LightWave 3D^® Key Player in Production of Feature Film Visual Effects

April 19, 2004

Production-proven render engine, fast, efficient modeler and cost-effective support make LightWave® the center piece of effective 3D production pipelines

Las Vegas, NV -- NAB -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, announced today that visual effects produced in LightWave 3D® can be seen in numerous recent blockbuster films including: Hellboy, The Passion of the Christ, The Last Samurai, Immortel, The Perfect Score, The Italian Job, Holes, Master and Commander, Gothika and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. LightWave® visual effects from these films and others will be featured at the NewTek booth (SL5045) and on the NewTek live web stream at http://www.newtek.com/shows/nab/2004/.

"Without a doubt, LightWave provides the most cost effective production pipeline of all of the options out there," said Rob Powers, founder of Ignite Digital Studios. "When I evaluated all of the tools for producing feature film and television visual effects and took into account cost of render nodes, support contracts and custom code required, LightWave became the clear choice. With a photo-real render engine that is an industry standard, 999 free render nodes and free technical support, LightWave is the only true out-of-the-box solution."

NewTek's LightWave 3D combines a state-of-the-art photo-realistic renderer with intuitive and powerful modeling and animation tools, and is used worldwide as a complete 3D production solution for visual effects for film and television, broadcast graphics, games, print and web.

Pricing and Availability

LightWave 3D [8] is expected to ship within weeks for a suggested retail price of $2799 (inc GST). LightWave 3D [7.5] is available now at authorized New Magic / NewTek resellers Australia and New Zealand nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2799 (inc GST Aust$), and those who purchase from now until LightWave 3D [8] ships will receive free the LightWave [8] Electronic Upgrade Pack, a $495US value. Registered owners of LightWave 3D [7.5] or earlier are eligible to purchase an upgrade to LightWave [8] for $899 (inc GST Aust$).

Newtek in Australia and New Zealand

NewTek products proudly distributed in Australia and New Zealand by New Magic Australia.

About New Magic Australia Pty Ltd

About NewTek

With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, animation and special effects tools including VT[3]^TM, and LightWave 3D^®, winner of the 2003 Primetime Emmy^® Engineering Award. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary Video Toaster^®.

The company's products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film. Recent television and film projects using NewTek software include Threat, Matrix, Children of Dune, Firefly, Taken, Smallville, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek 10: Nemesis, Matrix Reloaded, Collateral Damage, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Agent Cody Banks, Daredevil, Spy Kids II, We Were Soldiers, Panic Room, Hart's War, Driven, A.I., Oscar(r)-nominated Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Final Fantasy, Blackhawk Down, The Time Machine and Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Director's Edition DVD,

Recent game titles include Doom III, Unreal Tournament, Serious Sam for XBox, Age of Mythology, Civilization III, Dead to Rights, Baldur's Gate II, EverQuest and Escape From Monkey Island. Website: http://www.newtek.com.