NewTek Announces LightWave® Worldwide Community Tour

First 50 Signups To Get Major Savings On Graphics and Training Products

San Antonio, Texas -- February 17, 2002 -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, today announced an ambitious new LightWave 3D® training tour, the LightWave® Worldwide Community Tour. The series of affordable two-day training seminars on 3D animation, visual effects and graphic design officially kicks off the weekend prior to the NAB show in Las Vegas, and is the largest LightWave tour ever, with stops in the US, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and more. Class instructors will vary from location to location, but will include Class On Demand instructional video host Lee Stranahan, and FX Academy Distance Learning director Larry Shultz. Complete information and signup instructions are available on the NewTek.com website or at LearnLightWave.com

Additionally, the first 50 paid registrants will take part in promo offers that allow them to get a number of powerful graphics products at incredible savings. These promotions include NewTek’s new Aura 2.5b for US$199 (a nearly US$700 savings), the IFW2 Textures for only US$75, and Wondertouch’s Particle Illusion 3 for half price at only US$199. Additional offers include FX Academy classes for up to $700 off. These offers are available to the first 50 attendees with their paid registration. Qualified attendees can choose to take advantage of any or all of the savings opportunities.

“The last tour was a great success and got rave reviews,” said Jim Plant, CEO and president of NewTek, Inc. “These classes are a great way for anyone interested in 3D to see what LightWave is really capable of, and it’s a great way for LightWave users all over the world to learn from each other.”

The two-day classes cover both basic and advanced techniques for modeling, character animation, motion graphics, and much more. Tour participants will also receive a variety of training materials covering the topics taught in the classes and additional techniques, including a CD loaded with all new material. The classes and instructional materials have something to offer any LightWave user, beginner to expert.

“The most amazing thing about Lee's training seminars for me as a Reseller, Integrator and trainer isn't watching Lee, its watching the audience,” said Ed Griswold, manager of Computer Video Associates. “They're focused to the point of forgetting or not wanting to take breaks or go to lunch. Everyone would rather watch, listen and learn. 'But, wait, there's more...'”

Pricing and Availability:
The LightWave Worldwide Community Tour two-day training session is priced at $199. For complete information and to sign up now, see http://www.LearnLightWave.com

NewTek LightWave Worldwide Community Training Tour Instructors
Lee Stranahan has helped thousands of people worldwide learn desktop video and 3D animation for more than a decade. His professional experience includes work as a writer, director, producer, visual effects supervisor, and effects artist. He’s also an award winning photographer and the program director of FX Academy.

Larry Shultz is an experienced LightWave artist and trainer with extensive 3D credits in games, film and television, including work at Foundation Imaging and Netter Digital. Larry is the Director of Distance Learning at FX Academy, and has taught at schools in California and New Mexico.

LightWave® Worldwide Community Tour Dates and Locations (subject to change)
February
22-23 Portland, OR

March
1-2 Houston, TX
10-11 Mexico City, Mexico
13-14 Monterey, Mexico
17-18 Guadalajara, Mexico

April
5-6 Las Vegas, NV
12-13 Austin, TX
16-17 Atlanta, GA
22-23 Washington, DC
24-25 New York, NY
26-27 Boston, MA
29-30 Montreal, Canada

May
1-2 Toronto, Canada
3-4 Detroit, MI
5-6 Chicago, IL
8-9 Oklahoma City, OK
17-18 Albuquerque, NM
19-20 San Diego, CA
21-22 Los Angeles, CA
24-25 Honolulu, Hawaii
27-28 San Francisco, CA
31-June 1, Seattle, WA

June
2-3 Vancouver, Canada
5-6 Salt Lake City, UT
18-19 San Antonio, TX
21-22 Orlando, FL
24-25 Raleigh-Durham, NC
28-29 Philadelphia, PA
30-July 1 New Jersey, TBA

July
5-6 Hartford - Springfield, CT
8-9 Cincinnati, OH
12-13 Miami, FL
14-15 Tampa, FL
19-20 Denver, CO
23-24 Kansas City, MO
26-27 Minneapolis, MN

August
2-3 Dallas, TX
5-6 Houston, TX

About NewTek
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, animation and special effects tools including VT®, LightWave 3D® and Aura Video Paint™. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary VT®. The company’s products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film. Recent television and film projects using NewTek software include Firefly, Taken, Smallville, Birds of Prey, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek 10: Nemesis, We Were Soldiers, Panic Room, Hart’s War, Driven, A.I., Oscar®-nominated Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Final Fantasy, Blackhawk Down, The Time Machine, Behind Enemy Lines and Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Director’s Edition DVD. Recent game titles include Doom III, Unreal Tournament, Serious Sam for XBox, Age of Mythology, Civilization III, Dead to Rights, Baldur’s Gate II, EverQuest and Escape From Monkey Island. Website: http://www.newtek.com

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"VT, LightWave and LightWave 3D are registered trademarks of NewTek.
"VT-Edit, Aura Video Paint, LightWave Express, VT-CG, VT-Vision VT-Scope, VT-DRR, SX-8 and RS-8 are trademarks of NewTek, Inc.
"All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.