New Features and Functionalities Add Significant Quality and Realism To
Graphics
SIGGRAPH, LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- SGI (NYSE: SGI), a leading
provider of high-performance computing and visualization solutions for
technical and creative users, and the OpenGL Architecture Review Board (ARB)
today announced the availability of the OpenGL(R) 1.3 specification. With new
features and functionality designed to increase the level of graphics quality
and realism, the release represents the latest enhancement to the industry's
leading cross-platform 2D and 3D graphics application programming interface
(API). OpenGL 1.3 implementations are expected to be available for various
platforms later this year.
The OpenGL 1.3 specification evolved with input from both the OpenGL ARB,
an independent consortium, and interested outside parties, reflecting
predominant trends in the graphics hardware industry. The ARB's process of
enhancing OpenGL includes evaluating extensions and determining which to
incorporate and how they should be officially supported within the API. In
OpenGL 1.3, several additional features and functions have been ratified and
brought into the API's core functionality. These core features enhance OpenGL
in the following ways:
-- Cube map texturing -- for higher quality environment mapping and
lighting support
-- Multisampling -- for order-independent anti-aliased rendering of
points, lines and polygons
-- New texture modes that provide more powerful ways of applying textures
to rendered objects:
-- Texture Add Environment mode
-- Texture Combine Environment mode
-- Texture Dot3 Environment mode
-- Texture Border Filtering mode
-- Compressed texture framework -- to allow higher quality textures in
less memory regardless of file format
"Since SGI introduced the OpenGL API in 1992, it has grown into the
industry's leading cross-platform 2D and 3D graphics API and its presence
continues to grow every day. Applications in markets such as CAD, content
creation, energy, entertainment, game development, manufacturing, medical and
VRML will benefit from the breadth of platform accessibility and depth and
quality of functionality of the new OpenGL 1.3 API," said Paul McNamara, vice
president of products and platforms, SGI.
Most Widely Adopted Graphics Standard
OpenGL is the premier environment for developing 2D and 3D visual
applications on systems ranging from consumer PCs to graphics workstations and
supercomputers. With more than 60 hardware developer licensees, OpenGL has the
broadest industry support of any openly licensed graphics API. In 1992, SGI
formed the industry-wide ARB that now governs the evolution and ongoing
development of OpenGL -- a technology originally created by SGI -- as an open,
platform-independent standard for professional-quality 3D graphics.
The 11 companies comprising the OpenGL ARB are 3Dlabs, Apple, ATI, Compaq,
Evans & Sutherland, Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp., Intel Corp., Microsoft
Corp., NVIDIA and SGI. Hardware-developer licensees include Compaq,
Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM Corp., Intel Corp., Sun Microsystems and a growing
number of 3D graphics chipset and board vendors, including 3Dlabs, ATI, Matrox
Graphics, Inc. and NVIDIA. Platforms supporting OpenGL include AIX(R),
BeOS(R), HP-UX(R), IRIX(R), Linux(R), Mac(R) OS, OS/2(R), Microsoft(R)
Windows(R) 98 and Windows NT(R), Solaris(TM) and many other operating systems.
More information on OpenGL 1.3 and its supporters will be made available on
the OpenGL Web site at http://www.opengl.org.
"3Dlabs is the only permanent ARB member developing OpenGL API-based
silicon for the PC, and we take our responsibility to further the OpenGL
standard very seriously," said Neil Trevett, senior vice president of market
development for 3Dlabs. "OpenGL 1.3 is a valuable strengthening of the only
cross-platform API standard to meet the emerging needs of a wide range of
professional applications."
"OpenGL 1.3 underscores the graphics industry's dedication to delivering a
premier 3D graphics API for developers and graphics applications," said David
Kirk, chief scientist at NVIDIA. "The combination of the OpenGL API and the
NVIDIA advanced feature set offers to developers a real-time, high-quality,
high-performing OpenGL 1.3 solution for multiple operating systems, including
Macintosh, Windows and Linux."
"Sun is a strong supporter of OpenGL for the Solaris operating
environment, as it should contribute to Sun's ability to continue delivering
professional-level graphics at affordable prices," said Fred Kohout, director
of marketing for Technical Market Products at Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Sun
anticipates strong acceptance of the technology's latest iteration, OpenGL
1.3, and is developing advanced new products to take advantage of the new
version's expanded features for the graphics and visualization markets."
In addition, other companies are also announcing their support of OpenGL
1.3, including ATI Technologies Inc., Dell, Matrox Graphics, Inc., and Xi
Graphics, Inc.
About OpenGL
The OpenGL graphics system specification allows developers to incorporate
a broad set of rendering, texture mapping, special effects and other powerful
visualization functions and provides a graphics pipeline that allows
unfettered access to graphics hardware acceleration. Since its introduction by
SGI in 1992, OpenGL has become the industry's most widely used and supported
3D and 2D graphics application programming interface. OpenGL is available on
all other major computer platforms, including IRIX, Solaris, HP-UX, Compaq(R)
Tru64(R) UNIX(R), AIX, BeOS, Windows NT, Windows 98 and Mac OS. An
industry-wide architecture review board governs the evolution and ongoing
development of OpenGL. With broad industry support, OpenGL is a
vendor-neutral, multiplatform graphics standard and is uniquely positioned to
leverage the continuing improvements of graphics hardware.
About SGI
SGI, formerly known as Silicon Graphics, Inc., is a technology solutions
provider with a broad range of high-performance computing, advanced graphics
and consulting services that enable its technical and creative customers to
maintain a competitive advantage in their core businesses. Whether being used
to design and build safer cars and airplanes, discover new medications and oil
reserves, help us understand and better predict the weather or entertain us
with thrilling movie special effects, SGI(TM) systems and expertise are
empowering a world of innovation and discovery. The company, located on the
Web at http://www.sgi.com, is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., and has offices
worldwide.
NOTE: Silicon Graphics, OpenGL and IRIX are registered trademarks and SGI
and the SGI logo are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc. UNIX is a registered
trademark of The Open Group in the U.S. and other countries. Linux is a
registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Macintosh and Mac are registered
trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Solaris is a trademark of Sun
Microsystems, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of
their respective owners.
CONTACT: Kimberly Pepper of SGI, +1-650-933-8814, or kpepper@sgi.com.
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CONTACT:
Kimberly Pepper of SGI, +1-650-933-8814, or
kpepper@sgi.com
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