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Home / Support / Sapphire / Final Cut Pro

Support for Sapphire for Final Cut Pro and FxPlug API products

Version 6

If you have a support question that is not answered by the information below, please click here.

Frequent Questions:

 

I received a message that "the number of installations permitted with this serial number has been reached." How do I activate my license?
This message indicates that you have installed your serial number on the maximum number of machines permitted.  To free up your serial number, uninstall it from one of the machines where it is currently installed, and select the option to register the uninstall over the web.  Then, follow the instructions to activate the license.

 

Can I use the same serial number on multiple machines?
If you have a serial number for one machine, you can only use it on one machine.  In order to use it on a different machine, you will need to transfer your serial number.

 

How do I transfer my serial number to a different machine?
First, you need to uninstall the plug-in software to remove the license from your current machine. Then, install the software on your new machine and follow the instructions to activate the license.

 

How do I uninstall Sapphire from my current machine?
On Mac: Go to the /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFXPLUG folder and double click on "Uninstall Sapphire".
If your machine is not connected to the web, then select "Display an uninstall code to register on another computer's web browser". Follow the instructions to register the uninstall via another machine.

 

Which machines are my serial numbers currently installed on?
Go to www.genarts.com/sn-lookup.html  Then, paste your serial number and click "submit request".

 

How do I activate my serial number?
If the software is already on your machine:

  • On Mac: Go to the /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFXPLUG folder and double click on "Install Serial Number".  Follow the instructions and choose the option to authorize over the web.  Click here if your machine is not connected to the Internet. 

If the software is not on your machine, go to: http://www.genarts.com/support/downloads/sapphire/final-cut  Click on the link to download the installer.  Follow the instructions to install the software.  When prompted, choose the option to enter your serial number.  Then choose the option to authorize over the Internet.

 

How do I activate my serial number if my machine is not connected to the Internet?

  • On Mac: Go to the  /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFXPLUG folder and double click on "Install Sapphire". 

Follow the instructions and select “Authorize manually ...". Then, follow the instructions to register the install via another machine.

 

How do I e-mail my diagnostic log file?
Please email the file s_log.text as an attachment. It can be found by:
On Mac: Go to  /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFXPLUG/config/s_log.text

 

How do I find my machine ID?

  • On Mac: Go to:  System Preferences -> Network -> Advanced -> Ethernet.  The machine ID is listed under "Ethernet".                                                                                                      

Your machine ID is your Ethernet ID/MAC address: 6 pairs of numbers and letters A-F. You may see the pairs un-separated (d312a930bc7f), separated by colons (d3:12:a9:30:bc:7f) or separated by dashes (d3-12-a9-30-bc-7f).                   

                                                             

What host product and operating system versions are supported?
Click here for a list of compatible operating system versions

 

Which CUDA capable video cards are supported by my plug-ins' GPU acceleration?
NVidia GeForce 200 or 400 series and recent Quadro 5800 or new 4000/5000/6000 Fermi series graphics cards are required for maximum performance. Click here for a full list of supported video cards.  Your system must also have a sufficient CUDA driver version; drivers can be updated by going to http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx

 

What host applications will my license work on?
Your license works with Final Cut Express, Final Cut Pro, Motion, After Effects and Premiere Pro.  (Click here for a list of compatible host product versions.)

  • If you want to run Final Cut Express, Final Cut Pro or Motion, you need to download the software for "Final Cut Pro and compatible"
  • If you want to run After Effects and Premiere, you will need to download the software for "After Effects and compatible products"

If you install a new host application on your machine, you will probably need to re-install your plug-ins afterwards, so the new application can locate them.

 

How do I remove the "Sapphire" watermark?
Go to the "Help" dialog while using any plug-in to determine if your trial or temporary license has expired. If so, then you need to acquire and enter a valid license. Once you receive the valid license and activate it, the results should return to normal.                                                                                      
If you have a license that has not expired, review the following:

a) Ensure you have run the GenArts installer on your machine, rather than cloning, ghosting, or copying files from another workstation. If you installed the software by copying, then download and re-run the installer;

b) Ensure the date on your computer is correct;

c) If the Ethernet address of your computer has changed since you ran the installer, then re-install the software and re-enter your serial number.

