"GenArts has done it again. Version 4 not only upgrades all of the existing can't-live-without Sapphire sparks, but has launched a whole new range of totally sick, must-have effects."
Tim Crean, Senior VFX Artist/Supervisor, Suspect






"GenArts has once again proven that Sapphire is the most versatile and robust set of plug-ins available for the Autodesk platform today. Unparalleled options and speed optimization - with a healthy mix of new plug-ins and updated favourites - will continue to keep Sapphire ahead of the pack. For us, its the only plug-in suite we use when we're faced with the toughest creative challenges."
Jeroen Schulte, Condor Post Production





What's new in Sapphire Plug-ins version 4 for Autodesk systems

New Effects:

  1. FilmDamage simulates aged film by adding scratches, dust, stains, grain, shake, flicker, etc. to your clip.
  2. FilmEffect models film exposure and processing to make your video footage look like it was shot on film.
  3. DeinterlaceAuto detects the pulldown pattern in a clip and automatically deinterlaces or reinterlaces it.
  4. Rays produces light beams emitting from the bright areas of an input clip.
  5. ZDefocus defocuses areas of the source clip by different amounts using depth values from a ZBuffer input.
  6. BlurDirectional blurs the source clip in a given direction.
  7. Cartoon gives cartoon-like looks with exaggerated edges and flat areas of color.
  8. CartoonPaint is similar to Cartoon, but uses a paint brushed version of the input.
  9. Posterize generates a contoured version of the input by limiting the number of colors in the source, and replacing detailed texture and noise with solid colors.
  10. BleachBypass generates a stylized version of the source clip by simulating a bleach bypass process.
  11. DogVision generates a dual color-channel version of the input image.
  12. Vignette darkens the outer edges of a clip with various shape options.
  13. HalfToneRings generates a half-tone version of the source clip using a repeating pattern of concentric rings.
  14. Deband removes banding artifacts from a clip by diffusing pixels across the banded areas while keeping the original edges intact.
  15. TileScramble scrambles the clip into rectangular tiles.
  16. WarpMagnify simulates a magnifying glass or lens over an area of the source clip.
  17. WarpCornerPin performs a 3D perspective warp of the source image to align the corners with the four indicated points.
  18. WarpsComp allows applying any of the Warp effects to an RGB clip and its alpha channel together, and then compositing the result over a background.
  19. LensFlareMask allows generating lensflares while selectively blocking or colorizing the flare using a separate Mask input.
  20. GradientRadial makes a smooth radial color gradient in an ellipse shape.
  21. GradientMulti generates a smooth multi-color gradient using multiple control points, and optionally combines the gradient with a background clip.
  22. Shape draws a shape into the image. Shapes range from polygons and circles to stars, flower shapes, and swirled starfish shapes.
  23. TextureMoire creates an abstract Moire texture by adding together two patterns of concentric rings.
  24. TextureTiles draws a repeating pattern of hexagons, triangles, diamonds, or stars.
  25. TextureNeurons creates a moving texture resembling moving nerve cell tendrils.
  26. TextureLoops generates a pattern of overlapping loop shapes.
  27. TextureFlux creates a moving texture of fluctuating liquid or cellular patterns.
  28. WipeRings performs a transition using a pattern of concentric rings.
  29. WipeTiles performs a transition using a pattern of growing or shrinking hexagons, triangles, diamonds, or stars.
  30. SwishPan performs a transition by panning one image off and another on with motion blur.
  31. DissolveLuma transitions between two input clips using a pattern derived from their luminances.
  32. DissolveGlow performs a transition while adding glow to both clips.
  33. DissolveFilm performs a transition in a film-like color space to preserve highlights during the dissolve.
  34. TimeDisplace displaces one clip by variable amounts in time depending on the brightness values of another clip.
  35. FeedbackBubble generates flowing time based feedback effects by warping the trails using a solid noise pattern.
  36. FeedbackDistort generates time based feedback effects while distorting the trails using a second input clip.
  37. Convolve can create a wide variety of blur effects using arbitrary filter shapes and coloration by performing a mathematical convolution of two input clips.
  38. ConvolveComp convolves a kernel with front and back clips separately and composites them using a matte.
  39. ZConvolve convolves areas of the source clip using a kernel which is scaled by different amounts using depth values from a ZBuffer input.
  40. ZGlow glows areas of the source clip by different widths using depth values from a ZBuffer input
  41. Light3D performs 3D relighting of a clip using an input clip describing the surface normals.
  42. TriTone generate a 3-color version of the source clip.
  43. QuadTone is similar to TriTone but generates a 4-color version of the source clip.
  44. Invert inverts the Luma, Chroma, Red, Green, and/or Blue channel of the source clip.
  45. ShowBadColors colorizes pixels that fall outside a given color range.
  46. ChannelSwitcher allows arbitrary reordering of the RGB channels of the source clip.

New Features and Parameters:

  1. LensFlare has 14 new Flare Types and new parameters to adjust the look of the flares, and can auto track and render flares at multiple hotspots.
  2. RackDefocus includes new Shape, Roundness, and Boost Highlights parameters, as well as improved performance.
  3. A new Drag Auto Res redraw option allows results to be previewed in real time while adjusting parameter values.
  4. All effects have a new Add Noise parameter which can be helpful for regraining results or avoiding banding.
  5. All effects include new Use Gamma and LUT parameters for processing in linear color space.
  6. All the Warp effects have a new Crop Input option.
  7. WarpChroma has new Color, Brightness, and White Balance parameters.
  8. Layer includes many new blend modes: Linear Burn, Linear Dodge, Vivid Light, Linear Light, and Pin Light. It can also optionally hue-shift or blur the foreground and/or background layers.
  9. Glows, Glints, Glare, and EdgeRays have new Glow From Matte, Glow Under Source, Light BG and other parameters.
  10. Glare includes 4 new Glare Types and new parameters to adjust the look of the glares, and has improved performance. The Convolve:Even If Slow option has been removed, since convolve mode should be consistently faster.
  11. FlickerRemove and FlickerMatch now output the measured flicker data as keyframe data.
  12. Lens has been renamed Distort and has new Rel X and Rel Y parameters.
  13. EdgeFlash has new Fg and Bg Lights and Darks parameters.
  14. Sharpen and Gamma have independent controls for each RGB channel.
  15. Blurs have a new Mix With Source parameter.
  16. HueSatBright has a new Preserve Luma parameter.
  17. MotionDetect has new combine modes.
  18. The Feedback effects have a new "min" combine mode.
  19. An Undo option is also included for the parameters on the Crop/Help page.
  20. The pixel aspect ratio is automatically set from the input clip metadata.


 

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