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29 January 2004 |
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courtesy of the AE list e-mails of Dik Baskerville
Note: AE 6 is OS X only. Please note that this is time sensitive information. Dik is gracious in keeping us up-to-date, but please contact the developer for the final word -- and feel free to keep us informed.
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GenArts Sapphire set review
Well, some of this news is really old, since I've been holding on for the release of the GenArts Sapphire sets. This happened about 8 hours in the middle of the night (Hong Kong time ;-)
For some reason the Sapphire site says there are "over 175" - not sure why this is. Do some not work in all hosts maybe? In AE there are 179. The whole lot can be had for $1699 (so less than $10 per plug) which is a significant saving compared to buying them in the 4 individual sets ($599 each - sets are Lighting, Stylize, Adjust/Blur/Composite/Distort and Render.) Connoisseurs of introductory offers will note that there isn't one, though :-(
As Scott Spengler noted on the AE Listserv "Some of these are really quite elegant... while some are really quite awful." I'm probably a little more lenient than this, although most of the transition effects *are* rather tacky, and actually could have been done using the other plugs, in most instances. However, there are a lot of innovations too. The "control overlays" which appear in the canvas wndow are a convenient way of adjusting many of the plugs without needing to Shift-Cmd-T to find the ECW. I got quite excited about these briefly, since it looked like GenArts had solved the problem faced by The Foundry: if you have a custom UI like this then it won't work in other hosts - notably FCP. However, disappointingly, although GenArts have been savvy enough to make the plugs work in FCP, Combustion and so on, the overlay seems to not be visible in FCP, and even the checkbox which switches the overlay on and off seems to "go away" inside FCP 4.1. Another feature I really like is that many of the (e.g. painterly) plugs have a "jitter" switch which allows you to set an update rate for the effect. As I commented during the recent thread re Gallery FX in AE - *all* of this type of plug should have this (including Adobe ones....)
On the other hand there are many trade-off which have been made so that the plugs can work in hosts other than AE (viz. using an early AE FX API - or in the case of FCP, a *very* early AE FX API....)
This means that AE users will miss out on groups and contextual parameters (correct me if I'm wrong on this BTW, I still only have a brief familarity with the set.) There's also other odd omissions which people who are used to BCC and Tinderbox. The range selection for the plugs is really quite backward. You can often select to have a luma or alpha matte for the effect, but there seems to be little or no control of which part of the luma/alpha is used to limit the effect. As mentioned by someone at MacWorld, it's good to have the docs and a sample image available from the about box. All the same, the docs are not very full. Lines like "Width Green: scales the green glow width" made me think of Cult FX 1.0, until they saw the error of their ways and produced really good docs, with a lot of tutorials (all of which Adobe seems to be keeping in a back cupboard, and using their own rather meagre Effects Help documentation.)
Other good stuff. All 16-bit, dual processor support, free network rendering (FE please note,) OS-X and Windows, and there's a 3-week no-watermark demo period, after which it gets watermarked. There's also a lot more control over adjustment "weighting" in many of the plugs, than you find in other sets - e.g. control over dark and light areas separately, rather than just over the whole image.
Downsides: besides the couple of things I've mentioned, the main problem is that when purchasing a generalist set like this, you will find stuff that you really don't need. Either because it's stuff that the engineers have done just because the could (by leveraging the code blocks with other permutations of code block) or as stocking filters, or because some hosts (notably AE) have acquired powerful 3rd. party filter sets which mean you already have plugs which can do many of the generalist set's effects better (Scott mentioned AE [Jens'] Fractal Noise. You could also put Colorama in there, since this could be used to do several of the Sapphire color palette effects.) There is also not many built in blend modes, which I would guess disappointed Trish, although she came out much in favour of the Lighting set in particular in the press release (there are a lot of good glints and glows here which other sets don't have.)
I'm sure many people will find themselves wishing that they could pick and choose the plugs they want. Even the rather weak Box 4 set does have 2 lightning effects which give looks and options not found in the two AE lightning plugs - and of course you can use them in FCP too (unlike the Cult and AP Evolution sets - don't think I've forgotten.... ;-)
Anyway, since there's demos easily available from GenArts, there's no point me rambling on too long.
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[AE] Sapphire addendum
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 14:43:35 +0800
I knew there was one innovation I forgot...
If I've understood the release notes correctly, the Sapphire plugs can read a text file which can be edited to convert rotary contols to sliders, etc, in the ECW. Interesting stuff - cutomizable plugs... could maybe used to pop up "EZ" versions and so on??
Oh yeah, and if you command drag numerals then it gears them down in Final Cut. Not as good as the Studio Artist method of dragging pre and post decimal values separately, but I guess Adobe would need to open the way for that, not Developers. (Maybe up and down and sideways dragging for this??)
