FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(January 5, 2000)

Synthetik Announces Major Enhancements to Studio Artist at MacWorld San Francisco

Enhanced Animation Capabilities and New Visual Effects Processing Ring in the New Year

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 5 -- Synthetik Software today announced several new enhancements to its award winning software Studio Artist, the worlds first graphics synthesizer. Studio Artist 1.1 offers a host of new features, including enhanced interactive paint tools, support for embedded alpha channels in movies and source images, multiple movie compositing, real time intelligent image mosaicing, enhanced batch processing, and time-based particle and paint effects. Version 1.1 is available at the show in a new boxed version that includes a printed user guide and full color printed tutorial.

Synthetik is also demonstrating features from the upcoming Studio Artist 1.5, scheduled for a spring 2000 release. Version 1.5 offers editable keyframe time animation of all of the different features available in Studio Artist, greatly expanding the range of visual effects for movie processing as well as interactive 2D painting. Version 1.5 also includes many additional new features, including a new resolution independent core effects processing module called the Texture Synthesizer, intelligent auto-regionization, and new gradient effects.

Studio Artist Knows How to Paint and Draw

Developed by Synthetik Software Inc., Studio Artist is the first commercial program for computer artists that incorporates research results from cognitive neuroscience investigations into the nature of visual perception in the brain. The program uses human visual modeling to construct an internal representation from a source image that is used to direct smart assisted painting and drawing. The result is Studio Artist knows how to paint and draw.

Studio Artist combines dynamic user-configurable painting and drawing tools along with a complete image processing and video effects suite. A unique hybrid imaging model allows individual paint strokes to have the visual richness of raster paint with the editability of vector paths. Dynamic expressive paint tools or custom art processes can easily be constructed and applied to still images or motion sequences. Users can either paint and draw manually or direct Studio Artist's automatic Intelligent-Assisted painting actions.

The over 800 factory presets shipped with Studio Artist barely scratch the surface of the potential visual looks and tactile feels that can be created within the program. Each Preset consists of hundreds of fully editable parameters that can be individually adjusted to control the look and feel of the paint. These synthesizer parameters can also be interactively modulated while painting. This immense flexibility allows artists to create their own art tools or processes with unique visual appearance based on their own personal tastes.

Enhanced Time-Based Effects

Studio Artist 1.5 Paint Action Sequences are now fully automatable over time via keyframe editing on an animation timeline. Every editable parameter within Studio Artist can be animated over time. This includes everything in the four main effects modules as well as all of the extensive selection options available within the program. This vastly extends the range of possible video effects available within Studio Artist.

Paint animation is not just for video effects. Studio Artist's animation capabilities open up a whole new world of potential interaction for 2D artists. Paint animation can be used to perform complex area fills and striking 2D visual effects. Studio Artist's graphics synthesizer is unique in bridging the gap between traditional 2D painting or drawing and motion-based effects.

New Core Processing Module

Studio Artist 1.5 includes a new core processing module, the Texture Synthesizer. Studio Artist's Texture Synthesizer provides a wide range of resolution independent visual effects. The Texture Synthesizer is based on a sophisticated texture generator with integral effects processing and extensive modulation capabilities. Like all of the core visual processing modules, editable Texture Synthesizer presets can be built and categorized for easy access while working. By combining the core visual processing modules of the Paint Synthesizer, Texture Synthesizer, Image Processing Operations, and Image Warping and Morphing, an unlimited number of visual effects can be generated for use in painting on 2D canvases or within video sequences.

Wack! : A New Photoshop Plug-In From Synthetik

Wack! is a sophisticated Photoshop filter based on Studio Artist's Texture Synthesizer. Wack! is designed to work within Photoshop and can generate an unlimited number of resolution independent visual effects accessible via editable presets. Wack! can process a source image or generate abstract images from scratch. Wack! presets can also be evolved via genetic selection or morphed from existing presets.

Each Wack! effect can consist of up to four visual effects generators, each with four integral Texture Synthesizers. Effects can be routed in series or parallel and combined together with selectable compositing operations and extensive modulation capabilities. Wack! can also generate time-based effects by generating a Quicktime movie from within Photoshop via keyframe animation of any or all of its editable parameters.

Price and Availability

Synthetik's mission is to develop innovative software tools for computer artists and creative professionals. Studio Artist's suggested retail price is $329, and is available today. Version 1.5 will be available in the spring of 2000 as a free upgrade to registered Studio Artist users. Wack! will be available later this year for a suggested retail price of $125. Orders can be placed by calling 1-888-808-4188 within the US, 1-415-864-6582 if calling from overseas, or by visiting the Synthetik web site at www.synthetik.com.

Additional information can be obtained from Synthetik Software Inc., 30 Sheridan Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-864-6582 (ext 11), 415-864-0433 (fax), or by emailing candice@synthetik.com.

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