 

How do I remove the "Sapphire" watermark when using a floating license?
At any point, you can go to http://www.reprisesoftware.com/support/end-users.php for troubleshooting guides and manuals, or go to  http://www.reprisesoftware.com/RLM_Troubleshooting_Tips.pdf for a troubleshooting checklist

Note that Sapphire v6 will only work with RLM version 9 and later. If you are running an earlier version, please update your server to use the RLM v9 or newer. You can download the latest version of RLM from here: http://www/genarts.com/support/downloads/rlm

Check that the date on your computer is correct for both server and client.

Make sure the port numbers used in your server and client license files are the same. The port number is shown after the hostname and Ethernet ID in the HOST line of the license. You can change the port numbers without invalidating the license, but you will need to restart the license server after they are modified. Also make sure this port number doesn't conflict with other applications that might use the same port.

Check the status of your licenses using the RLM server's web interface. From the server machine go to http://localhost:5054 or from another machine use http://servername:5054, replacing server name as appropriate. See if any useful information is shown there. To reread the license file: on the left side of the main page select Reread/Restart Servers, and then on that page click on Reread Licenses.

Make sure the Ethernet ID in your license correctly matches that of your license server machine. Run the following command on your license server machine to find the Ethernet ID that RLM is expecting:   

  • On Mac: "/Library/Application Support/GenArts/rlm/rlmutil" rlmhostid ether

Then make sure the Ethernet ID in your server license file matches. The Ethernet ID is just after the hostname in the HOST line of the license. If they differ, please let us know the correct Ethernet ID so we can regenerate your license.

Make sure the hostname in your license files correctly matches that of your license server machine. Run the following command on your license server machine to find the hostname that RLM is expecting:   

  • On Mac: "/Library/Application Support/genarts/rlm/rlmutil" rlmhostid host

Then make sure the hostname in your server license file matches that. If they differ, either correct the name in the license files, or use the license server IP address instead.  (If you instead need to change the host ID, then click here to submit a request to our Support team.)

If all looks OK in the web interface, and the license seems to be up, then make sure you can "ping" the server from the client using the hostname or IP addrss specified in the license file. (This ensures that the client can get the server's IP address from its hostname, and that there is a working connection between them.) If this doesn't work, try replacing the hostname with the IP address of the license server in the license files.

 

Do my full Sapphire licenses need to be on the same version as my Render licenses?
Yes.  You will need to either update both your interactive and Render licenses to the most current version, or install an older version of both licenses on your workstation and Render nodes.

 

How do I return to my previous version of Sapphire after my v6 trial?
First, uninstall the plug-in from your machine.  Then, install the plug-in using the older installer and re-enter your serial number.

 

My complimentary trial expired -- How do I get additional time?
The trial is for 2 weeks.  After this time you may purchase a license at: http://www.genarts.com/buy/sapphire/final-cut

 

How do I get notified of complimentary updates?
The software automatically checks for updated versions.  If you would like to check manually: 

  • On Mac:  Go to /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFXPLUG/Check for Sapphire FXPLUG Updates.

Notifications are also made available through standard GenArts communications, i.e., newsletters or other email communication.

 

How do I access my complimentary updates?
Updates to your software are published on our website as the latest version of the installer and can be found by going to http://www.genarts.com/support/downloads/sapphire/final-cut

 

How do I access training materials?
Tutorials and other training material are available within our FX Central community site.  To view our existing tutorial collection, please visit: http://www.genarts.com/fx-central

 

How do I access the documentation?
Documentation for Sapphire is installed on your machine with the software and is available in HTML and PDF formats.

