Company: Advanced Visual Systems

Screenshots and complete specifications of new features in AVS/Express 6 can be viewed at http://www.avs.com/express6/

. Among the many significant features introduced in the current release of AVS/Express is an "illuminated lines" visualization technique that combines stream lines and particle animation with advanced texture display techniques to produce data visualizations with full 3D lighting, motion and 3D flow structure in a single view.

A new, two-pass method of handling transparency that significantly improves the presentation of transparent objects for visualization scenes is also included in the latest release, as is a new autoload mechanism that allows easy installation and configuration of new modules and libraries.An improved datamap/colormap editor offers greater ease of use plus a legend that directly depicts both colors and transparencies.In the UNIX version of the system, off-screen rendering allows windowless batch operation.

In the area of improved data handling, AVS/Express 6 increases the size limit for arrays on 64-bit platforms to 2 giga-elements.The latest release also sports a thoroughly revamped MPEG generator; readers for NetCDF and Plot3D formats; and a utility for combining series of 2D image files into a 3D volume.Other revisions include improved lighting defaults and reorganization of the system's menus and libraries.

According to Jeff Tingle, Director of Technology at AVS, "In this latest release of AVS/Express, we successfully achieved several ambitious goals, adding features that appeal to the broadest possible user base while continuing to provide cutting-edge new visualization techniques for our most sophisticated users.Our 11-year tradition of industry-leading visual quality and graphics performance has been enhanced with new usability and interface components that continue to provide state-of-the-art visualization techniques to our global customer base."

Tingle added, "The direction for AVS/Express 6 came directly from our users.Their comments, reports, and survey responses have helped make this a truly significant upgrade."

AVS/Express users with current licenses and maintenance agreements will receive an upgrade package automatically by mail.Other users and interested parties can contact AVS directly for purchase details.