Alibre Design 5.1 Improves Features and Performance, Increases Value of Low-Cost MCAD; Alibre PhotoRender Also Now Available for Easy Photo-Realistic Rendering.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2002

Alibre today announced the release of Alibre Design 5.1. The new version offers a wide range of customer-driven improvements and demonstrates Alibre's commitment to delivering professional mechanical CAD software at an affordable price.

Alibre Design 5.1 includes these enhancements:

Numerous improvements in the performance and capabilities of part and assembly design, including

-- Improved drag performance for assembly linkages.

-- Improved support for IGES and STL files.

-- Better reporting of geometry properties in an assembly.

Numerous improvements in the performance and capabilities of drawings, including

-- Better support for creating drawing templates.

-- Better print behavior for drawings.

Also now available is the full version of Alibre PhotoRender, a module for photo-realistic rendering, which allows users to easily add visual interest to images of their native and imported models. Alibre Design customers who have used the preview version will notice a number of improvements. With the basic Alibre PhotoRender module, priced at just $100, users can apply lights and materials to models, save schemes of favorite settings, and render, save and print images. Alibre PhotoRender Industrial Pack is $200 with even more advanced properties, such as physically accurate materials including plastics, glass and metals, as well as surface finishes, which simulate leathers, fabrics and multi-layer paints. Alibre PhotoRender uses technology from LightWork Design.

"This new version gives our users an even better experience with Alibre Design, and cements its position as the first choice for cost-conscious CAD users who demand a professional, production-ready application," said J. Paul Grayson, Alibre president and CEO. "At $495, Alibre Design 5.1 continues our commitment to high value at an affordable price."

At $495, Alibre Design 5.1 is one-tenth the cost of other mid-range solid modeling applications. The new version is available automatically at no extra charge to customers whose license key is current, including all users who are evaluating Alibre Design during their 30-day free trials. The $495 price of Alibre Design includes support, training and upgrades for the customer's first year of use. Thereafter, maintenance may be renewed for $495, a fraction of the cost of annual maintenance contracts for comparable mid-range mechanical CAD applications.

Alibre redefines professional solid modeling with the Alibre Design application, which offers unprecedented ease-of-use, affordability, accessibility and rich functionality. Built to leverage the Internet, Alibre Design lets designers, engineers and their associates create 3D models and 2D associative drawings, share and edit product designs from different CAD applications, and spontaneously work together online in real time using precise design data. Users get advanced support and training, including direct online access to the Alibre Assistant. The application's support for open data standards such as STEP provides a CAD-neutral environment. Customers include Marchon Eyewear, B/E Aerospace and Dresser Rand. Founded in 1997, Alibre Inc. is privately funded and based in Richardson, Texas. For more information, visit www.alibre.com or call 972/671-8492.

Note to media: Alibre and Alibre Design are trademarks of Alibre Inc. High-res screenshots of Alibre Design are available.