NewTek Releases Free LightWave 3D® Discovery Edition

Comprehensive Tutorials, Training Material and Fully Functioning Demonstration Version
of Software Mark the Best Free Trial Edition of 3D Software in the Market.

San Antonio, Texas -- July 23, 2002 -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, today announced the release of the LightWave 3D® Discovery Edition, for Windows and Mac. This free trial version of NewTek’s award-winning software enables anyone with an interest in the powerful 3D graphics and animation capabilities of LightWave® [7.5] to test-drive the product. Students, educators, graphics and animation professionals, and those considering a career in graphics and animation can now evaluate LightWave®’s capabilities with the help of the extensive tutorial support included. The LightWave 3D® Discovery Edition is available on CD from authorized NewTek resellers and directly from NewTek.

"Cost and ease-of-use are major concerns for artists considering the use of 3D software," said Jim Plant, CEO and President of NewTek, Inc. "With complete online documentation, an extensive image gallery, interactive tutorials and other educational materials, the free Discovery Edition of LightWave 3D® makes it easy for graphic artists, visual FX designers, game developers, new media and other creative content producers to see how cost effective and easy it can be to add compelling and beautiful 3D imagery to their productions."

The Discovery Edition contains five interactive Flash “walkthrough” tutorials. Two of these cover the basics of Layout (the animation module) and Modeler, and three are in-depth tutorials on specific topics in the two modules. In addition, eight interactive modeling tutorials introduce the user to the ease and power of LightWave®’s modeling tools.

The CD includes the complete LightWave® manual in PDF form, as well as other HTML tutorial materials. The complete content, all models, images, textures and scenes from the retail version of the product are included on the CD as well, to provide a look at the full range of possibilities that can be achieved with LightWave 3D®. These include everything from both simple and complex character animation to examples of smoke, fire, explosions, and other spectacular visual effects. NewTek provides fresh tutorial content regularly via the website, http://www.newtek.com.

“We’ve taken a very user friendly approach with our Discovery Edition of LightWave®. The CD gives you everything that you need to get up and running in LightWave® [7.5]” said William Vaughan, NewTek’s LightWave® Evangelist. “I am really excited to get LightWave® in the hands of more people. Once you use it, you’re hooked.”

Pricing and Availability
The LightWave 3D® Discovery Edition is a fully functioning version of LightWave® where objects can be saved with up to 400 points, and renders are subtly watermarked. The Discovery Edition is available now on CD, compatible with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP and Mac OS9/OSX, at no charge from NewTek Authorized Resellers and directly from NewTek. To find the NewTek Authorized Reseller nearest you link to http://www.newtek.com/dealers/index.html. To request a copy of the Discovery Edition CD visit http://www.newtek.com/discovery.html.

NewTek is demonstrating their entire line of products July 22, 2002 through July 25, 2002 at SIGGRAPH, Booth #8084, Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, San Antonio, TX. NewTek SIGGRAPH coverage, including live streaming video from the show floor, is online at: http://www.newtek.com/sig02/index.html

About NewTek
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, animation and special effects tools including the VT®, LightWave 3D® and Aura. 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 film and television projects using NewTek software include We Were Soldiers, Panic Room, Hart's War, Driven, A.I., Oscar®-nominated Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, Final Fantasy, Blackhawk Down, The Time Machine, Black Knight, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The 6th Day, Jurassic Park III, Behind Enemy Lines, X-Men The Movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Director's Edition DVD, Pitch Black, Dracula 2000, Star Trek: Enterprise, Roughnecks: Starship Troopers, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The X-Files, The Family Guy, Ally McBeal, Dune: The Miniseries, Dawson's Creek and Family Law. Recent game titles include Deus Ex, Serious Sam I and II, Twisted Metal: Black, Civilization III, Unreal, Quake 3 Arena, Moto Racer World Tour, Giants for PS2, Baldur's Gate II, EverQuest, Planescape: Torment, Dead To Rights, and Escape From Monkey Island. Contact NewTek at 5131 Beckwith Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78249. Phone: 210-370-8000, fax: 210-370-8001, website: http://www.newtek.com.

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• VT®, LightWave® and LightWave 3D® are registered trademarks of NewTek.
• All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.