MONTREAL, Oct 14, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), today announced the availability of combustion(R) 3 for Microsoft(R) Windows(R), the latest version of its award-winning visual effects and 3D compositing desktop software. combustion 3 software offers the creative tools, speed and interactivity that visual effects professionals and artists need to succeed.

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"As an independent artist, it is crucial that I am comfortable with the tools I use every day," noted Gary Davis of visualZ, LLC in Orlando, Florida. "combustion 3 allows me to perform all the major functions of the entire Adobe(R) Video Collection -- I can edit, create vector artwork, paint, rotoscope and composite all from within the same interface. The result is that I spend far less time bouncing between applications and produce high-quality content."

combustion 3 is quickly becoming the must-have solution for creating effects and motion graphics for video, film, DVD, and the web. With an intuitive design environment and cutting edge new features and improvements, combustion 3 software brings unmatched capabilities to the desktop.

"With combustion 3, Discreet continues to leverage its proven expertise in building world-class visual effects and compositing software," said Joe Klingler, Vice President of Software Products, Discreet. "The new features and enhancements of combustion 3, coupled with increasingly powerful and affordable desktop computers, bring Discreet's award-winning capabilities to a wider audience."

    New Features
    -- Editing Operator -- combustion 3 is the first visual effects
       application with integrated editing, enabling users to be more
       productive by performing the types of creative editing tasks most
       frequently needed by effects artists directly within the application.
    -- Expressions -- The JavaScript-based expressions will allow combustion
       artists to easily create complex animations -- eliminating tedious
       repetitive work.
    -- Flash Output -- Artists will be able to utilize the vector paint and
       animation interface tools in combustion 3 software to create and output
       Macromedia Flash animations, extending the range of services they can
       offer to their clients.
    -- RE:Flex warper and morpher -- With RE:Vision Effects' RE:Flex plug-in,
       warping is directed through the combustion 3 rotoscoping tools rather
       than with a grid of tedious mesh points. The result is a seamless and
       intuitive workflow with no learning curve. Integrated into combustion 3
       at no additional cost, users save close to US$600.

Above and beyond the major new features in the combustion 3 software, there are also many notable enhancements including: customizable brushes, savable presets, timeline markers, DV capture and output through OHCI Firewire(R) devices and more. Discreet also continues to work directly with plug-in developers to ensure advanced support of numerous plug-ins including superior integration with various Adobe After Effects(R) and Photoshop(R) plug-ins.

For a complete list of new features in combustion 3 go to: http://www.discreet.com/combustion3

Pricing and Availability

combustion 3 software, now shipping on the Windows platform, is available for purchase at a suggested retail price of US $995. Upgrade price from combustion 2 or combustion 2.1 is US $199. combustion 3 is expected to begin shipping for Macintosh OS X in early 2004. Customers upgrading to or purchasing a full seat of combustion 2.1 from August 9, 2003, forward will be eligible for a free upgrade to combustion 3 upon release. For distribution or more product information, please visit www.discreet.com.

About Discreet

Discreet empowers media professionals to realize the visual experience and transform their most evocative and ambitious visions into reality. Discreet's award-winning solutions are designed for digital media creation, management and delivery -- across all disciplines from film and television visual effects, color grading and editing to animation, game development, web/interactive, and design visualization. Discreet -- based in Montreal, Quebec -- is a division of Autodesk, Inc, the world's leading design and digital media creation, management, and distribution company.

NOTE: Discreet is a division of Autodesk, Inc. Discreet and combustion are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. /Autodesk Canada Inc. in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Contact: Kevin G. Clark of Discreet Corporate Communications, +1-415-547-2457, or kevin.g.clark@autodesk.com; or Lindsay Stewart of Access Communications, +1-415-844-6217, or lstewart@accesspr.com.

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

Kevin G. Clark of Discreet Corporate Communications,
+1-415-547-2457, or kevin.g.clark@autodesk.com; or Lindsay Stewart of Access
Communications, +1-415-844-6217, or lstewart@accesspr.com
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