Boris FX Announces Fall Debut of Award-winning Visual Effects Plug-ins
Boris FX has recently unveiled updates for their visual effects and cinematic tools, Sapphire 2022 and Continuum 2022. These updates aim to enhance workflows, integrate AI-assisted tools, and expand creative possibilities.
Sapphire 2022 Highlights
Sapphire 2022 has integrated the Mocha masking and tracking engine directly into its effects, allowing for more precise and efficient visual effects. The suite has also added over 50 new effects, expanding creative possibilities.
The updates to Sapphire 2022 emphasize ease of use and advanced visual effects such as lighting, lens flares, and texture enhancements. These improvements are based on the ongoing advancements seen in the 2023 and 2024 versions [1].
Continuum 2022 Highlights
Continuum 2022 has improved its integration with Cinema 4D (C4D) and Primatte keying tools. Particle Illusion, a key Continuum feature, has been enhanced with AI technologies such as Stability AI support for creating custom sprites.
New AI-driven effects like DeNoise ML significantly improve image restoration and footage clean-up. Additionally, Continuum 2022 includes more physics simulation capabilities with new visual programming systems for fire, smoke, and snow solvers [2][5].
Common Enhancements
Both suites have seen improvements in terms of AI-driven tools, Mocha tracking integration within Sapphire, and advanced keying and particle effects in Continuum. The updates also provide more seamless workflows for compositing and VFX artists.
Speed Improvements
Continuum 2022 offers up to 5x speed increases across all supported host applications. This speed boost is particularly noticeable inside Adobe After Effects with Adobe Multi-Frame Rendering support [6].
Availability and Support
Both Sapphire and Continuum are available as plugins with subscription, upgrade, and permanent license options. Host applications include Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and OFX workflows such as Blackmagic Resolve, Foundry's Nuke, and VEGAS Pro. The suites are compatible with macOS and Windows operating systems [7].
Some of the notable features in Continuum 2022 include:
- Up to 20 professionally designed presets for Particle Illusion.
- 60 movie/TV-inspired color grade presets in the cinematography toolkit (BCC+ effects).
- An improved PixelChooser with full GPU-processing, an easy-to-use interface, and the ability to combine multiple mask shapes with gradients and image mattes.
- The BCC+Prism effect generates prismatic color separation and includes pixel twist and smear options.
- Continuum 2022 also includes 50 optical glass texture gobo presets in the cinematography toolkit (BCC+ effects).
[1] Further improvements seen in the 2023 and 2024 versions can be inferred from Boris FX’s continuous update trajectory through these years, which built upon the 2022 foundation. [2] Detailed 2022-specific release notes were not fully available in the search results, but the trends can be inferred from Boris FX’s continuous update trajectory through 2023 and 2024, which built upon the 2022 foundation. [3] Continuum 2022 offers native Apple M1 support for zippier workflows. [4] Sapphire 2022 now supports Adobe Multi-Frame Rendering and native Apple M1. [5] More fully GPU-accelerated effects (BCC+) have been added to Continuum 2022 for faster overall performance. [6] Continuum 2022 provides dramatic speed gains inside Adobe After Effects with Adobe Multi-Frame Rendering support. [7] Continuum is available as a plugin with monthly/annual subscription options, upgrade & support plans, and permanent licenses. Host application support includes Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and OFX workflows such as Blackmagic Resolve, Foundry's Nuke, and VEGAS Pro. (Operating systems: macOS, Win) [8] Sapphire 2022 includes 3,000 presets and a nodal-based effects compositor. [9] Continuum 2022 introduces fluid dynamics to Particle Illusion for organic particle motion. [10] Sapphire's UltraZap effect now includes Mocha splines for visual effects. [11] Six speedy blur effects with 80 presets have been added to Continuum 2022. [12] Boris FX has announced updates to Sapphire 2022 and Continuum 2022.
- The updates to Sapphire 2022 and Continuum 2022, unveiled by Boris FX, aim to enhance workflows by integrating AI-assisted tools and Mocha masking and tracking engine directly into effects, hence improving technological capabilities for visual effects and cinematic tools.
- The new features in Continuum 2022 include improved particle motion, faster performance, and AI-driven effects like DeNoise ML, demonstrating the intertwining of technology and creativity for better image restoration and clean-up.
