Adobe Adds New Creative Options to After Effects 5.5 Motion/Visual Effects Software Adds Advanced 3D Renderer Eric Grevstad
Mon 12/10/01 -- Combining Windows XP and Pentium 4 optimizations with native support for Mac OS X, Adobe Systems Inc. plans to ship a new version of its After Effects motion graphics and visual effects software early in 2002. After Effects 5.5 will add more creative options and let users work with more media types, making it easier to produce Hollywood-class effects for film, digital video, multimedia, or the Web.
New features include multiple views, colored shadows, stained-glass lighting, and an Advanced 3D Renderer for creating high-quality, intersecting layers. Import and output options have been expanded to include integration with Alias/Wavefront's Maya and Discreet's 3ds max, as well as support for new 16-bit-per-channel file formats such as Maya IFF, RPF, SGI, and QuickTime.
A new Effects Palette helps users organize and apply effects, including eight new ones like Advanced Lightning, Color Stabilizer, and Roughen Edges. The program also offers tight integration with Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
After Effects 5.5 will cost $649 (for the standard version; a Production Bundle including Zaxwerks 3D Invigorator Classic to turn 2D artwork into 3D elements from within After Effects will be $1,499). Upgrades from After Effects 5.0 will be $99.
