Alias/Wavefront Expands Reverse Modeling Capability for Studio/Tools

26 July 2000

All New Spider Software for NT Platform

    NEW ORLEANS - Alias/WavefrontTM, a SGI company, announced at Siggraph today that it has enhanced the reverse modeling workflow in the Studio/Tools family. Advanced scan data processing capabilities in upgraded release of EvalViewer for UNIX, and in a new product, Spider, for the Windows NT and Windows 2000 platform are expected to ship in the Fall of 2000.

    With Spider or EvalViewer combined with Studio, AutoStudio or SurfaceStudio, a designer has a complete solution to incorporate physical models into a digital design workflow. Scanned data, in a wide variety of file formats, can be processed with advanced tools for hole filling, meshing, and section cutting in EvalViewer or Spider. Polygon meshes and cross-sections produced in EvalViewer or Spider, along with the original scanned data, can be transferred to Studio, AutoStudio or SurfaceStudio for advanced NURBS surface fitting and complete NURBS modeling.

    "The enhancements to the Alias/Wavefront toolset for reverse modeling ensure that a designer can work with scanned or digitized data throughout the entire workflow in an integrated family of products from Alias/Wavefront. This new capability will save time and increase productivity for our customers," explained Rick Carlstrom, Product Manager, Design Business Unit, Alias/Wavefront.

    Pricing, Availability & Platforms

    Spider sells for $5000 and will be available on a free 30-day evaluation, limited time offer starting in August 2000. (Price is indicated in US funds and will vary outside of the US.) The reverse modeling capability is available for the Studio/Tools family running on Windows NT/2000, SunTM Solaris, SGI Irix, and as announced at Siggraph, the HP-UX platform.

    About Alias/Wavefront

    Alias/Wavefront is the world's leading developer of CAID (computer-aided industrial design) software. For over 15 years, the company has been the premier supplier of design software developed specifically for the needs of transportation designers, including automotive interiors and exteriors, motorcycles and watercraft. Around the world, designers have also used Alias/Wavefront products to produce award-winning designs for everything from laptop computers, sporting equipment, cellular telephones, medical equipment and children's toys to fashion accessories.

    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, Renault, Rollerblade, Teague and Timex.

    Alias/Wavefront's film and video customers include Blue Sky, Cinesite, CNN, Digital Domain, Dream Quest Images, Industrial Light & Magic, Pacific Data Images (PDI), Pixar, Sony Pictures Imageworks, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Feature Animation.

    Games customers include Acclaim Entertainment, Core Design, Electronic Arts, Factor 5, Kodiak Interactive, Lucas Arts Entertainment Company, Midway Games, Naughty Dog, Nihilistic, Nintendo, Rare Ltd., Retro Studios, Sega, Single Trac, Sony Computer Entertainment, Square, Timeline Studios, Valkyrie Studios, Verant Interactive, Relic Entertainment, and Westwood Studios.

    Alias/Wavefront is a wholly owned, independent software company of SGI(R) with headquarters in Toronto and technical centers in Seattle and Santa Barbara.