  • On Mac: Go to:  /Applications/GenArts SapphireFXPLUG.  Select Online Help.html or Online Help.pdf

A "Help" button is also available at the bottom of the plug-in parameters, which provides information about the plug-in, your license status, and links that bring up online documentation in your HTML browser.

 

Will projects saved with prior Sapphire versions continue to work with Sapphire v6?
On Final Cut Express, Final Cut Pro and Motion, you can load projects saved with Sapphire  v5 effects and they should automatically convert to use Sapphire v6.
However, we do not advise trying to translate effects from v2 to v6.

 

Can different versions of Sapphire be installed at the same time?
No, the Sapphire v6 installer will replace Sapphire v2 and v5. This prevents confusion from multiple copies of the same effects, and allows your saved projects to automatically use the new version.

 

Will projects saved with the AE version of Sapphire work with the FxPlug version?
No, FCP projects that use the AE version can not be converted to use the FxPlug version.

 

Does the FxPlug version of LensFlare support 3D mode like the AE version?
No. 3D Lens flares only work in After Effect's 3D compositing environment.

 

Can the FxPlug and AE versions of Sapphire be installed at the same time?
If you are on FCP or Motion we suggest using the FxPlug version unless you have previous projects saved using the AE version.
However, you can install both the FxPlug and AE versions of Sapphire on the same machine. The effect category names will include "(FxPlug)" for the FxPlug version, so you can identify which is which when selecting a plugin. 

 

On Mac, why do I get "Failed writing reg file" when entering a serial number?
However, you can install both the FxPlug and AE versions of Sapphire on the same machine. The effect category names will include "(FxPlug)" for the FxPlug version, so you can identify which is which when selecting a plugin. 

 

Why does Sapphire sometimes take a really long time to start on my Mac running Final Cut Pro or Motion and a CUDA-capable GPU?
There is a bug in the NVIDIA driver that can cause it to take awhile to alert Sapphire that Final Cut is using all of the graphics memory. If you are experiencing this regularly, you can disable CUDA in the Sapphire s_config.text file [link] by setting the use_gpu flag to "no."

 

On FCP, the plugin effect is cut off at the edge of the layer.
If a plugin is applied to an FCP layer that is smaller than the final output, the plugin will still only affect the area within that layer's size, and sometimes appear to be cut off. To extend the effect beyond the edges, just make a nest from the layer and apply the plugin to the nest.
One way to make a nest is to create a new sequence, drag your footage into it, and then drag this new sequence into your Main sequence to nest it. Then apply the plugin to the nested sequence, and it should affect the area outside the original layer.

 

Where do my custom saved presets live?
 They are .gp files and are located in the following: Mac: Library/Application Support/Genarts/Sapphire/Presets

 

When working in a shared environment, how do I author and read my presets & lensflares / glares to a central location?
 You'll need to edit the s_config.text file found in the Sapphire applications folder by adding the line (quotes are required). Replace "/usr/genarts" with the new location:

  • For Presets:  preset_directory: "/usr/genarts/sapphire/presets"
  • For Lensflares:  lensflare_directory: "/usr/genarts/lensflares"
  • For Glares:  glare_directory: "/usr/genarts/glares"

 

How do I install Sapphire presets?

When you download a Sapphire preset collection from FX Central (http://www.genarts.com/fx-cent ral/look-collections), you get a .gpz file. For example, the February Collection file looks like this: “S_2012-February-Collection.gpz”

Note: Depending on your web browser download setting, you may download the file as a “.zip”. If that happens, you can rename the “.zip” extension to “.gpz”.

To install, double click on the .gpz file and the files will automatically be installed to your preset collection. A prompt will show:  "Installed ## new presets."  Then, click on "Ok". The next time you start your host application, the Sapphire presets should show up in your preset collection.

Other ways of installing presets would be to right click on the .gpz file:

  • Select “Open with” > select “Preset Browser” > click “Ok”

Or

  • Select “Open with” > select “Other…” > select “preset_browser.exe” > click “Ok”

Version 5

If you have a technical support question that is not answered by the information below, please click here.

