Boulder, CO - March 26, 2002 - Today Electric Rain, Inc.® announced an improved solution for incorporating Swift 3D vector animations into Macromedia Flash MX projects. The Swift 3D Importer, which will be accessed through the Macromedia Flash MX menu system, will recognize a new proprietary Swift 3D file format. Users of the Swift 3D Importer will have access to greater functionality and tighter 3D integration with Macromedia Flash MX than was previously possible.

"Swift 3D has established itself as a leading application for the creation of vector-based 3D content and developers will benefit from an import solution that more tightly integrates Swift 3D content with Macromedia Flash MX," said Jeremy Clark, product manager, Macromedia, Inc. "The release of Macromedia Flash MX is the fastest way to create rich Internet applications and content with a better return on investment, and integration with Swift 3D content provides even more options for designers."

Currently, the entire Swift 3D product line exports to the Macromedia Flash (SWF) file format. As a compiled format, SWF files inherently limit the type of 3D information able to be imported into Macromedia Flash. The Swift 3D Importer, along with Electric Rain's new proprietary file format, will provide a more seamless workflow between Swift 3D and Macromedia Flash MX, while allowing Swift 3D to take full advantage of the powerful features and functionality that Macromedia Flash MX offers. The Swift 3D Importer, in conjunction with Electric Rain's RAViX™ rendering engine, will enable Macromedia Flash designers and developers a new range of 3D design possibilities within their projects.

"Macromedia Flash MX is a powerful design and development application, and we're thrilled with the opportunity to create a tighter fit between our products," said Mike Soucie, President/CEO of Electric Rain, Inc. "As Macromedia Flash MX continues to evolve and increase its scope and power, Electric Rain will be positioned to advance Swift 3D in a way that will capitalize on new features in Macromedia Flash MX."

About Electric Rain, Inc.
Electric Rain, Inc. is a fast moving 3D and multimedia software company with a vision of bringing easy-to-use 3D and multimedia tools to the masses. Through the release of Swift 3D, the Swift 3D plug-ins for 3ds max, LightWave 3D and SOFTIMAGE|XSI, and the company's proprietary RAViX rendering technology, Electric Rain has quickly become the industry-leading developer and supplier of 3D-to-vector solutions. More information about Electric Rain, its products and technologies is available at www.erain.com or by calling 1-888-613-1500.

Swift 3D Importer Overview
Electric Rain is excited to be building this new Swift 3D Importer for Flash MX. Macromedia has only offered this unique opportunity to a select handful of 3rd party software developers, and we're overjoyed to be able to pass this new development in our relationship with Macromedia onto our Swift 3D users. By supplying a significantly better method of incorporating 3D animations into Flash projects we'll be able to better serve the Flash community in their efforts to push the envelope in cutting edge design.

The Swift 3D Importer will end up being delivered to our users in two parts. The first necessary component in the equation is the Importer that will reside on Flash MX's end. This will consist of an add-on to Flash MX that enables Swift 3D to use a proprietary file format to import 3D animations that have been created by Swift 3D. The second component will actually reside within Swift 3D itself. This will take the form of added features, functions and options our users will be able to define within the Swift 3D authoring environment. These new technological developments will provide a significant increase in flexibility and power, and facilitate the absolute best method of incorporating 3D into Flash.

Because building an Importer for our users is an involved process, and because there will be many significant enhancements to Swift 3D in developing this new technology, the Swift 3D Importer will only be available when Swift 3D Version 3.0 is released. The added power the importer provides, in conjunction with the myriad of other impressive features currently being added to Swift 3D V3, will warrant a full version upgrade to the product. Yes, we will have to charge existing users the standard upgrade price (TBA), but for those of you who know how far we came between V1 and V2, we can assure you that this next upgrade will be equally valuable.

Unfortunately, we are not currently at liberty to divulge the details of how the Swift 3D importer will specifically go about its business. But here are some highlights of what's to come:

• Create smaller file sizes - The Swift 3D Importer allows us to circumvent some of the limitations within the SWF file format, which will enable Swift 3D to generate files that are significantly smaller in file size.


• Better Integration with Flash MX - The Swift 3D Importer will allow Flash designers more control over how their 3D animations are imported into Flash MX. By avoiding the SWF file format and going straight to our new proprietary file format, users will be able to combine our 3D output with their 2D animations in entirely new ways.


• Produce higher quality files - The added functionality the Swift 3D Importer supplies will enable Flash MX users to construct 3D animations which integrate tighter with their Flash projects, creating an overall better looking combination between 3D and 2D effects.


• Improved workflow between Swift 3D and Flash MX - The Swift 3D Importer will provide a more seamless workflow between the two products, which will expedite the process of getting 3D into Flash.