Microsoft PressPass – Softimage Previews New Version of Award-Winning Video Compositing Software
REDMOND, Wash., April 15, 1996 — Softimage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp., today previewed a new version of Softimage® Eddie, an award-winning video compositing, editing and processing tool. This new version, which runs exclusively on Silicon Graphics®
Indigo workstations, includes innovations such as graphical user interface refinements, new motion tracking and stabilizing technology, enhanced paint capabilities and effects, integration with Softimage 3D, and an enhanced software development kit.
Since its introduction, Softimage Eddie has been used extensively in the film, television commercial and interactive games industries, including in the recent animated feature film
“Balto.”
New and enhanced features and innovations in Softimage Eddie 3.5 include these:
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Interface and environment. Softimage Eddie is based on fully editable image processing trees. In addition to an updated look for icons, every tool in Softimage Eddie now contains basic alpha compositing functionality. Master compositing controls are now available in all Softimage Eddie tools, including transformations, motion blur and user-defined processing regions.
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Stabilizing and motion tracking. Softimage Eddie includes new 3-D tracking technology for matching Softimage 3D camera views with live-action camera views.
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Paint. The vector-based paint system now includes the ability to design custom brushes. Also, all sources, including images, mattes or clips and cutouts, are now visible as automatically updating, selectable icons. Multiple mattes are now supported in Softimage Eddie.
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Integration with Softimage 3D. Customers can now view wire-frame, shaded or texture-displayed Softimage 3D scenes within Softimage Eddie. Softimage 3D scenes can be composited over layers in the same way as images. Customers save time by previewing scenes over other image layers and launch the Softimage render without leaving the Softimage Eddie workspace.
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Filters and Noise. Softimage Eddie includes new filter tools with fast options for quick blurs and sharpens at predefined presets. Customers can also define their own filters.
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Painterly Effects and Impressionist. Painterly Effects, a plug-in tool that allows customers to apply any of 48 custom-effects filters to images or clips, is now integrated with Softimage Eddie. Effects include mosaic, chrome, chalk and charcoal, graphic pen, film grain, glass and watercolor. Impressionist provides a collection of brush effects that allow virtually infinite variations and custom options. Both tools have preview modes and are fully integrated into the Softimage Eddie environment.
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Development kit. Softimage Eddie includes an enhanced development kit. Customers can now create their own fully integrated plug-in applications, according to their needs.
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Jodi. This new software application with a hardware option manages sequences of pictures in various formats. It provides a full set of tools to drive videotape recorders to grab and record video sequences in both full resolution and M-JPEG and digital D1 formats (PAL or NYSC). Customers can also import and export a variety of formats including Softimage pic, yuv, tga and jpg.
System Requirements
Softimage Eddie runs on any Silicon Graphics Indigo family of workstations, including the new IMPACT
™
series of high-performance graphics workstations. Minimum system requirements include IRIS®
5.3 or higher and 64 MB of RAM. Softimage Eddie also supports optional Wacom-compatible input tablets. Approximate retail price is $7,995 (U.S.). Softimage Eddie is distributed through authorized Softimage resellers. For a complete list of Softimage Eddie features or for more information, please call (800) 576-3846 or visit Softimage on the Internet at www.softimage.com/.
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 animation), Softimage Eddie (compositing) and Softimage Toonz (2D cel animation). The company was acquired in 1994 by Microsoft Corp. Additional information about Softimage and Microsoft can be found on the World Wide Web 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.
Softimage is a registered trademark of Softimage Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Silicon Graphics and IRIS are registered trademarks and IMPACT is a trademark of Silicon Graphics Inc.
Reader contact:
Softimage general information, (800) 576-3846, Internet: http://www.softimage.com/
