CrystalGraphics Announces
PowerPlugs: SuperShapes^™ I and II

New product creates animated shapes that direct attention to key points in a presentation

Santa Clara, California, — (February 11, 2000) — CrystalGraphics, Inc., the leading supplier of plug-ins for Microsoft PowerPoint, today announced the release of PowerPlugs: SuperShapes, Volumes I and II. Each volume of SuperShapes includes a collection of over 140 shape effects, including still or animated arrows, buttons, banners and more. These effects are designed to visually direct the audience’s attention to the key points in a PowerPoint presentation.

SuperShapes goes beyond the static, 2D world of PowerPoint’s AutoShapes with artistically designed, colored and animated 3D shape effects. SuperShapes enables users to add these dazzling still and animated shapes to their PowerPoint presentations with point-and-click simplicity. And it does this without forcing PowerPoint users to learn a new user interface, or even having to exit PowerPoint. The SuperShapes software, along with a demonstration set of still and animated shape effects, can be download for free at www.powerplugs.com.

Quotes:

"It adds a touch to the presentation that hold the audiences attention. Great Product!" says Dennis Sousa.

"As someone who produces weekly graphics presentations for our church music, announcements and sermons, I will be purchasing all of your plug-ins as soon as possible.  This package is an answer to prayer!" says Darrin Hull, Technical Services Coordinator, Praise Assembly of God.

About PowerPlugs: SuperShapes

SuperShapes is currently available in a choice of two separate "volumes". Each volume includes two basic components: (1) a unique collection of over 140 shape effects, including still or animated arrows, buttons, banners and more, and (2) the powerful, yet easy-to-use SuperShapes software engine that presents, edits and renders those effects. Examples of SuperShapes' output can be viewed on the Web at: www.crystalgraphics.com/products.powerplugs.supershapes.effects.html. 

Ease-of-use Enables Maximum Results

SuperShapes was designed by PowerPoint users, for PowerPoint users — and it shows.  For starters, installation is simply and straightforward.  Once installed, it provides PowerPoint users with two easy-to-use toolbar commands: “Still Shape Effects” and “Animated Shape Effects”. These commands are automatically inserted into PowerPoint's own menus as well as into their own floating palette. 

To use SuperShapes, users simply select launch PowerPoint. Then, inside of PowerPoint they click on the appropriate SuperShapes command. In response to a friendly prompt, users indicate the area on the PowerPoint slide where they want to place the SuperShapes graphic. They can then choose from a variety of pre-defined effects that are presented in a familiar PowerPoint clip-art gallery-type interface. Any of these effects can be applied with just a couple of clicks of the mouse. The intuitive interface also allows users to easily customize their effects by changing the color, timing, size, and proportions.  Once the user chooses OK, SuperShapes automatically places the newly created shape effect into the current presentation.

The Technology

SuperShapes requires at least a Pentium 166 with 32 MB RAM and 50 MB available hard disk space, standard Windows graphics hardware, running PowerPoint 97 or PowerPoint 2000 and either Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0.  For best performance, however, a faster PC with more RAM is recommended. SuperShapes is developed by JVC and published by CrystalGraphics.

Pricing and Availability

A free demo version of SuperShapes is available at www.powerplugs.com. The full version of SuperShapes I and II are available for purchase, also at www.powerplugs.com. They may be purchased separately for $39 each, or together for $59. They may also be purchased for an additional discount as part of the Ultimate PowerPlugs Combo, which is also available at the powerplugs.com Web site.

About PowerPlugs

PowerPlugs, from CrystalGraphics, is the first and only family of plug-in products that bring the power and excitement of television-style graphics and effects to Microsoft PowerPoint. Presentations Magazine recently recognized this achievement by awarding CrystalGraphics with the 1999 Standing Ovation Award for "Best PowerPoint Plugins" for the entire PowerPlugs product line.

CrystalGraphics' first PowerPoint plug-in product is PowerPlugs: Transitions, which adds television-style 3D transition effects into PowerPoint presentations. Its second PowerPoint plug-in product is PowerPlugs: PhotoActive FX, which adds both still and animated effects to the key visuals in PowerPoint presentations. PowerPlugs: SuperShapes is its third PowerPoint plug-in product. CrystalGraphics has several more PowerPoint plug-in products in the works.

About CrystalGraphics

CrystalGraphics, based in Santa Clara, California, is the leading developer and publisher of plug-ins for Microsoft PowerPoint. CrystalGraphics also develops and markets 3D graphics software for Web designers and video editors including Crystal 3D IMPACT! Pro and Crystal 3D VORTEX. More information about CrystalGraphics' products can be found on the World Wide Web at www.powerplugs.com or by calling (800) 394-0700.

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