Avid Unveils Flexible New Packages and Pricing Options for SOFTIMAGE/3D; Version 3.8 SP1 Now Offers Enhanced 3-D Functionality and Improved Performance at a More Affordable Price.

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 1999--Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVID) today announced a complete new set of end-user options for SOFTIMAGE(R)|3D--its industry-leading modeling, animation and rendering system--together with a series of major revisions that reduce the entry-level price to $4,995 (U.S. MSRP). The announcement of the new options and pricing structures coincides with the release of SOFTIMAGE|3D v3.8 SP1, which extends the core functionality of the application.

New options include the SOFTIMAGE|3D Plus(TM) and SOFTIMAGE|3D Performance(TM) packages, which result from collaboration with third-party tool and application developers to deliver extensive new functionality to SOFTIMAGE|3D.

"The extended end-user options announced today will deliver the highest level of functionality available to professional 3-D animators, providing affordable content creation solutions for users in the film, commercial/broadcast, games and architecture markets," said David Miller, Avid's group product manager for SOFTIMAGE|3D. "Implementing this program of third-party integration means we are able to focus on the core toolset while working with partners like Konshus, Phoenix Tools and Pison to supply special tools that deliver on specific user demands."

Introducing the SOFTIMAGE|3D Plus Package

The SOFTIMAGE|3D Plus package includes 17 third-party modeling and animation tools designed to work specifically with SOFTIMAGE|3D v3.8 SP1, which improve the overall functionality and workflow. Additionally, customers who purchase the IRIX version of SOFTIMAGE|3D can choose to add desktop compositing capabilities with the new SOFTIMAGE|Eddie(R) bundle.

New SOFTIMAGE|3D Performance Package

Designed for professional 3-D artists, the SOFTIMAGE|3D Performance package augments the SOFTIMAGE(R)|3D "extreme" version feature set via integration with powerful third-party applications. Customers who choose the SOFTIMAGE|3D Performance package will receive all the aforementioned benefits of the SOFTIMAGE|3D Plus package in addition to 11 advanced features. Furthermore, Avid is now offering a compositing bundle that incorporates the high-end capabilities of Media Illusion(R) software (IRIX only).

Pricing and Availability

SOFTIMAGE|3D version 3.8 SP1 is now available for $4,995 (U.S. MSRP) from Avid authorized resellers. Pricing for the SOFTIMAGE|3D Plus and SOFTIMAGE|Eddie compositing packages, as well as the SOFTIMAGE|3D Performance and Media Illusion bundles, are available through local resellers. Existing SOFTIMAGE|3D customers will be offered an advantageous upgrade path for version 3.8 SP1 and the new packages, as well as price protection for those who purchased after January 1, 1999.