GenArts, Inc., a leading provider of visual effects plug-ins for the film, broadcast and video industries, today announced the immediate availability of Sapphire Plug-ins for Apple FxPlug products, including Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express and Motion. Sapphire Plug-ins for FxPlug products contains over 200 image processing and synthesis effects, including the latest effects in the Sapphire suite such as FilmDamage, ZDefocus, Cartoon, BleachBypass, GradientMulti, SwishPan, Deband and Vignette. GenArts is offering the new FxPlug version at no additional charge to customers with Sapphire v2 for After Effects and compatible products.
The new version for FxPlug products features drag-on Transition effects for FCP, effects categorized by Generators, Filters and Transitions, and parameters arranged in groups for improved interface layout. “It’s fantastic to have these effects as real transitions in FCP! Once again a great job by the GenArts Sapphire team,” says Andy Tolbert from Wide Eyed Productions.
Usability enhancements in the FxPlug version also include the ability to open and close parameter groups in the UI and dial controls for angle parameters. Additionally, projects created in Motion using Sapphire effects can be easily imported into FCP. The FxPlug and After Effects versions of Sapphire can be used concurrently in FCP for compatibility with existing projects.
“GenArts has a long history of supporting Apple products, and this release further demonstrates our commitment to our mutual customers. We are proud to provide native support for all of the Apple FxPlug products with this new version of Sapphire, which dramatically enhances the full range of effects and functionality for FCP and Motion artists,” comments Anish Dhanda, Managing Director of GenArts.
Key features of Sapphire Plug-ins for Apple FxPlug Products:
Over 200 effects
Native support for Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express and Motion
Convenient drag-on Transition effects for Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express
Effects categorized by Generators, Filters and Transitions
Parameter groups can be opened and closed in the UI
FlickerRemove and FlickerMatch have Set Hold Level and Set Match Level buttons
Angle parameters use dial controls
Motion projects with Sapphire effects can be imported and embedded in Final Cut Pro
FxPlug and After Effects versions of Sapphire can be used together in Final Cut Pro
Support for Mac OS 10.5 Leopard and Mac Intel hardware
Many options and parameters which can be adjusted and animated for an unlimited range of results
Resolution independent, fully anti-aliased, high quality images
Easy to use and fully integrated within the native user interface
Multi-processor support for faster rendering
Online hyper-linked documentation
Availability and Pricing
Sapphire Plug-ins for Apple FxPlug Products can be purchased directly from GenArts or through their worldwide channel of authorized resellers. Pricing is $1699 for the entire package or $599 for one of four individual box sets. Special upgrade pricing for existing customers with Sapphire v1 for After Effects is offered for $599 and $199, respectively. Customers with Sapphire v2 for After Effects can use the FxPlug version at no charge on the same workstation. A new license purchased for FxPlug also allows use of the AE version. A free trial of the software is available online at www.genarts.com .