Dik
...also:
A large number of the filters are simply the same filter with a minor change that should be a pop-up option, not a new filter. For example, Sparkles and SparklesColor. Same parameters, except you get white or colored sparkles. neato.
*snip*
It just seems like an extremely excessive amount of money for a 'pioneering', but now, IMHO, very dated set of plugins.
*snip*
Sorry to seem so harsh but with so many plugins out now and so many already in AE, this just appears ridiculously overpriced. But hey, that's just my worthless, overpriced opinion.
-Geoff
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As a tailpiece I should say that there are a lot of sets out there now, and it's really quite surprising that Developers don't just look at what other people have done and incorporate *all* the good features, so that we can just have one generalist set, rather than having to wade through endless different Gaussian blurs to see which one we want on this occasion - with a canvas overlay, a separate ECW window overlay, compatible with FCP, fast but less precise, with range based masking/adaptiveness, blah, blah....
Now for all the news which actually predates the GenArts release....
(1) Sapphire Innovations has become Abneil software. The plugs are unchanged except for the name: Andrew's (Video) Plugins 1.1 (actually 1.1.2 currently.) There is also a freebie plug-in from Abneil: GX Blend 1, which is similar to the Op.... filters in the full set.
(2) dvMatte Pro is now available for FCP-4.
(3) Walker Effects have released Walker Effects 2.0. I'm sorry that this now appears below the GenArts spiel since the quality of these plugs is actually taking a quantum leap at every release. There have been a lot of custom controls added this time for example, which takes the individual plugs into a league above sets (like GenArts) which go for using standard controls. There are 3 purchase options: Basic, Designer and Pro. The site contains a lot of examples of what the plugs can do, and these are well worth looking at, esp. to understand the more complicated plugs like Channel Lighting. Documentation is very good here - you can tell it was done by a hands on designer.
(4) Digital Film Tools have added several more plugs to their 55mm set. There's some nice stuff here too, and they do have pixel range selection (as always.)
(5) Buena Effect Essentials 1.6 is compatible with both AE and FCP. Good to have a Curves plug in FCP! The Buena site now sports a very clear "host compatibility" matrix, which is a very clear way of seeing what hosts the sets will work with. Wish all sites had this.
(6) Trapcode has released Lux, a volumetric light plug which works with AE lights and layers via the "Comp Camera" (etc) interface. It's fully compatible only with AE 6. The Flash tutorials on the Trapcode site are an excellent introduction.
(7) There's a charity-ware plug from Profound Effects available via DNM to people registered with My DNM or the DMN fora. It draws a mask which has rounded corners. This is an AEGP plug which appears on the Layermenu.
(8) Been around a while but I haven't listed it, but Maxon have a plug-in which allows import of Cinema 4D projects. Like most import plugs (e.g. Boujou import) it comes up in the AE Import Dialogue.
(9) Red Giant have introduced a Commotion Roto import plug for AE. It was expensive until Dec 31st. and very expensive after that. No demo, so you don't get the chance to try it....
(10) Digital Anarchy are giving a few hints about a new 3D Layer plug on their site. It looks like we will see this in Q1. 2004. This gives 3D Layers with thickness, but also seems to be moving into the area previously dominated by Forge Freeform, since it allows the layer to be deformed using a displacement layer. It's a Comp Camera effect.
(13) Panopticum AnimaText 3D, Rulers and Curtains still haven't been ported from Windows to OS-X. They are 16-bit though.
(14) Algolith (a software spinoff from Miranda) has a bundle of 5 x 16-bit plugs available for Mac and Windows (although the demo is currently Windows only and 8-bit only.)
Stated to be AE 6.0 only, although it seems to load in 5.5 too. At $1435, it's expensive. Plugs include: Adaptive De-Interlacing (ADI), Anti-Aliasing (AAA), Object-Based Frame Rate Conversion, (FRC) for Frame Rate Conversion Between SDTV, HDTV and Film Formats, Content Adaptive Scaling with Aspect-Ratio Conversion (CAS) for up/down Scaling of CG, SDTV, HDTV or Film Formats, Three Dimensional Dynamic Noise Reducer (DNR) for Gaussian Noise reduction and Three Dimensional MPEG Noise Reducer (MNR) for cleaning up any DCT based compressed image, like MPEG2 or DV.
(15) There are demos of Composite Wizard and Image Lounge available from Red Giant now.