Frequent questions:

Sapphire v5 GPU acceleration is supported on these CUDA-capable video cards.

NVidia GeForce 200 or 400 series or Quadro FX4800 graphics card are required for maximum performance. Click here for a full list of supported video cards.

Why does Sapphire sometimes take a really long time to start on my Mac running Final Cut Pro or Motion and a CUDA-capable GPU?

If Final Cut takes all the graphics memory so none is left for Sapphire, a bug in the NVIDIA driver can cause it to take a long time to tell Sapphire about this. If you are experiencing this regularly, you can disable CUDA in the Sapphire s_config.text file [link] by setting the use_gpu flag to "no."

How do I transfer my license?

To transfer your serial number to a new machine, first uninstall Sapphire plug-ins from your old machine. During the uninstall, select the option to register that uninstall via the web. As long as the uninstall is successfully registered, you should then be able to install your serial number on the new machine. The license is cross-platform so you can transfer a serial number between Windows and Mac systems in this way. If you own a floating license or if uninstalling is not possible, please click here to request a license transfer.


What host products and versions are supported?

The following Apple products are supported by Sapphire v5 for FxPlug:

Final Cut Pro   6.0 or greater
Final Cut Express   4.0 or greater
Motion   3.0.2 or greater
Mac OS X 10.4 or greater is also required.
Both Mac Intel and Mac PPC hardware are supported.

 

Where can I find my diagnostics log file?

The the diagnostics log file can be found here: /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFXPLUG/config/s_log.text

Can the FxPlug and AE versions of Sapphire be installed at the same time?

Yes, you can install both the FxPlug and AE versions of Sapphire on the same machine. The effect category names will include "(FxPlug)" for the FxPlug version, so you can identify which is which when selecting a plugin.

If you are on FCP or Motion we suggest just using the FxPlug version unless you have previous projects saved using the AE version.



My RLM floating license is not working. A watermark appears.

  • Check the status of your licenses using the RLM server's web interface. From the server machine go to http://localhost:5054 (RLM v5 http://localhost:9000) or from another machine use http://servername:5054 (RLM v5 http://servername:9000) replacing servername as appropriate. See if any useful information is shown there. To reread the license file: on the left side of the main page select Reread/Restart Servers, and then on that page click on Reread Licenses.
  • Make sure the Ethernet ID in your license correctly matches that of your license server machine. Run the following command on your license server machine to find the Ethernet ID that RLM is expecting:
    "/Library/Application Support/genarts/rlm/rlmutil" rlmhostid ether
    Then make sure the Ethernet ID in your server license file is equal to that. The Ethernet ID is just after the hostname in the HOST line of the license. If they differ, please let us know the correct Ethernet ID so we can regenerate your license.
  • Make sure the hostname in your license files correctly matches that of your license server machine. Run the following command on your license server machine to find the hostname that RLM is expecting:
    "/Library/Application Support/genarts/rlm/rlmutil" rlmhostid host
    Then make sure the hostname in your client and server license files are equal to that. If they differ, either correct the name in the license files, or use the license server IP address instead.
  • Make sure you can "ping" the server from the client using the hostname specified in the license file. This ensures that the client can get the server's IP address from its hostname, and that there is a working connection between them. If this doesn't work, you can try replacing the hostname with the IP address of the license server in the license files.
  • Check that the date on your computer is correct for both server and client.
  • Make sure the port numbers used in your server and client license files are the same. The port number is shown after the hostname and Ethernet ID in the HOST line of the license. You can change the port numbers without invalidating the license, but you will need to restart the license server after they are modified. Also make sure this port number doesn't conflict with other applications that might use the same port.



How can I tell if I'm using the FxPlug or AE version of a plugin?

The FxPlug version will have an "About" button and a "Mix" parameter at the bottom of its parameters. The AE version has an "About" button at the top of its parameters.

