MGI Software Releases PhotoVista 2.0

CAMPBELL, CA and TORONTO, ONT - August 10, 2000 - MGI Software today affirmed its objective to expand "immersive" imaging by announcing the immediate availability of Photovista 2.0 for Windows. Photovista is used by Web developers and e-businesses to quickly create 360-degree navigable images for more compelling content, and in vertical applications such as real estate virtual tours.

Using a series of overlapping still images from any digital camera, video camcorder or scanned from traditional 35mm photos, Photovista automatically adjusts and blends the images into a stunning and realistic, yet compact, 360-degree panorama. Panoramas deliver an "immersive" online experience ideal for real estate virtual tours, showing the inside of a car by putting a user in the driver's seat, or exploring the scenery at a tropical island vacation spot. MGI Photovista 2.0 can be coupled with ZOOM Server to deliver high-resolution panoramas that viewers can zoom into to see fine detail.

Photovista's advanced photo-stitching technology now works faster and adds new capabilities for easier publishing to the Web. Among the functional enhancements in Photovista 2.0 for Web designers, business users and photo enthusiasts are:

  • A simpler creation process.
  • Improved stitching technology for seamless results.
  • Support for a broader range of camera lenses (over 100 now), plus the ability to create custom lenses for more realistic panoramic perspectives.
  • Automated HTML preview and auto generation of HTML code for faster Web page development.

Photovista creates a compact file for the Web (typically less than 100K) that is three to four times smaller than other VR file formats. Panoramas created with Photovista are royalty and license -free and are viewed on the Web with the free ZOOM Java Applet Viewer or ZOOM Plug-in Viewer, which have also been updated, and are included with the package and downloadable from MGI's Web site.

Photovista 2.0 runs on a PC with Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT/2000 and requires 32 MB RAM, 8 MB of available hard drive space, CD-ROM drive, Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher or Netscape Navigator 4.07, and a True Color or High Color display. For direct image capture, such as from a digital camera, Photovista supports the TWAIN (16/32-bit) industry standard. Photovista 2.0 is available at popular computer/software stores and online retailers and has a suggested list price of only U.S./CDN .95. A version 2.0 for the Macintosh is due in calendar Q3 this year.