Alias/Wavefront Releases Major New Modeling Functionality in StudioTools 9.7 Industrial Design Software; Designer Productivity Improved With New Surface Blending Features

    TORONTO--May 10, 2001--Alias/Wavefront(TM), an SGI company, announced today that it has added powerful modeling functionality to a new release of the StudioTools(TM) family which gives users greater design flexibility and helps them meet difficult modeling challenges.
    Chief among the new features in StudioTools 9.7 is an innovative filleting tool that speeds the process of connecting surfaces and rounding edges, thereby reducing the time required to build 3D models.
    "We have made significant functionality and flexibility improvements in StudioTools 9.7 which allow designers to get their jobs done faster," explains John Gibson, General Manager, StudioTools at Alias/Wavefront. "As a leader in industrial design software, Alias/Wavefront's mission is to provide the best solution on the market and we believe this release is an important step in that continuing process."

    Freedom to Experiment

    By using the StudioTools powerful construction history feature, the new filleting tool can be used to edit previously constructed fillets and update them automatically, saving the designer time without rebuilding the geometry. By combining this function with StudioTools advanced evaluation tools such as reflection maps, curvature maps, draft angle evaluation and cross-sections, designers can interactively manipulate the fillet and evaluate results immediately.

    Faster Design at Renault

    French automaker Renault(R), an early user of StudioTools 9.7 software, finds the filleting tool has enhanced the design team's modeling workflow. "Combined with some of the other features in StudioTools software, such as construction history, we found the new tool easier to use for complex exterior design modeling," says Jacky LeConte, Surface Lines Senior Manager at Renault.

    Availability, Price, Platforms

    StudioTools 9.7 software is scheduled to ship in June 2001. Products in the StudioTools family are DesignStudio(TM), Studio(TM), AutoStudio(TM) and SurfaceStudio(TM), with prices starting at $7,500 USD. The software runs on Windows NT(R), Windows(R) 2000, SGI(TM) Irix(R), Sun(TM) Solaris(TM) and Hewlett-Packard(R) HP-UX(R).
    For more information, please visit the Alias/Wavefront website at www.aliaswavefront.com or call 800/447-2542 in North America. For the nearest sales office or authorized reseller outside of North America, in Europe call 00 800 4125 4125 or 800 791 174 in Italy; 00 353 1 890 2244 in the Middle East and Africa; 81 3 3470 8285 in Asia-Pacific; 0121 764 088 in Japan only and 525 203 0030 in Latin America.

    About Alias/Wavefront

    As the world's leading innovator of 2D and 3D graphics technology, Alias/Wavefront develops software for the film and video, games, interactive media, industrial design, technical surfacing and visualization markets. Alias/Wavefront's design customers include AT&T, BMW, Boeing, Fiat, Ford, Honda, General Motors, Italdesign, Kodak, Mattel, Rollerblade, Trek Bicycle, Teague and Timex.
    Alias/Wavefront is a wholly owned, independent software company of SGI with headquarters in Toronto and technical centers in Seattle and Santa Barbara. To visit Alias/Wavefront, go to www.aliaswavefront.com.

    Note to Editors: Download digital images at www.aliaswavefront.com/design/press

    Alias/Wavefront, the Alias/Wavefront logo, StudioTools, the StudioTools logo, DesignStudio, Studio, SurfaceStudio and AutoStudio are trademarks of Alias/Wavefront, a division of Silicon Graphics Limited. Irix is a registered trademark and SGI is a trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Renault is a trademark or a registered trademark of the Regie Nationale des Usines Renault Corporation in the United States and other countries. Windows, Windows NT and Windows 2000 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. HP-UX and Hewlett-Packard are registered trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Company. Sun and Solaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Alias/Wavefront, 210 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 1J7 Tel: 416/362-9181, FAX: 416/369-6140.