Also, in the category names where the plugin effects are selected, the FxPlug versions are named "Sapphire...(FxPlug)."



Will projects saved with the AE version of Sapphire work with the FxPlug version?

No, FCP projects that use the AE version can not currently be converted to use the FxPlug version. However, you can just keep the AE version installed on your workstation so old projects can continue to use that version if necessary.



How do I access the online documentation?

Online documentation for Sapphire plug-ins is normally installed on your machine along with the software and is available in HTML and PDF formats. It includes some general information about how to load and use plug-ins, and also includes a page for each effect with an example image, description of what each parameter does, and links to related effects.

You can access this documentation directly from your workstation even if it is not connected to the Internet. Go to the /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFxPlug folder and double-click on Online Help.html or .pdf.

An "About" button is also available at the bottom of the plug-in parameters, which provides information about the plugin, your license status, and links that bring up online documentation in your HTML browser.



Why do my plug-ins only output black with a "Sapphire Plug-ins" watermark?

This usually indicates your free trial period has ended, or the expiration date of your serial number has been reached. Go to the "About" dialog while using any plugin, and it should tell you when it expired. If you acquire and enter a new valid serial number, the results should return to normal. Otherwise, please review the following list.

  • Make sure you have run the Sapphire installer on your machine, rather than cloning, ghosting, or copying files from another workstation. If you installed by copying, just download and re-run the installer.
  • Make sure the date on your computer is correct.
  • If the Ethernet address of your computer has changed since you ran the installer, you may get this watermark. One solution for this is to re-install Sapphire plug-ins and re-enter your serial number.
  • If your serial number is only for a single box, make sure the plug-ins you are using are included in that box.



Can I use the same serial number with different host applications?

Yes. Sapphire plug-ins for FxPlug is licensed per machine, so one serial number allows you to use them on Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, and/or Motion on the same computer. You may also be able to use the same license for the AE version of Sapphire on the same machine. However a separate license is required to run Sapphire plug-ins on other host products that do not accept FxPlug or AE plug-ins, such as Avid or Shake, even if they are on the same machine.



Can I transfer my serial number to a new machine?

It is possible to transfer your serial number to a new machine. To do this, first uninstall Sapphire plug-ins from your old machine. During the uninstall, select the option to register that uninstall via the web. As long as the uninstall is successfully registered, you should then be able to install your serial number on the new machine.



Can I use the same serial number on multiple machines?

Unless your serial number includes a "-r" value, it can be used on only one machine at a time. You can transfer a serial number to a new machine by uninstalling the software on the old machine, selecting the option to register that uninstall, and then reinstalling on the new machine.



On FCP, how do I use the transition plug-ins?

To apply a Sapphire transition plugin, just drag it onto the cut like any standard FCP transition. Make sure to use the version from the Video Transitions menu rather than the Video Filters menu.

Versions of all the transition effects are also available from the Video Filters menu, but these can't be applied directly between two clips. These are useful if you want to keyframe the transition amount or apply a transition as a filter to a single clip. See this tutorial for an example of how to do this.



The results of Sapphire Glow, Glint, Glare, or Convolve seem different.

In version 2.03, a problem with thresholds in Glow, Glint, Glare, and Convolve was fixed. This gives improved but slightly different results from 2.02, and it makes the results compatible with Sapphire on other host products.

If you noticed a change in the results between Sapphire v1 (AE) and v5 (FxPlug), please install 2.03 or greater to resolve this.

If you have projects saved with versions 2.0 to 2.02 that you still need to render with the same results, you can continue using 2.02.



On FCP, the plugin effect is cut off at the edge of the layer.

If a plugin is applied to an FCP layer that is smaller than the final output, the plugin will still only affect the area within that layer's size, and sometimes appear to be cut off. To extend the effect beyond the edges, just make a nest from the layer and apply the plugin to the nest.

One way to make a nest is to create a new sequence, drag your footage into it, and then drag this new sequence into your Main sequence to nest it. Then apply the plugin to the nested sequence, and it should affect the area outside the original layer.



