacon out of the fire so many times when we needed an effect quickly. I absolutely cannot wait to see what LightWave 9.0 and beyond will be able to do for our production pipelines!" LightWave 3D version 9.0 Features: Modeling Tool Subset in Layout Faster OpenGL Performance Enhanced OpenGL Hardware Shader Support for accurate preview in real time for textures and lighting Faster Raytrace Rendering up to 2.5X or better Adaptive Mesh subdivision based on visibility and distance to camera Faster Subdivision Surfaces Subdivision Surface modeling with n-gons True edge support in modeling, including edge weighting Enhanced MultiShift Modeling tool with reusable histories More flexibility and more user controls for the GUI Dynamics rewritten for improved precision, performance and capabilities Dynamics UI redesigned for easy and intuitive workflow Consolidation of tools for a streamlined workflow in Modeler Node-based procedural shading system Relativity 2 Expressions System Particle surface shading system Environment instancing on surfaces Camera time warper for effects such as bullet time, etc. Hypervoxel particle surface deformer Surface deformation-based texture map and color controller Camera lens shader system Much, much more Pricing and Availability LightWave 3D version 9.0 is expected to be available in the 4 th quarter for US$795.00 for a single user license. The following purchase options are available for a limited time: LightWave Full seats: LightWave [8] full seat, PDF manual, Vue 5 Infinite, free update to v9: $795 LightWave [8] full seat, printed manual, Vue 5 Infinite, free update to v9: $895 For registered owners of LightWave [7.5] or earlier: LightWave [8] upgrade, PDF manual, Vue 5 Infinite, free update to v9: $395 LightWave [8] upgrade, printed manual, Vue 5 Infinite,free update to v9: $495 For Registered owners of LightWave [8]: LightWave 3D v9.0 upgrade with PDF manual and Vue 5 Infinite: $395 LightWave 3D v9.0 with printed manual and Vue 5 Infinite: $495 For more information or to purchase, visit: http://www.newtek.com or call NewTek Sales at 1-800-368-5441, overseas callers dial +1-210-370-8000. To locate a NewTek Authorized Reseller link to http://www.newtek.com/dealers. About NewTek With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, live production, presentation, animation and special effects tools including LightWave 3D, winner of the 2003 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award, TriCaster and VT[4]. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary Video Toaster. The company's products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film. Recent television and film projects using NewTek production tools include Fantastic Four, The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3D, Sin City, The Aviator, Aliens of the Deep, "I, Robot", Spiderman 2, Battlestar: Galactica, Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight. Recent game titles include Doom III, Unreal Tournament, and Age of Mythology. Website: http://www.newtek.com

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NewTek Releases LightWave 64 64-bit Port of Emmy-winning 3D Tool is part of Free Version 8.5 Update Los Angeles, CA SIGGRAPH 2005 Booth #1529 August 1, 2005 -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, today announced the release of the 64-bit port of the Emmy-winning LightWave 3D for Windows XP Pro x64 OS, as part of the release of the version 8.5 update. LightWave 64 and the version 8.5 update are free to registered owners of LightWave [8]. LightWave's 64-bit version leverages the increased memory available with 64-bit systems plus the power of the new processors and faster RAM access to provide digital artists with a streamlined workflow that allows them greater flexibility and creative freedom. "We're very pleased to bring our 64-bit port to LightWave users with the 8.5 release," said Jay Roth, President of NewTek's 3D Products Division. "NewTek's new development team made a commitment to customers for an aggressive schedule for maintenance updates and innovative development, and we've demonstrated that commitment with five updates in the year since the initial release of LightWave [8] and the release of our 64-bit port as part of 8.5. In addition to the new features and enhancements visible on the surface, the team has set the stage for an incredible next generation for LightWave 3D with a progressive redesign of the core during the 8.x cycle. With these developments and LightWave's opening up of 64-bit platforms with professional 3D production tools, NewTek is bringing a new era of excitement and innovation to digital artists everywhere." With LightWave 64-bit, content creators working on 64-bit workstations and the new Windows XP Pro x64 OS can complete their work in less time, or do more complex work than could previously have been done within a given time and budget. The ability to utilize much more RAM allows the artist to create more complex and realistic scenes as well as to produce images at higher resolutions for film, high-definition television, and print. The LightWave 8.5 update also brings users faster OpenGL performance and the addition of OpenGL hardware shader support for many scenes this will provide a very accurate preview of the look of the final image or animation in real time, without the need to create test renders. Enhancements have also been made to the dynamics and particle systems, and a new SuperMultishift tool with reusable construction history has been added to Modeler. "64-bit technologies will change the face of visual effects for film and television," said Emile Smith, Emmy-winning visual effects supervisor for Zoic Studios. "Producers and artists can raise the bar on what we can accomplish within a given time frame, and create awe-inspiring visions more complex and more photo-real than ever before. NewTek's LightWave 3D is a long-standing mainstay for our VFX pipeline and is leading the way into this incredible visual future with professional production tools for the newest and most powerful platforms and processors." LightWave 64/LightWave v8.5 new features include: New OpenGL Hardware shader option using the hardware renderer in OpenGL video cards to display many of the render functions in real-time. Lights, light falloffs, blending images on surfaces, per-pixel lighting will all be available in real-time, with an option to turn this feature on and off. New Parts-to-Surfaces tool allows for easier integration of 3D objects created in other applications. New MultiShift builds on the original SuperShift functionality and makes it possible to do multiple shifts in a single edit with a history profile that can be saved and applied to other meshes. Dynamics now launch a control window that allows you to switch to other applications while calculating dynamics in LightWave. Particle dynamics have been improved for accuracy, including interaction with collision planes. A new algorithm also allows large dynamic scenes to load up to 10x faster. 