Dik
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**OS-X Compliant Plug-ins available now!!**
2d3 Boujou Import
Abneil Software Andrew's (Video) Plugins 1.1
Algolith Algolith Bundle
Alien Skin Software Eye Candy for AE
Automatic Duck Automatic Duck Pro Import 2.0
Belle Nuit Montage Mimikri
BigFX FilmFX 2.5 for Mac
Boris Continuum Basics
Boris Continuum Complete 2.0
Boris Boris FX 6.1 (FCP, but not AE)
Boris Boris Graffiti 2 (FCP, but not AE)
Boris Boris RED 2.5 (FCP, but not AE)
Boris Title Toolkit (AE, but not FCP)
Bresnev Shu _Expression Effects
Bresnev Shu KoalaLumpor _JavaScript for AE
Bresnev Shu Path Palette
Buena Software Inc. Dissolve Factory (FCP/AE)
Buena Software Inc. Effect Essentials
Buena Software Inc. Effect Essentials FCP (not AE)
Conoa Conoa 3D
Conoa Conoa Easy Shapes
Conoa Conoa EasyTinter
Conoa Conoa Sphere
Diaquest Diaquest DDR After Effects Plug-in
DigiEffects DE Aurorix
DigiEffects DE Berserk
DigiEffects DE Cinelook Broadcast
DigiEffects DE Cinelook Film Res
DigiEffects DE Cinemotion
DigiEffects DE Delirium
Digital Anarchy 3D Assistants
Digital Anarchy 3D Assistants EZ
Digital Anarchy Anarchy Toolbox
Digital Anarchy Aurora, Sky
Digital Anarchy ColorTheory
Digital Anarchy Geomancy
Digital Anarchy Gradient!
Digital Anarchy Psunami ($25 upgrade)
Digital Anarchy Text Anarchy 2.0
Digital Film Tools DFT 55MM
Digital Film Tools DFT Composite Suite
Digital Film Tools DFT Digital Film Lab
Digital Film Tools DFT Fast Blur
Digital Film Tools DFT zMatte
dvGarage dvMatte
FAN AFX2QTL
FAN AFX2VPB
FAN Grader
FAN Supressor
FAN XMult (Free)
Flam3.com AE Flame
Fnord Software J2K (Freeware)
Fnord Software Power Picker
Fnord Software SuperPNG (Freeware)
Fnord Software Übercolor
Forge Freeform AE ($99 upgrade)
Frischluft fLAIR
Frischluft LensCare
Frischluft Freeware
GenArts Sapphire FX 1: Lighting
GenArts Sapphire FX 2: Stylize,
GenArts Sapphire FX 3: Adjust/Blur/Comp/Distort
GenArts Sapphire FX 4: Render
Harald Heim/Panopticum Plugin Galaxy AE
KaZuhiro FuRuhata HeboHebo (6 out of 7 work in OS-X)
Maxon Cinema 4D Importer
Media 100 Inc. Final Effects Complete (upgrade fee++)
Media 100 Inc. Media-100 Project Importer
META/DMA ScopoGigio
Panopticum Anima Text 2.0
Panopticum Array 1.6
Panopticum Engraver
Panopticum Figure
Panopticum Fire 3
Panopticum Grid
Panopticum Lens Pro 3.5 Bundle
Panopticum Rich Typing
Panopticum Tools
Pete Warden's Plugins Freeware
Phillip-Spoeth Sinedot/Sinedot II/Retrodots/Shear
Profound Effects DNM Bullnose Mask
Profound Effects Swim
Profound Effects Reveal
Profound Effects Useful Assistants
Profound Effects Useful Things
RE:Vision Effects FieldsKit
RE:Vision Effects RE:Fill
RE:Vision Effects RE:Flex
RE:Vision Effects ReelSmart Motion Blur Pro
RE:Vision Effects ReelSmart Motion Blur
RE:Vision Effects Shade/Shape
RE:Vision Effects Twixtor Pro
RE:Vision Effects Twixtor
RE:Vision Effects SmoothKit
RE:Vision Effects Video Gogh
Realviz Retimer SD
Realviz Retimer HD
Red Giant Software Commotion Roto Import
Red Giant Software Composite Wizard ($30 upgrade)
Red Giant Software Image Lounge ($30 upgrade)
Red Giant Software Knoll Light Factory
Red Giant Software Orphanage Magic Bullet SD
Red Giant Software Orphanage Magic Bullet HD
Red Giant Software Primatte ($149 upgrade)
Sakurai Optical Lab Final Focus
Sakurai Optical Lab Iris Filter
Sebastian Mecklenburg Freeware
Stagetools Moving Picture
Synthetic Aperture Color Finesse 1.0.3 (not FCP)
Synthetic Aperture Echo Fire
Synthetic Aperture Test Gear
The Foundry Tinderbox 1 //
The Foundry Tinderbox 2 //
The Foundry Tinderbox 3 //
Trapcode 3D Stroke
Trapcode Lux
Trapcode Shine
Trapcode Sound Keys
Trapcode Starglow
Ultimatte AdvantEdge ($495 upgrade, inc. USB dongle)
Virtix Effects for AE and FCP
Visual Infinity Grain Surgery 2.0
Walker Effects Walker Effects 2.0 Basic
Walker Effects Walker Effects 2.0 Designer
Walker Effects Walker Effects 2.0 Basic
Zaxwerks Invigorator 3.0 Classic
Zaxwerks Invigorator 3.0 Pro
(**Lost the following plugs from BAE/BC: Boris 3D Text [already superceded
by improved BC 3D Text,] BC 3D Text, Boris Clouds [already superceded by
improved BC Clouds,] Boris Basic 3D, Boris Flat 3D Text)
(// look at The Foundry.co.uk website for updates. Some of the updates are
backwards compatible and some are not.)