How can I uninstall Sapphire plug-ins?

Go to the /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFxPlug folder and double-click on Uninstall Sapphire.

 


Version 2

If you have a technical support question that is not answered by the information below, please click here.

Snow Leopard update: Please use Sapphire v2.06 or later for Snow Leopard support.

Frequent questions:

How do I transfer my license?

To transfer your serial number to a new machine, first uninstall Sapphire plug-ins from your old machine. During the uninstall, select the option to register that uninstall via the web. As long as the uninstall is successfully registered, you should then be able to install your serial number on the new machine. The license is cross-platform so you can transfer a serial number between Windows and Mac systems in this way. If you own a floating license or if uninstalling is not possible, please click here to request a license transfer.


What host products and versions are supported?

The following Apple products are supported by Sapphire v2 for FxPlug:

Final Cut Pro   6.0 or greater
Final Cut Express   4.0 or greater
Motion   3.0.2 or greater
Mac OS X 10.4 or greater is also required.
Both Mac Intel and Mac PPC hardware are supported.

 

Where can I find my diagnostics log file?

The the diagnostics log file can be found here:
/Applications/GenArtsSapphireFXPLUG/config/s_log.text

Can the FxPlug and AE versions of Sapphire be installed at the same time?

Yes, you can install both the FxPlug and AE versions of Sapphire on the same machine. The effect category names will include "(FxPlug)" for the FxPlug version, so you can identify which is which when selecting a plugin.

If you are on FCP or Motion we suggest just using the FxPlug version unless you have previous projects saved using the AE version.



My RLM floating license is not working. A watermark appears.

 

  • Check the status of your licenses using the RLM server's web interface. From the server machine go to http://localhost:5054 (RLM v5 http://localhost:9000) or from another machine use http://servername:5054 (RLM v5 http://servername:9000) replacing servername as appropriate. See if any useful information is shown there. To reread the license file: on the left side of the main page select Reread/Restart Servers, and then on that page click on Reread Licenses.
  • Make sure the Ethernet ID in your license correctly matches that of your license server machine. Run the following command on your license server machine to find the Ethernet ID that RLM is expecting:
    "/Library/Application Support/genarts/rlm/rlmutil" rlmhostid ether
    Then make sure the Ethernet ID in your server license file is equal to that. The Ethernet ID is just after the hostname in the HOST line of the license. If they differ, please let us know the correct Ethernet ID so we can regenerate your license.
  • Make sure the hostname in your license files correctly matches that of your license server machine. Run the following command on your license server machine to find the hostname that RLM is expecting:
    "/Library/Application Support/genarts/rlm/rlmutil" rlmhostid host
    Then make sure the hostname in your client and server license files are equal to that. If they differ, either correct the name in the license files, or use the license server IP address instead.
  • Make sure you can "ping" the server from the client using the hostname specified in the license file. This ensures that the client can get the server's IP address from its hostname, and that there is a working connection between them. If this doesn't work, you can try replacing the hostname with the IP address of the license server in the license files.
  • Check that the date on your computer is correct for both server and client.
  • Make sure the port numbers used in your server and client license files are the same. The port number is shown after the hostname and Ethernet ID in the HOST line of the license. You can change the port numbers without invalidating the license, but you will need to restart the license server after they are modified. Also make sure this port number doesn't conflict with other applications that might use the same port.



How can I tell if I'm using the FxPlug or AE version of a plugin?

The FxPlug version will have an "About" button and a "Mix" parameter at the bottom of its parameters. The AE version has an "About" button at the top of its parameters.

Also, in the category names where the plug-in effects are selected, the FxPlug versions are named "Sapphire...(FxPlug)."


Will projects saved with the AE version of Sapphire work with the FxPlug version?

No, FCP projects that use the AE version can not currently be converted to use the FxPlug version. However, you can just keep the AE version installed on your workstation so old projects can continue to use that version if necessary.



How do I access the online documentation?

