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SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 Now Available Worldwide
"Our customers entrust us to do complex visual effects for a wide range of projects, and Softimage products have consistently helped us to deliver stunning results," said Louis Morin, producer and effects supervisor of Montreal-based Buzz Image Group. "To say that we are impressed with this new version of XSI would be an understatement. We were so confident with an early beta version that we used the new Rigid Body Dynamics feature for a pivotal scene in the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This enabled us to create the realistic demolition of a house with the same emotional impact as if we had destroyed the building in real life - but at a fraction of the cost. Features like this give us tremendous creative flexibility and deliver a compelling return on investment for our clients. Softimage truly understands the needs of its customers, and the proof is in the innovative features and performance enhancements in version 4.0."
With SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 software, Softimage has significantly evolved the system's core architecture to deliver enhancements to character animation and simulation effects. The software delivers improvements to workflow, including customization, project management, and workgroup capabilities that are tightly integrated with mental ray® 3.3. Customers using SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 will also experience increased interoperability with Avid® editing and asset management solutions, including expanded AAF/MXF file format support as well as premier Alienbrain® Studio integration - for a more reliable and streamlined asset-management framework - and Avid Mojo hardware, for direct render-to-video output and previewing.
Furthermore, SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 introduces support for new technology developed by industry-leading third parties. Every copy of the SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 Advanced package ships with Syflex, the leading cloth simulator on the market. In addition, customers using any configuration of SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 can access Digimation content libraries and import more than 30,000 models directly into the software.
"For nearly two decades, we've set ourselves apart in the industry by focusing exclusively on the needs of 3-D professionals," said Gareth Morgan, senior product manager for Softimage. "Our customers want the high-end 3-D capabilities for which Softimage is renowned, packaged and priced to fit their individual production needs. With SOFTIMAGE|XSI version 4.0, we are now the price-performance leader in the 3-D animation market, addressing the expanding range of users - from the individual VFX artist to large workgroups that require full-featured production seats."
Pricing & Availability
SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 is available in the following configurations:
- SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 Foundation is available for $1,995 USMSRP
from the Softimage web site (www.softimage.com/store) or from
authorized Softimage resellers.
- SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 Essentials is available for $3,995 USMSRP
from authorized Softimage resellers.
- SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.4.0 Advanced is now available for $8,995 USMSRP from authorized Softimage resellers.
Also shipping now is the new Softimage Production Series, an entire suite of DVD training materials available for version 4.0 customers that focuses on real-world production situations.
For more information about SOFTIMAGE|XSI version 4.0, please visit: www.softimage.com.
About Softimage Co.
Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., is an industry leader in 3-D animation, 2-D cel animation, compositing, and special effects software designed to address the demands of the film and commercial/broadcast and games/interactive industries. SOFTIMAGE|XSI software, an integral player in Avid's Make, Manage and Move Media strategy, is the flagship product offering from Softimage. It is the industry's first 3-D nonlinear production environment, providing animators and digital artists the freedom to make professional animation, visual effects, and games - from major motion pictures, to cartoons and commercials, to animated content for video games and Web sites. Softimage is proud to count amongst its customers: R!OT, The Mill, Pixel Liberation Front, Blue Sky Studios, Hybride, Janimation, Quiet Man, PSYOP, Cinepix, and Framestore CFC. The Softimage product family is designed to help users innovate, create, and collaborate throughout the production process. For more information about Softimage, visit www.softimage.com. For more information about Avid, visit www.avid.com.
©2004 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice. All prices are USMSRP for U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, SOFTIMAGE, XSI, Avid Mojo and Make, Manage and Move Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Alienbrain is a trademark of NXN Software AG. mental ray is a registered trademark of GmbH & Co. KG in the USA and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
NOTE TO EDITORS: In the name SOFTIMAGE|XSI noted in this news release, there is a pipe symbol between SOFTIMAGE and XSI. This symbol may not appear properly in some systems.
CONTACT: Softimage Co.
Jennifer Goldfinch, 514-840-0387
jgoldfin@softimage.com
SOURCE: Avid Technology, Inc.