VertiLectric: special effects plug-in is now shipping.
For Immediate Release
Monday, April 22, 1996
Contact: Bryan J. Blevins
Blevins Enterprises, Inc.
(800)205-5161, (208)885-3805
Blevins Enterprises, Inc. (BEI) announced the release of VertiLectric, an electrical effects plug-in accessory for NewTek's Emmy award winning animation package, LightWave 3D.
VertiLectric creates electrical and other special effects that may be easily animated and incorporated in computer generated animations for television, film, game and virtual reality productions. LightWave animators can generate lightning bolts, electrical arcs and even laser beams by simply attaching source and target points to animated objects in LightWave 3D.
VertiLectric is a plug-in for both the Modeler and Layout modules of LightWave 4.0 & 5.0. In the Modeler portion, lightning bolts can be created in any shape and made to follow any path. Electric scripting of text is a snap and adds 'energy' to titles and flying logos. Control of shape, jaggedness, branching, and surfacing is all open to the artist.
Released at the National Association of Broadcasters convention, VertiLectric has found a home at some of the biggest special effects and game companies such as Westwood Studios where Felix Kupis calls VertiLectric: "Such a killer app!"
At the heart of VertiLectric is an organic branching algorithm. Originally designed for constructing lightning bolts, it has found uses in other areas as well. "We are constantly amazed with the creative ways people are using VertiLectric. From the electric arcs and lasers we intended, to trees, vines, and other foliage," states David Blevins, BEI president and creator of VertiLectric. Mr. Blevins continues, "One of our customers, Glen D. Miller of Digital Domain, used VertiLectric to construct the jagged sutures for a human skull he modeled." Everett Burrell, 3D supervisor for Hercules: the Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess says of VertiLectric: "VertiLectric can be used for more than just electricity. It's great for making all sorts of organic STUFF!"
At $99.95, VertiLectric is priced low enough for the hobbyist as well as the professional, and can pay for itself with one project. VertiLectric is currently available for Intel and DEC Alpha systems with LightWave3D. For availability on other platforms, please call BEI.
Established in 1993, Blevins Enterprises, Inc. specializes in 3D computer graphics products and services.
Here are a few of the features available in VertiLectric 1.0:
Layout Plug-in.
Strike objects as they move through a scene.
Multiple sources and targets.
You can have up to 1000 sources and up to 2000 targets
Individual bolt settings for each target in the scene let you specify:
Apply any LW surface to lighting bolts.
Range (How close a target must be to the source to get a strike.)
Twist (How 'jagged' the bolt is.)
Segment length (Level of bolt detail.)
Branches (How many branches are in the bolt.)
Shape and Branch seeds (Make each bolt look unique)
Strike sequence (List of when a bolt strikes. Edit it yourself, or let VertiLectric do
it for you.)
Save a strike sequence as an envelope (Sync light flashes to bolt strikes)
Settings may be easily copy and pasted to other target in the scene.
Randomize feature for Strike Sequence, Shape and Branch seeds make your scenes look
natural.
ScreamerNET II compatible.
Modeler Plug-in
Extrude-o-bolts: Create bolts with any thickness.
Taper bolts from one thickness to another. (Makes great trees, vines and other plants.)
Complete control over bolt creation to ensure 'morphable' bolts
Generate text written in electric script.
Make 'curve' bolts for custom rail extrusions.
Custom seed settings control bolt shape and branching.
Create bolts with as many branches as you want.
A working demo of Modeler portion of VertiLectric is available via our web site at:
