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"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."
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Tim Crean, Senior VFX Artist/Supervisor, Suspect
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"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."
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Jeroen Schulte, Condor Post Production
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What's new in Sapphire Plug-ins
version 4 for Autodesk systems
New Effects:
- FilmDamage simulates aged
film by adding scratches, dust, stains, grain, shake, flicker, etc.
to your clip.
- FilmEffect models film
exposure and processing to make your video footage look like it was
shot on film.
- DeinterlaceAuto detects
the pulldown pattern in a clip and automatically deinterlaces or
reinterlaces it.
- Rays produces light beams emitting from
the bright areas of an input clip.
- ZDefocus defocuses areas of
the source clip by different amounts using depth values from a ZBuffer
input.
- BlurDirectional
blurs the source clip in a given direction.
- Cartoon gives cartoon-like
looks with exaggerated edges and flat areas of color.
- CartoonPaint is similar
to Cartoon, but uses a paint brushed version of the input.
- 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.
- BleachBypass generates a stylized
version of the source clip by simulating a bleach bypass process.
- DogVision generates a
dual color-channel version of the input image.
- Vignette darkens the outer
edges of a clip with various shape options.
- HalfToneRings generates
a half-tone version of the source clip using a repeating pattern of
concentric rings.
- Deband removes banding
artifacts from a clip by diffusing pixels across the banded areas
while keeping the original edges intact.
- TileScramble scrambles the
clip into rectangular tiles.
- WarpMagnify simulates
a magnifying glass or lens over an area of the source clip.
- WarpCornerPin performs a 3D
perspective warp of the source image to align the corners with the
four indicated points.
- 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.
- LensFlareMask allows
generating lensflares while selectively blocking or colorizing
the flare using a separate Mask input.
- GradientRadial makes a
smooth radial color gradient in an ellipse shape.
- GradientMulti
generates a smooth multi-color gradient using multiple control
points, and optionally combines the gradient with a background clip.
- Shape draws a shape into the
image. Shapes range from polygons and circles to stars, flower
shapes, and swirled starfish shapes.
- TextureMoire creates an
abstract Moire texture by adding together two patterns of concentric
rings.
- TextureTiles draws a
repeating pattern of hexagons, triangles, diamonds, or stars.
- TextureNeurons
creates a moving texture resembling moving nerve cell tendrils.
- TextureLoops
generates a pattern of overlapping loop shapes.
- TextureFlux
creates a moving texture of fluctuating liquid or cellular patterns.
- WipeRings performs a
transition using a pattern of concentric rings.
- WipeTiles performs a
transition using a pattern of growing or shrinking hexagons,
triangles, diamonds, or stars.
- SwishPan
performs a transition by panning one image off and another on
with motion blur.
- DissolveLuma transitions
between two input clips using a pattern derived from their luminances.
- DissolveGlow performs a
transition while adding glow to both clips.
- DissolveFilm performs
a transition in a film-like color space to preserve highlights
during the dissolve.
- TimeDisplace displaces one
clip by variable amounts in time depending on the brightness values of
another clip.
- FeedbackBubble generates
flowing time based feedback effects by warping the trails using a
solid noise pattern.
- FeedbackDistort
generates time based feedback effects while distorting the trails
using a second input clip.
- Convolve can create a wide
variety of blur effects using arbitrary filter shapes and coloration
by performing a mathematical convolution of two input clips.
- ConvolveComp convolves a
kernel with front and back clips separately and composites them using
a matte.
- ZConvolve convolves areas of the source clip using
a kernel which is scaled by different amounts using depth values from a ZBuffer input.
- ZGlow glows areas of the source
clip by different widths using depth values from a ZBuffer input
- Light3D performs 3D relighting
of a clip using an input clip describing the surface normals.
- TriTone generate a 3-color
version of the source clip.
- QuadTone is similar to
TriTone but generates a 4-color version of the source clip.
- Invert inverts the Luma, Chroma,
Red, Green, and/or Blue channel of the source clip.
- ShowBadColors
colorizes pixels that fall outside a given color range.
- ChannelSwitcher allows
arbitrary reordering of the RGB channels of the source clip.
New Features and Parameters:
- 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.
- RackDefocus includes new Shape, Roundness, and Boost Highlights
parameters, as well as improved performance.
- A new Drag Auto Res redraw option allows results to be previewed
in real time while adjusting parameter values.
- All effects have a new Add Noise parameter which can be helpful
for regraining results or avoiding banding.
- All effects include new Use Gamma and LUT parameters for
processing in linear color space.
- All the Warp effects have a new Crop Input option.
- WarpChroma has new Color, Brightness, and White Balance parameters.
- 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.
- Glows, Glints, Glare, and EdgeRays have new Glow From Matte, Glow
Under Source, Light BG and other parameters.
- 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.
- FlickerRemove and FlickerMatch now output the measured flicker
data as keyframe data.
- Lens has been renamed Distort and has new Rel X and Rel Y parameters.
- EdgeFlash has new Fg and Bg Lights and Darks parameters.
- Sharpen and Gamma have independent controls for each RGB channel.
- Blurs have a new Mix With Source parameter.
- HueSatBright has a new Preserve Luma parameter.
- MotionDetect has new combine modes.
- The Feedback effects have a new "min" combine mode.
- An Undo option is also included for the parameters on the Crop/Help page.
- The pixel aspect ratio is automatically set from the input clip metadata.
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