NatPix Blizzard
NatPix BlizzardA free demo is available from this site.
Blizzard was designed from the outset to provide the
maximum performance possible for large, robust particle systems 
particle systems complex and rich enough for high-resolution
theatrical film work. It's not uncommon for Blizzard scenes to contain
hundreds of thousands of particles on-screen for any given frame
many more than could be accomplished with most particle-system
add-ons.
At the same time, Blizzard is fast fast enough for
the most demanding production schedules. Render times, for frames
containing thousands of textured particles, can often be counted in
seconds... simple scenes may even render in near-real-time.
Blizzard is particularly good at generating particle systems based on photos, other animation, or live-action footage. Blizzard has been used to generate a wide variety of post-production visual effects, such as: ray guns; morph "sweetening;" disintegration and re-integration effects; trails of pixie dust; fur; electrical arcing; crowds; welding sparks; rain; snow; and even a unique "particle morph" that disintegrates one photographic image into thousands of particles, then reassembles them to create a different photographic image.
Click Here to see some sample NatPix Blizzard animations, in MPEG, QuickTime, and SGI "movieplayer" formats (at ftp.rahul.net:/pub/natpix).
Blizzard can be easily integrated with existing 3D models and scenes, adding a host of particulate effects that other renderers couldn't handle.
Blizzard provides a powerful command language that allows you to animate every parameter of a Blizzard shot. Many parameters can also be controlled graphically by simply painting control regions into the frame with any paint program. Special file-access functions enable you to read ASCII track data from external animation systems such as Wavefront or motion-control cameras.
The NatPix Blizzard Demo V2.9 provides you with a look at Blizzard's 2D & 3D modules, mapping utilities, and a few simple animations that can be experimented with at your leisure. The Blizzard Demo contains a fully-funtional particle and rendering engine. Blizzard will run on any current SGI 4D-series IRIS running IRIX 4 or 5, and has been tested on machines from the Indigo to the Onyx, from Indy Graphics to the Reality Engine.
Click Here to get the NatPix Blizzard Demo (ftp.rahul.net/pub/natpix/demos/blizdemo.2.9.tar.Z, ~1MByte).
Blizzard is available in 2D and 3D versions, and is licensed on a per-workstation basis (we will need the sysid of your workstation). Multiple-copy discounts are available. You may purchase additional licenses within 60 days at a discount, without pricing penalty. All upgrades within the first four months of purchase will be sent to you free of charge. Current shipping version is 2.9.
| Blizzard 2D | $800 US |
| Blizzard 2D/3D | $1200 US |
| Discount Schedule | |
| Quantities 2-5 | 80% single-copy price (cumulative) |
| Quantities 6-20 | 60% single-copy price (cumulative) |
| Quantities 21-up | 40% single-copy price (cumulative) |
To contact us, write to:
| National Pixel Products 33 Helens Lane Mill Valley, CA 94941-2781 |
Tel(415)383-1638 Fax(415)383-1456 |
