Highly-affordable, Award-winning Software Solution Puts Even More Powerful Tools in the Hands of Artists and Videographers
Montréal, Québec—Sept. 9, 2003—Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), today introduced combustion® 3, the latest version of its award-winning visual effects and 3D compositing desktop software. combustion 3 software will deliver industry-leading features to the benefit of those producing web content, videos, or even HDTV to feature films on a PC or a Mac.
“I’m already realizing revenue with the Paint Flash output from the beta version of combustion 3,” said combustion 3 software beta tester Lee Roderick of North Gate Studios in Walnut Creek, CA. “For corporate productions, I usually provide just one piece of a project for a larger production or event. So when deliverables are discussed and my clients want web banners or executables they can send out via email, I have to surrender my original content to another shop. I don’t claim to be a Flash designer—but with a little planning, I can hand my clients a full resolution event module and a similar look and feel Flash executable or web banner in one session. I probably don’t have to say it, but that rocks!”
combustion 3 artists will also experience increased productivity, flexibility and improved workflow through enhancements including: customizable brushes, savable presets, timeline markers, and DV capture and output. Discreet also continues to work directly with plug-in developers to ensure advanced support of numerous plug-ins including superior integration with various Adobe® After Effects® and Photoshop® plug-ins.
“We're proud to be partnering with Discreet in making the high-caliber Sapphire Plug-ins available to a broader range of visual effects and motion graphics artists through integration with combustion 3,” comments Karl Sims, President of GenArts, Inc.
New Features
· Editing Operator – combustion 3 is the first visual effects application with integrated editing, removing the need for the user to spend time mastering non-linear editing software (NLE) for simple editing tasks. Now users will be able to assemble video with transitions directly in combustion software without having to use an NLE.
· Expressions – The JavaScript expressions will allow combustion artists to easily create complex animations—eliminating tedious repetitive work.
· Flash Output – Artists will be able to utilize the vector paint and animation interface tools in combustion 3 software to create and output Flash animations, extending the range of options they can offer to their clients.
For a complete list of combustion 3 new features go to: http://www.discreet.com/combustion3
“combustion remains the dynamic force for democratizing software for the creation of world-class media,” said Paul Lypaczewski, general manager, Discreet and executive vice president, Autodesk. “combustion was the first desktop software that put powerful, resolution-independent, vector paint, animation and compositing solutions in the hands of graphic designers, animators, visual effects artists and videographers working on PCs or Macs, and version 3 pushes the boundaries even further.”
Platform Support
combustion 3 is expected to begin shipping for Windows XP and Windows 2000 in fall 2003, and for Macintosh OS X in early 2004.
Pricing and Availability
Suggested price for combustion 3 software is US $995. Upgrade price from combustion 2 or combustion 2.1 will be US $199. For distribution or more product information, please visit www.discreet.com.
