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BERLIN and SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- mental images, the global leader in rendering software for filmmakers, today announced it has signed a software licensing and custom support and development agreement with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a division of Lucas Digital Ltd. LLC, to use mental images's mental ray(R) rendering software for future ILM productions. ILM has utilized mental ray rendering tools increasingly within its productions since 1995 and under the new terms of the agreement mental images will develop new functionality of the mental ray software specifically to meet ILM's most advanced production needs. mental images will also provide 24-hour turn-around support and on-site development support. In addition, ILM will have access to mental ray's developer versions of the mental ray rendering and mental matter(R) modeling libraries for integration into ILM's proprietary, next generation interactive modeling and rendering tools. "We have had a long and successful relationship with mental images," said Cliff Plumer, Chief Technology Officer, ILM. "Since incorporating mental ray into our pipeline, the team at mental images has been receptive to our needs and suggestions helping us increase the realism and complexity of our imagery. This new agreement has the potential for true innovation and we are looking forward to taking the next step in that direction." The strategic partnership between ILM and mental images represents the future of the rendering industry. Studios increasingly demand the level of virtual photo-realism that can be achieved with mental ray software. This technology permits the line between virtual and real to completely disappear, allowing for experimentation with innovative effects that promise to revolutionize the motion picture industry. "We feel greatly honored by ILM's decision to enter into this exciting agreement with far-reaching opportunities," said Rolf Herken, CEO of mental images. "The combination of ILM's exceptional artistic talent and outstanding technological experience, sophistication and vision with mental images' world class engineering and unsurpassed rendering research and development capabilities will shape the future evolution of rendering technology for visual effects and true virtual cinematography. We expect to see numerous Academy Awards and award nominations to accompany with this evolution," ILM has played a key role in seven of the top 10 worldwide box office hits of all time, winning 14 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and 16 Technical Achievement Awards. mental images has received its second Academy nomination this year for technical achievement.