Adobe After Effects 5.0 Enters the 3D Realm

Adobe Systems has announced Adobe After Effects 5.0, a new version of its motion graphics and visual effects software. Adobe says the new After Effects 5.0 offers more than one hundred new features and productivity enhancements. After Effects 5.0 includes a true 3D compositing environment. In addition, it adds new vector paint tools and 16-bit color support in the Production Bundle version. Other new features in Adobe After Effects 5.0 include Parenting, which allows users to animate layers hierarchically; Expressions, which create live relationships between layer properties; masking enhancements to draw masks in the Comp window, expand masks, and add Motion Blur to masks; and Macromedia Flash output which allow users to create vector animations for Web sites. Adobe After Effects 5.0 software is available in two versions. The Standard version provides the core 2D and 3D compositing and effects tools for motion graphics professionals and Web-designers. The Production Bundle version is designed for visual effects artists and motion graphics designers who need the tools in the Standard Version, plus additional keying, motion control and distortion tools, audio effects, 3D channel effects, 16-bit per channel color, vector paint tools, and support for network rendering. Adobe After Effects 5.0 for Mac OS 9.0.4/9.1/Classic, Windows 98/2000, and Windows Millennium Edition is expected to ship in the second quarter of 2001. The Standard version will be priced at $649 and the Production Bundle version, at $1,499.