LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5, 1997 — Softimage Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp., today announced at SIGGRAPH ’97 two major additions to the Softimage® Education Program (SEP). A student subscription to the Softimage 3D extreme package, priced at $1,500 (U.S.), and a new Campus Rep. Program with paid, trained positions as Softimage
“ambassadors,”
will officially begin in fall 1997. Digital Equipment Corp. is also joining the effort with student discounts on one of its high-performance workstations. The Digital Alpha XL 300 Workstation will be available to SEP students, through Great Lakes Computer, for $5,850 (U.S.).
Launched in conjunction with the 1998 Softimage Student Animation Contest, the two new additions to the SEP are part of an ongoing Softimage effort to enhance education and provide opportunities for student animators to excel in their computer-graphics careers.
“It’s thrilling to watch the wave of raw animation talent hidden within universities begin to splash into the computer graphics industry,”
said Moshe Lichtman, president of Softimage.
“Through our Softimage Education Program, we’re providing students with the avenues and resources needed to lift them to the forefront of the groundswell pushing the industry today.”
In addition to the obvious benefits to students, the SEP, with its new programs, provides the industry with access to a rich pool of artists trained in the latest techniques in computer animation.
“Through the Softimage Education Program, Digital will be able to offer students a budget-priced Alpha professional workstation that will give them unmatched processing power at prices that are affordable,”
said Herb Shumway, vice president, software partner group at Digital.
“Students get the best of both worlds – world-class software from Softimage on the world’s fastest 3-D workstations from Digital.”
SEP Schools Reap Benefits
SEP Schools such as Academy of Arts in San Francisco, California Institute of Arts, Columbia University’s Graduate School in Architecture, Institute of Chicago’s School of the Arts and UCLA’s Department of Design are looking forward to the depth these new programs will add to their curricula.
“UCLA is very excited about the new Softimage Student Subscription and Campus Rep. programs,”
said Rebecca Allen, chair of the department of design, University of California at Los Angeles.
“Both of these programs will provide our students with the resources and opportunities they need to grow and compete in this ever-changing market of computer graphics. The Campus Rep. Program will not only provide a strong communication channel between Softimage and the university, but will be an invaluable professional experience for our student representative. We are pleased to see that Softimage is taking such an active role and interest in educating the youth that will be driving this industry.”
“These two programs are essential to our school’s growth,”
said Greig Muir, director of the computer sequence for Columbia University.
“Softimage software has, over the last four years, worked its way into almost every aspect of the curriculum, and in ways that were least expected. Students in building technology create animations with structural conditions such as deformations and collapse, design studio students routinely incorporate Softimage images into their project flip books and videos, and urban design studies are done with the entire arsenal of Softimage tricks. The phenomenon of Softimage infiltrating the design culture of the Graduate School of Architecture means that there is a great thirst for expertise and up-to-date information about Softimage software. We expect this new program to become an important institution in the school as we move toward our goal of becoming the most wired and digitally advanced school of architecture in the world.”
Softimage Student Subscription and Digital Offer
The new student subscription to the Softimage 3D extreme package, available for both the Microsoft® Windows NT® operating system and SGI systems on the upcoming 3.7 SP1 release this fall, is identical to the commercial product and includes documentation and upgrades under a one-year temporary license. An upgrade path to a commercial license upon graduation will also be available and will be valid for up to six months after graduation. Softimage resellers will handle the subscription program.
The Digital Alpha XL 300 Workstation will be available to SEP students through Great Lakes Computer for $5,850 (U.S.). This offer is only available with the student subscription to the Softimage 3D extreme version 3.7 SP1 and includes features such as a 300MHz processor with 2MB cache onboard, a Gloria-L OpenGL card, integrated Ethernet, a keyboard, a mouse and a 21-inch monitor. For more details on the student subscription and Digital offer visit the Softimage Web site at http://www.softimage.com/ .
Softimage Campus Representatives Gain Experience and Exposure
Starting in fall 1997, under the Campus Rep. Program, one full-time student at selected SEP member institutions will start working in a paid position as a Softimage
“ambassador.”
This innovative program will offer the best and brightest student recruits the opportunity to act as liaisons between their school, peers, the industry and Softimage. Their main responsibilities will be to promote the creative use of Softimage tools and expose the talent around them by organizing industry-related presentations, gathering student work for publication on the Web, and submitting reports including the
“coolest ideas”
of the month.
The two new programs are available to qualifying full-time students (the Student Subscription Program is also available to qualifying faculty) attending registered SEP member schools worldwide. For a list of member schools and details on both programs, visit the Softimage Web site at http://www.softimage.com/ .
Company Information
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 Toonz (2-D cel animation). 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.
Softimage is a registered trademark of Softimage Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.
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