electricFX Announces eFX Pyro Plug-in for Adobe After Effects

Brings Authentic 3D Fire and Smoke Effects to Motion Graphics Artists

SEATTLE, WA - September 17, 2001 - electricFX Inc. today announced the immediate availability of eFX Pyro(tm), a new effects plug-in for Adobe After Effects(r). With the release of this plug-in, motion graphics and visual effects artists for the first time have the power to create authentic 3D fire and smoke effects within After Effects, the world's leading desktop compositing application. Priced at $195, eFX Pyro makes professional-quality 3D fire and smoke effects affordable for a wide range of After Effects users.

Using the eFX Pyro plug-in, After Effects artists can easily create and combine 3D flame, smoke and air sources within 2D animations. The plug-in uses sophisticated dynamic simulation methods to create accurate fire and smoke behavior and employs powerful volumetric rendering techniques to generate realistic-looking fire and smoke effects. With a full set of keyframable parameters, artists can control buoyancy, turbulence, vorticity, color, illumination, density and external lighting of their fire and smoke effects, all without requiring specialized 3D software knowledge or training.

"The eFX Pyro plug-in brings a whole new level of realism and flexibility to After Effects artists," said Steve Kilisky, Senior Product Manager, Adobe After Effects.

"Our users now have a way to easily create 3D fire and smoke in a very natural way within After Effects. Realistic looking pyro effects are growing in demand, and eFX Pyro produces fire and smoke simulations that should satisfy the most discriminating After Effects user requirements."

Incorporates Areté Entertainment's Digital NatureTools Technology

The eFX Pyro plug-in from electricFX(tm) incorporates award-winning Digital NatureTools(tm) animation technology developed by Areté Entertainment, Inc. This technology has been used by many of the film industry's top visual effects companies to create authentic-looking water and atmospheric effects for such films as Pearl Harbor, Titanic, Cast Away, The Truman Show, Devil's Advocate and The Fifth Element. There is no other technology available for After Effects that offers this level of realism and flexibility.

"electricFX has jump-started a new era of computer graphics innovation within the Adobe After Effects environment," said Bryan Gabbard, President & C.E.O., Areté Entertainment, Inc. "By harnessing the realism of the physical sciences to the power of 3D computer graphics software, Areté Entertainment and electricFX have produced a striking, photo-realistic capability for the After Effects artist to use in tackling the industry's toughest fire and smoke FX challenges."

Totally Electronic Sales and Distribution

electricFX is using a totally electronic sales and distribution mechanism for the eFX Pyro plug-in. Customers can download a fully-functional demo version of the plug-in for evaluation, then quickly and easily purchase the licensed version on-line, anytime, anywhere.

"We're thrilled to be bringing this powerful technology to the After Effects community," said John Crawford, President, electricFX Inc. "We are using e-commerce to make the purchase process quick and efficient so that After Effects artists can immediately begin using eFX Pyro to add authentic fire and smoke effects to their creations."

Pricing and Availability

The eFX Pyro plug-in for Adobe After Effects is now available for Macintosh(r), Windows 98(r), Windows(r) 2000 and Windows(r) Millennium Edition. It supports After Effects versions 4.1 and 5.0. The plug-in can be purchased on-line from www.electricfx.com for $195. A fully-functional demo version of the plug-in can be downloaded free of charge from www.electricfx.com/download, and sample eFX Pyro fire and smoke animations can be viewed at www.electricfx.com/gallery.

About electricFX

electricFX Inc. develops digital media software tools. Founded in 1997, electricFX integrates solid software development practices with strong knowledge of desktop software and digital media workflows, drawing on areas such as 3D graphics and animation, user-centered design, usability engineering and object-oriented methods. Companies such as Adobe Systems and Microsoft have licensed electricFX technology for use in their digital media tools and applications. A privately-held company, electricFX has its headquarters and sales office in Seattle, WA, and maintains a research and development office in Vancouver, BC.

Visit the electricFX site at www.electricfx.com, email sales@electricfx.com, or call toll-free 877.731.1820. Outside North America, call +1.604.731.1820.

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electricFX, eFX Pyro, and electricfx.com are trademarks of electricFX Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are held by their respective owners.

electricFX Inc.
3800 - 999 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
USA
toll-free: 877.731.1820
overseas: +1.604.731.1820
www.electricfx.com

Press Contact:
Jess Forrest
electricFX
voice: 604.731.1820
fax: 604.731.0128
email: jforrest@electricfx.com