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

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 plug-in.

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

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

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 plug-in, 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 plug-in, 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 plug-in, 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 plug-in effect is cut off at the edge of the layer.

If a plug-in is applied to an FCP layer that is smaller than the final output, the plug-in 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 plug-in 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 plug-in 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.