(++$249 if you own ICE or FE products from ICE/Media-100, or $395 if you own
a Metacreations set. Does not include soft versions of the ICE'd DE or
Ultimatte plugs.)
**OS-X Compliant Plug-ins which should be available Q1. 2004**
Digital Anarchy 3D Layer
DigiEffects DE Cinelook 2
ElectricFX eFX Extract3D
**OS-X Compliant Plug-ins in development
2d3 SteadyMove Pro
**Non-OS-X Compliant Sets Superceded by New OS-X Branding**
Boris Boris AE ++
Boris Boris Continuum ++
Ultimatte Ultimatte Classic **
Media 100 FE Complete ^^
Media 100 ICE Soft F/X ^^
Media 100 ICE Soft Edges ^^
(++ Superceded by Boris Continuum Complete/Calligraphy. The following plugs
reached end of life: Boris 3D Text, BC 3D Text, Boris Clouds, Boris Basic
3D, Boris Flat 3D Text)
(** Superceded by Ultimatte AdvantEdge)
(^^ All incorporated in Media-100 Final Effects Complete except for the
following: ICE Geometrics, ICE Motion, ICE Super Shadow, FE Particle
Systems, FE Particle Systems LE, FE Radial Blur, FE Wide Time, ICE DE
Chaotic Noise, ICE DE Chaotic Rainbow, ICE DE Fog Alpha, ICE DE FogBank, ICE
DE Starfield, ICE DE VideoLook, ICE'd Ultimatte)
**No Public Announcement regarding OS-X Compatibility**
Diaquest DQSoft.PIC
Electric Fish Color Pal
Electric Fish QTVRMatte
ElectricFX eFX Pyro
ElectricFX eFX Pyro3D
Forged Images Make Film Look Comp
Koji (Japan) Koji's Plugins
Media 100 Inc. ICEfx Base (accelerated)
Media 100 Inc. ICE'd Cinelook (accelerated)
Media 100 Inc. ICE'd Edges (accelerated)
Media 100 Inc. ICE'D Final Effects Complete (accelerated)
Panopticum AnimaText 3D
Panopticum Curtains
Panopticum Rulers
*OS-X plug-ins which are not currently supported for AE*
Boris Boris FX 6.1 (when used in AE)
Boris Boris Graffiti 2 (when used in
AE)
Boris Boris RED 2.5 (when used in AE)
*Plug-Ins which will probably never run under OS-X*
Adobe AE PS+ Extrude/Pinch/Ripple/Spherize
Adobe AE PS+ Tiles/Twirl/Wave/Zigzag
Adobe AE (ex-CultFX) CE Color Solid (redundant)
Adobe AE (ex-CultFX) CE FireUp (redundant)
Alias|Wavefront Paint Effects
Atomic Power Radio Wave
Atomic Power Radio Shape
Atomic Power Radio Star
Atomic Power Multiplane
Atomic Power Turbulator
Atomic Power Evolution Set (AE3.1 compatible version)
Boris Boris 3D Text
Boris BC 3D Text
Boris Boris Clouds
Boris Boris Basic 3D
Boris Boris Flat 3D Text
Boris Boris Rhythm
Boris Boris Z-Order
Cycore Cult Effects Vol. 1 (Adobe IDs different)
Cycore CE Set Channel (redundant)
Cycore CE View Channel (superceded)
DigiEffects DE Cyclonist
DigiEffects TILT Plug-ins (x7) [DE Delirium]
Kaleidafex Matte Pack
Media 100 FE Force Motion Blur
Media 100 FE Particle Systems
Media 100 FE Particle Systems LE
Media 100 FE Radial Blur
Media 100 FE Wide Time
Media 100 ICE Geometrics
Media 100 ICE Motion
Media 100 ICE Super Shadow
Pinnacle Systems Hollywood FX
Pixelan SpiceMaster
Zbig Zbig Chroma Keyer