104 new configurable keyboard shortcut options. Pricing and Availability LightWave [8] is currently available for Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS X, for a suggested retail price of US$795. Registered owners of LightWave [7] or earlier may upgrade to version [8] for US$395. In addition to our regular retail price offerings, the following special purchase options are available for a limited time: LightWave Full seats: LightWave [8] full seat, PDF manual, Vue 5 Infinite, free update to v9: $795 LightWave [8] full seat, printed manual, Vue 5 Infinite, free update to v9: $895 For registered owners of LightWave [7.5] or earlier: LightWave [8] upgrade, PDF manual, Vue 5 Infinite, free update to v9: $395 LightWave [8] upgrade, printed manual, Vue 5 Infinite,free update to v9: $495 For Registered owners of LightWave [8]: LightWave 3D v9.0 upgrade with PDF manual and Vue 5 Infinite: $395 LightWave 3D v9.0 with printed manual and Vue 5 Infinite: $495 Those purchasing any LightWave [8] full or upgrade product offering after August 01, 2005 qualify for a free upgrade to LightWave 3D version 9.0 upon its release. For more information or to purchase, visit: http://www.newtek.com or call NewTek Sales at 1-800-368-5441, overseas callers dial +1-210-370-8000. To locate a NewTek Authorized Reseller link to http://www.newtek.com/dealers. About NewTek With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, live production, presentation, animation and special effects tools including LightWave 3D, winner of the 2003 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award, TriCaster and VT[4]. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary Video Toaster. The company's products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film. Recent television and film projects using NewTek production tools include Fantastic Four, The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3D, Sin City, The Aviator, Aliens of the Deep, " I, Robot", Spiderman 2, Battlestar: Galactica, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight. Recent game titles include Ridge Racers, Full Spectrum Warrior, Burnout 3, Doom III, Unreal Tournament, and Age of Mythology.. Website: http://www.newtek.com

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NewTek Releases Free Upgrade for VT[4] Groundbreaking Technologies Bring VT[4] Presentation Capabilities Without Need for Dedicated Scaling and Scan Conversion Equipment VT 4.5 will be released later this week! Los Angeles, CA -- SIGGRAPH 2005 Booth #1529 -- August 1, 2005 -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, today announced the release of VT[4] version 4.5, the latest update to the integrated production suite. The update includes new features and production-ready content as well as maintenance and workflow improvements. Leading the list of enhancements, NewTek's groundbreaking technologies for projector output with scaling and software scan converting to allow input users to capture screen data from remote computers. The update is free to registered owners of VT[4], and is available for download at www.newtek.com. "One of the most beneficial features of VT[4] is how much can be added with a software upgrade," said Philip Nelson, NewTek's Vice President of Video Sales and Marketing. "The fact that we have added over $10,000 dollars in functionality through our scaler and scan converter in a free software upgrade, shows the level of commitment that NewTek has for our existing clients." "Through participation in the Intel Early Access Program, NewTek has been able to optimize the latest version of VT[4] for a range of Intel processors," said Melissa Laird, general manager of Intel's Developer Relations Division. "VT[4] users can match their selection of Intel processors to the tasks they expect to execute and can take advantage of the enhanced performance offered by multi-core processors from Intel." In v4.5, workflow in has been enhanced with the addition of automated syncing of the Storyboard view when a clip is selected in the timeline view, and the addition of dozens of title templates ready for quick use. The update also includes optimized resource and memory usage users will see improved performance on their current systems, most noticeably on minimum-spec machines. The version 4.5 update also includes the new NewTek video codec, which can be used in place of the Microsoft DV codec. The codec offers several advantages, including capture in a color-space superior to normal DV clips, and far less system overhead while recording live programs to disk. VT[4] Version 4.5 New Features: iVGA to scan convert and display external computers as a switcher source. XGA Projector Output with NTSC Upscaling. Title Templates for fast, dependable title production LightWave 3D 8.3 (for VT[4] customers who purchased LightWave 8) NewTek video codec Storyboard auto-scrolling to display selected clip in timeline Support for Closed Captioning data pass through VT[4] Version 4.5 Improvements: Greatly improved live switching drivers performance and stability enhancements Improved Program-row switching no delay between sources Improved stability in CG Designer Optimized resource and memory usage Pricing and Availability VT[4] Version 4.5 is a free download for registered VT[4] owners; VT[4] retails at $3995.00. For more information, visit http://www.newtek.com or call NewTek Sales at 1-800-843-8934, overseas callers dial +1-210-370-8000. To locate a NewTek Authorized Reseller link to http://www.newtek.com/dealers. About NewTek With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, live production, presentation, animation and special effects tools including TriCaster, VT[4] and LightWave 3D, winner of the 2003 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary Video Toaster. The company's products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film. Recent projects using NewTek production tools include Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, ManiaTV, Battlestar Galactica, Children of Dune and The Final Cut. Clients using NewTek's video production products include NBC, MTV, Paramount Pictures, Zoic Studios, Rainmaker Studios, Area 51, Nissan North America, FEMA, SBC Center San Antonio Spurs, U.S Navy Reserves, Yale University Medical School, Tulane University, McDonald's, and Saxo Bank. Website: http://www.newtek.com