NewTek Announces Linux Network Renderer for LightWave 3D®

NewTek’s ScreamerNet Network Rendering Solution Will Soon Scream on Linux Render Nodes

San Antonio, Texas -- July 23, 2002 -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, today announced the forthcoming release of LightWave 3D®’s network rendering solution, ScreamerNet, for the Linux OS for i386 systems. Professional facilities making use of the stability and low cost of Linux-powered render farms will be able to take advantage of the power and beauty of LightWave 3D®’s render engine. Facilities already invested in seats of LightWave 3D® [7.5] will be able to do so at no extra cost, as the Linux ScreamerNet module will become a standard part of the shipping product upon release, and will be a free download for current owners.

NewTek’s Linux ScreamerNet renderer will offer the same rendering capabilities as the network renderers for the Mac and Windows platforms. ScreamerNet supports unlimited CPUs for rendering, and operates with any network that supports shared directories. Owners of LightWave 3D® Duo, the Windows and Mac dual platform revision of LightWave 3D® that is now the standard shipping version of the product, will be able to render on all three platforms on mixed networks.

“Many larger LightWave® facilities already have substantial Linux rendering resources, and they are eager to add this power to their LightWave® rendering arsenal,” said Arnie Cachelin, NewTek’s 3D development manager. Cachelin went on to say, “There are also facilities that require Linux rendering to consider using a package in their pipeline. Adding a Linux render engine to our Windows and Mac engines is just one more way we meet the needs of our customer.” Cachelin concluded, “In the current economy, studios are increasingly cost conscious, so the opportunity to get an affordable state-of-the-art renderer into their pipelines is very appealing.”

“NewTek’s release of a Linux render engine is awesome news,” said Jack “Deuce” Bennett II of Creative Imagineering. “Other high-end renderers charge per CPU for rendering licenses, and can cost up to $800,000 for a render farm of just 200 processors. LightWave®’s renderer stands up in speed, power and quality to any of those, and the network render nodes don’t cost extra, they come with the package. Choosing LightWave® is a no-brainer for any size shop.”

Pricing, Availability, and Requirements: NewTek is releasing ScreamerNet for Linux for i386 at no additional cost to current LightWave 3D® [7.5] owners. ScreamerNet for Linux for i386 will be available fourth quarter of 2002. When released, ScreamerNet for Linux will be downloadable from NewTek’s website at http://www.newtek.com.

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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