ALIAS UNVEILS STUDIOTOOLS 13, IMAGESTUDIO 3, PORTFOLIOWALL 3.

Alias, Toronto, Canada, has announced that Alias StudioTools 13, Alias ImageStudio 3 and Alias PortfolioWall 3 software products are available for download for customers on Alias' Platinum Membership program, with worldwide shipping to follow soon. Alias' industry-leading software solutions allow product designers and manufacturers to become visually intelligent throughout their operations, fostering rapid ideation, creation and sharing of digital design content. With StudioTools 13, ImageStudio 3 and PortfolioWall 3, designers and decision-makers experience an all-inclusive design solution, making design a competitive advantage in their workflow.

Alias has also enhanced its Alias StudioTools Platinum Membership offering, delivering top-tier support and maintenance via software downloads, hotline support and learning resources for a fixed annual fee. This program allows designers to get the most out of Alias StudioTools software, all the time.

"The Alias suite of design products and services provides tools that encourage an accessible, collaborative, and visible workflow," comments Paul Dyck, design product marketing manager at Alias. "From initial sketch to production surface, Alias' advanced suite of software allows designers to create, craft, collaborate and convey their designs in one seamless process - focusing on the idea, not the tools."

Alias StudioTools 13 Alias StudioTools 13 is a complete digital design package, integrating the tools designers require for shape definition and communication processes, from sketching to production modeling. The new features and enhancements in Alias StudioTools 13 software offer designers and modelers several key benefits and significant enhancements in the areas of productivity, sketching, 3D modeling, visualization and data interoperability.

Alias ImageStudio 3 Alias ImageStudio 3 is an easy-to-use rendering solution for creating professional quality images of 3D models from 3D design and CAD tools. Alias ImageStudio 3 allows users to render larger files, and get faster results, through the addition of satellite rendering. Alias ImageStudio 3 comes with two mental ray Satellites enabling users to distribute and hence accelerate rendering across networks of machines. Satellite rendering offloads rendering computation onto networked computers, leaving the user's machine free for interactive work.

Alias PortfolioWall 3 Alias PortfolioWall software allows creative teams to efficiently organize, review, annotate and make rapid decisions on 2D and 3D visual data. PortfolioWall forms the backbone of design workflow by providing a direct link between designers, managers and clients, allowing them to directly share visuals and project data. The third version of PortfolioWall boasts a faster performance, an improved visual quality and a greater scope to its data organization tools, such as data integration into PDM systems.

Pricing and Availability Alias software solutions are available from the Alias network of authorized resellers. Alias StudioTools 13 is priced starting at US$7,500, Alias ImageStudio 3 starting at US$1,499 and PortfolioWall 3 starting at US$3,000. StudioTools 13 runs on Windows XP, Windows 2000 and SGI IRIX operating systems. Alias ImageStudio 3 and PortfolioWall 3 run on Windows XP and Windows 2000 operating platforms.

Alias Platinum Members Get the Most out of Alias StudioTools

The Alias Platinum Membership program is now available for StudioTools, enabling users to maximize their investment in their chosen design software tools. For a fixed annual fee, Alias Platinum Membership delivers unlimited telephone and email hotline support, early access to software product upgrades, Alias Insider Case Management to expedite bug fixes, as well as the option to nominate "super users" within a user organization. Alias Platinum streamlines license relocation functions and provides access to the Alias Expert Resources - a database of advanced information and data to help with every aspect of using, implementing and leveraging the software. New features include interactive training sessions with Alias' world-class product support specialists and quarterly no-charge access to downloadable Alias Learning Tools DVDs.

Learning Design with Alias StudioTools New to Alias' collection of Design Learning Tools is "Learning Design with Alias StudioTools," to be released in March 2006, retail price US$69.99. The new handbook is intended to teach principles of industrial design through hands-on-projects. With a focus on consumer and transportation design, the book will cover eight individual projects aimed at teaching designers efficient techniques for creating sound models in 3D. The book will also explore workflows for adding detail to designs through animation and rendering. "Learning Design with Alias StudioTools" is accompanied by an instructor-led DVD featuring demonstrations and workflows, scene files, textures and shaders, a student gallery and a 90-day trial of Alias ImageStudio.

"With project-based lessons, readers will discover the powerful tools at their disposal and learn how to translate their concepts to the screen," said Danielle Lamothe, product manager, Learning Tools and training at Alias. "The combination of unique projects, clear hands-on learning and Alias technology is truly unique and valuable - something only Alias could provide."

*International pricing may vary

About Alias As the world's leading innovator of 3D graphics technology, Alias develops award-winning software, custom development and training solutions for the automotive, industrial design and visualization markets and film and video, games, web, interactive media and education markets. Alias also offers a powerful range of services for new to advanced users in the most demanding environments. Learning Tools and training, support, and professional services help meet rigorous deadlines.

The company's design customers include AT&T, BMW, Boeing, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Italdesign, Kodak, Kwikset, Mattel, Price Pfister, Renault Rollerblade, Sharp, Trek Bicycle, Teague and Timex.

For more information, visit http://www.alias.com or call 800/447-2542 or 303/487-7406.