Online documentation for Sapphire plug-ins is normally installed on your machine along with the software and is available in HTML and PDF formats. It includes some general information about how to load and use plug-ins, and also includes a page for each effect with an example image, description of what each parameter does, and links to related effects.

You can access this documentation directly from your workstation even if it is not connected to the Internet. Go to the /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFxPlug folder and double-click on Online Help.html or .pdf.

An "About" button is also available at the bottom of the plug-in parameters, which provides information about the plugin, your license status, and links that bring up online documentation in your HTML browser.



Why do my plug-ins only output black with a "Sapphire Plug-ins" watermark?

This usually indicates your free trial period has ended, or the expiration date of your serial number has been reached. Go to the "About" dialog while using any plugin, and it should tell you when it expired. If you acquire and enter a new valid serial number, the results should return to normal. Otherwise, please review the following list.

  • Make sure you have run the Sapphire installer on your machine, rather than cloning, ghosting, or copying files from another workstation. If you installed by copying, just download and re-run the installer.
  • Make sure the date on your computer is correct.
  • If the Ethernet address of your computer has changed since you ran the installer, you may get this watermark. One solution for this is to re-install Sapphire plug-ins and re-enter your serial number.
  • If your serial number is only for a single box, make sure the plug-ins you are using are included in that box.



Can I use the same serial number with different host applications?

Yes. Sapphire Plug-ins for FxPlug is licensed per machine, so one serial number allows you to use them on Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, and/or Motion on the same computer. You may also be able to use the same license for the AE version of Sapphire on the same machine. However a separate license is required to run Sapphire Plug-ins on other host products that do not accept FxPlug or AE plug-ins, such as Avid or Shake, even if they are on the same machine.



Can I transfer my serial number to a new machine?

It is possible to transfer your serial number to a new machine. To do this, first uninstall Sapphire plug-ins from your old machine. During the uninstall, select the option to register that uninstall via the web. As long as the uninstall is successfully registered, you should then be able to install your serial number on the new machine.



Can I use the same serial number on multiple machines?

Unless your serial number includes a "-r" value, it can be used on only one machine at a time. You can transfer a serial number to a new machine by uninstalling the software on the old machine, selecting the option to register that uninstall, and then reinstalling on the new machine.



On FCP, how do I use the transition plug-ins?

To apply a Sapphire transition plugin, just drag it onto the cut like any standard FCP transition. Make sure to use the version from the Video Transitions menu rather than the Video Filters menu.

Versions of all the transition effects are also available from the Video Filters menu, but these can't be applied directly between two clips. These are useful if you want to keyframe the transition amount or apply a transition as a filter to a single clip. See this tutorial for an example of how to do this.



The results of Sapphire Glow, Glint, Glare, or Convolve seem different.

In version 2.03, a problem with thresholds in Glow, Glint, Glare, and Convolve was fixed. This gives improved but slightly different results from 2.02, and it makes the results compatible with Sapphire on other host products.

If you noticed a change in the results between Sapphire v1 (AE) and v2 (FxPlug), please install 2.03 or greater to resolve this.

If you have projects saved with versions 2.0 to 2.02 that you still need to render with the same results, you can continue using 2.02.



On FCP, the plugin effect is cut off at the edge of the layer.

If a plugin is applied to an FCP layer that is smaller than the final output, the plugin will still only affect the area within that layer's size, and sometimes appear to be cut off. To extend the effect beyond the edges, just make a nest from the layer and apply the plugin to the nest.

One way to make a nest is to create a new sequence, drag your footage into it, and then drag this new sequence into your Main sequence to nest it. Then apply the plugin to the nested sequence, and it should affect the area outside the original layer.



How can I uninstall Sapphire plug-ins?

Go to the /Applications/GenArtsSapphireFxPlug folder and double-click on Uninstall Sapphire.

 


After Effects version of Sapphire

If you are using the After Effects version of Sapphire, please see the Support for Sapphire for After Effects page.