wondertouch by GenArts Ships particleIllusion for After Effects

CAMBRIDGE, MA--(Marketwire - December 23, 2009) - wondertouch by GenArts announced today the immediate availability of particleIllusion™ for After Effects (pIAE) for users of Adobe After Effects on Windows. Available as a plug-in for the first time, particleIllusion for After Effects enables artists to create gorgeous particle effects directly within After Effects, producing a more efficient workflow and significantly enhanced productivity. Like its stand-alone sibling particleIllusion 3.0, pIAE is built on the industry's most robust 2D particle generation engine. As a result, it features the same highly acclaimed speed and ease of use that have made wondertouch products so popular with more than 10,000 compositing artists around the world. In addition, pIAE provides access to the thousands of existing wondertouch emitters -- downloadable presets designed to allow users to effortlessly create natural, high-quality effects such as smoke, fire, explosions, sparkles, fireworks and countless abstract effects -- without ever leaving the After Effects environment.

particleIllusion for After Effects features include:

--  The same emitter search engine found in wondertouch particleView
--  Access to all top-level particle parameters, including size, life,
    number, velocity, etc. to further customize the particles for each project
--  OpenGL-accelerated rendering
--  Full support for HD content
--  The ability to load most of the more than 2,800 existing
    particleIllusion emitters in After Effects, including the popular "Pro
    Emitters"
    

"particleIllusion for After Effects is the particles solution we've been waiting for," said Ernest Chan, Post Production CG Supervisor at Nickelodeon Animation Studios. "We are huge fans of the incredible ease of use and high-quality output that wondertouch products have delivered for years. Now, we get all those benefits in a more streamlined workflow that maximizes our creativity while minimizing our support costs. particleIllusion for After Effects is the right product at just the right time."

Artists using particleIllusion for After Effects can gain even greater control by using it in conjunction with particleIllusion 3.0. An excellent companion to pIAE, particleIllusion 3.0 grants access to all emitter settings and lower-level parameters such as color gradients, particle images, initial angle settings, and so on. Artists can also create new emitters and libraries, or move emitters between libraries using particleIllusion 3.0.

"particleIllusion 3.0 as a standalone application has earned its reputation by allowing customers to create stunning, natural effects that they would never have the time or resources to accomplish with other tools," said Alan Lorence, creator of particleIllusion. "particleIllusion for After Effects further enhances artists' creativity by offering convenient, intuitive access to our amazing preset library without having to leave the After Effects environment."

Todd Kumpf, 3D & Visual Effects Artist, demonstrates the power of particleIllusion for After Effects in his "Burst Generator" project. To watch the video visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cli92tshOC0

Pricing and Availability

--  Regular pricing for particleIllusion for After Effects is $299
--  Existing particleIllusion 3.0 users can purchase particleIllusion for
    After Effects for $179
--  particleIllusion for After Effects BUNDLED with particleIllusion 3.0 can
    be purchased for $579
--  particleIllusion for After Effects BUNDLED with all 12 Pro Emitter
    libraries can be purchased for $499
--  particleIllusion for After Effects BUNDLED with particleIllusion 3.0 AND
    all 12 Pro Emitter libraries can be purchased for $799
    

About wondertouch by GenArts

wondertouch by GenArts 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 designed to provide the most comprehensive effects creation tool and efficient workflow. Considered one of the most popular solutions for effects creation, particleIllusion is now used worldwide by creative professionals working in film post-production and pre-visualization, standard and HD video, commercial broadcast, motion graphics and game content creation.

Contact Information: For Further Information Please Contact: Nicole Panas GenArts Inc. T: 617-492-2888 E: nicole@genarts.com Ashley Wilkinson BOCA Communications T: 415.738.7718 x4 E: Ashley@bocacommunications.com