Synapix introduces dramatic new technique for achieving real world results in 3D game development, post production, and design

Lowell, Mass. (August 14, 2001) - At SIGGRAPH 2001, SynaPix, Inc.,is demonstrating dramatic new techniques for content creators tocapture, analyze, and intermix 2D and 3D media used in gamedevelopment, film and broadcast productions, and design. When usedtogether, the company's industry proven 3D match moving software,SynaMatch, and its new first-of-a-kind scene reconstruction software,SynaVision, will enable new levels of creativity by offering animatorsand artists a fully integrated approach for recovering camera pathsfrom virtually any type of shot, and building detailed, scalable modelsof 3D characters, objects, and scenes using real world images asstarting points. SynaPix is demonstrating SynaMatch release 2.0 alongwith the beta version of SynaVision in booth #1921 at the SIGGRAPHexhibitions in Los Angeles.

Already recognized throughout the post production industry forhigh-quality 3D match moving software, SynaPix is introducing atSIGGRAPH new capabilities that promise to change the software gameexperience. With the company's first-of-a-kind scene reconstructionsoftware, SynaVision, game developers can build textured 3D characters,scenes, and models using real world images as a starting point.SynaVision removes the obstacles of creating photorealisticallyrendered surfaces by capturing and processing real world samples.SynaVision outputs include original textures, depth data, surfaces, andsurface normals, allowing animators to produce detailed, scalablemodels with real world textures.

"Why work for days or weeks to get just the right appearance of agranite building, for example," said Curt Rawley, SynaPix president andCEO. "With SynaVision you simply sample real world granite and add itstexture, structure, normals, and depth to your database. Yourdevelopment time is significantly reduced and you end up with morerealism.

"In a sense, SynaPix can do for 3D real world and object creationwhat audio sampling did for digital music production. It makes for asimpler and richer world."

For facilities involved in film and commercial production, SynaPixoffers a fully integrated approach for recovering camera paths andvisually reconstructing scenes from any moving camera. SynaMatch, whichhas been used on projects completed by GVFX, based in Toronto, TheDiecks Group of New York, and California-based Computer Café,among others, provides the highest-quality, industry proven 3D matchmoving on even the most difficult shots. SynaMatch reduces the time andcost of recovering 3D camera paths and 3D reference points such thatanimators can eliminate the tedium of frame-by-frame visualalignment.

SynaVision provides new creative capabilities by extracting 3Dsurfaces and textures from recorded images. This allows animators,artists, and designers to treat 2D images with 3D techniques. Forexample, CG characters can be positioned inside, not on top of, video.Lighting can be augmented and the position, scale, and rotation ofobjects that were previously locked in 2D can be interactively adjustedin 3D.

For a broad range of design applications, including industrial,consumer product, environmental, and architectural design, SynaPixsolutions make it faster and easier to design and produce items withrich visual and tactile appeal. With SynaMatch and SynaVision,designers use real world images - captured by camera - as a faster,richer starting point in creating 3D CAD-compatible representations ofnew visualizations. For existing projects, models can be generateddirectly from as-built objects, rather than having to recreate sketchesand drawings. By placing 3D designs in a natural context, designapproval cycles can be cut in half and projects can move from conceptto implementation in less time than other typical approaches.

Both SynaMatch and SynaVision support import from and export toAlias|Wavefront Maya, 3D Studio Max, NewTek LightWave, and AvidSoftImage. For additional information, including pricing andavailability, contact SynaPix at 978.970.5300, or via email atinfo@synapix.com.