wondertouch Releases particleIllusion 3.0 for Mac OS X

Fully-featured Version of the Highly Popular Particle Effects Creation Tool Leverages Advanced Apple Technology to Allow Mac Artists Endless Creative Possibilities

ST. LOUIS (July 26, 2005) - wondertouch™, a leading software developer of high performance particle effects creation tools, today announced that particleIllusion™ 3.0 for Mac OS® X is now available. particleIllusion 3.0 for Mac OS X includes all features found in particleIllusion 3.0 for Windows - the fully-featured version of its award-winning software solution - to include 'super emitters,' 'forces' that improve integration into existing production environments, and new color options. Rendering engine improvements deliver higher-quality image output and additional effects creation benefits. New customers can purchase particleIllusion 3.0 for Mac OS X online at www.wondertouch.com for the introductory price of $349.00. [Editor's note: please see 'Pricing and Availability section below for additional specifics including upgrade pricing.]

Widely regarded as one of the most artist-friendly and affordable software solutions for creating high-quality, complex particle animations, the release of particleIllusion 3.0 for Mac OS X affords digital content creation professionals working on Apple's advanced operating system all the advantages that Windows users have already been enjoying, including access to particleIllusion's library of more than 1300 preset particle emitters to deliver a range of exceptional effects including smoke, fire, explosions, water effects, sparkles, colorful artistic effects, for unprecedented flexibility and enhanced productivity.

"particleIllusion 3.0 for Windows has clearly established itself as the leading standalone particle effects tool for high-end production use. Mac professionals will appreciate the extensive feature set in 3.0 for creating quality particle effects quickly and efficiently in real-time," said Alan Lorence, president of wondertouch. "Based on feedback from early beta adopters who have been using particleIllusion in production environments, we're delighted to deliver a stable and high-performance tool that Mac professionals will find to be immediately useful, and an indispensable addition to their effects toolbox."

"Although Mac users will immediately gravitate towards using particleIllusion for creating explosions, they may be surprised to learn that particleIllusion is useful for much more than 'blowing things up!", added Lorence genially. "Many professional users also find particleIllusion an effective tool for creating fully animated backgrounds, wipes and other transitions, and countless other artistic motion graphics elements."

David Latt, co-founder, producer and award-winning filmmaker at The Asylum in Los Angeles is beta testing particleIllusion 3.0 for Mac OS X; having started with particleIllusion SE (the introductory version of the software) on Mac OS X earlier this year. Asylum's rigorous production schedule involves ongoing effects creation for both films and trailers every month. particleIllusion for Mac OS X is currently in use on a number of productions including the recently-released "H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds," and the upcoming sci-fi/horror features, "Legion of the Dead," "Frankenstein," and "The Beast of Bray Road."

"For 'H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds' we hired an A-Team of top visual effects artists who due to budget and time constraints were only able to do a certain amount of work. While I am not 'schooled' in visual effects, using particleIllusion I was able to produce effects that were credible and stood up to the discerning eye of the film's visual effects supervisor. Additionally, since we master our 35mm films in HD, the quality really had to measure up - which it did." said Latt. "A tool like particleIllusion 3.0 adds production value as it offers unlimited potential to create dazzling effects on vastly different feature film projects. It is affordable, incredibly intuitive, powerful and easy to use, and wondertouch provides solid technical support. Overall, the software makes us look good!" Jack Tunnicliffe, a visual effects artist at Java Post Production, a Canadian-based production company specializing in visual effects and online editing for commercials, films and television programs, has been beta testing particleIllusion 3.0 on Mac OS X to create motion graphics effects for the premiere Jumbotron video presentation at Taylor Field football stadium in Saskatchewan; distinguished as being the third largest screen in North America.

"particleIllusion's speed, its extensive library of presets and its overall versatility initially attracted me to the software. Using particleIllusion exclusively on the Jumbotron presentation allowed me to select from a wide variety of particle emitters so that I could create approximately 70 effects -- over 40 of them, including rendering time, in one day," said Tunnicliffe. He added, "As an After Effects user group member I was always envious when I'd hear the PC users talk about particleIllusion as being the best particle generation system available. With the latest version of the software now on OS X, I am finally able to 'keep up with the Joneses'!"

About particleIllusion

particleIllusion is a standalone particle effects application designed as an easy-to-use, low-cost, high performance tool to quickly and simply add particle effects to any image, animation, or video footage. particleIllusion features an ever-growing collection of hundreds of preset effects such as smoke, fire, explosions, water effects, sparkles, colorful artistic effects, and many others. particleIllusion features OpenGL hardware acceleration to provide real-time (or near real-time) previews of most effects and ultra-fast rendering of final output.

Highlights of particleIllusion 3.0 for Mac OS X

Feature highlights include:
• Super emitters: allows for the automatic creation of emitters, to achieve new levels of realism and creativity.
• Forces: allows for influencing particles after they are created; wind for example.
• Color options: including "get color from layer" allow users to simulate "displacement" and "painterly" effects in realtime.
• Dozens of interface and productivity improvements over particleIllusion SE.

Pricing and Availability:

particleIllusion 3.0 for Mac OS X is available for immediate download and priced at $349 (USD); this introductory price is effective until August 31, 2005. After August 31 the price will be $399 (USD). A boxed version will be available in the near future.

Existing owners of particleIllusion SE for OS X can upgrade to particleIllusion 3.0 for Mac OS X for $249 (USD); this introductory upgrade price is effective until August 31, 2005. After August 31 the upgrade price is $299 (USD). Owners of particleIllusion 2.0 for OS 8/9 can upgrade to particleIllusion 3.0 for OS X for $49 at any time. Academic pricing information is available on the wondertouch website.

About wondertouch

wondertouch, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., is an award-winning software developer specializing in particle effects for the visual effects industry. The company's flagship product, particleIllusion, a sprite-based particle effects application is focused towards the needs of creative professionals working in film post-production and pre-visualization, standard and HD video, commercial broadcast and Web graphics industries.

A spectrum of recent entertainment projects shaped by the software include feature films "Stealth," "Wedding Crashers," "H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds," "Sin City," "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3D," "Fantastic Four," and "Constantine;" the hit soap opera, "Passions;" syndicated entertainment news program "Access Hollywood;" interactive game title "MX vs. ATV Unleashed;" episodic television series' "JAG" and "Navy/NCIS," various sports programs including: "NBA on TNT", "NASCAR on TNT," national commercials including Cadillac/Saab (GM), music video projects for Dave Matthews Band and the Beastie Boys, and many, many more.

wondertouch software products are available directly from wondertouch. Additional information on wondertouch can be obtained on the Web at www.wondertouch.com.