Available immediately, version 2 features many new effects and improved functionality
(Cambridge, MA. April 4, 2006) 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 version 2 for Avid® editing systems. With 46 new effects and a wide array of new features, Sapphire 2 delivers the next evolution of industry-standard visual effects for Avid users. This release includes a variety of enhancements for users, such as single click application of effects to a title or key, background and mask inputs, 2D moves built into the plug-ins, and a versatile new FilmDamage effect.
Curtis Nichols, Senior Editor at PCS Production Co., a full service media communications company, commented "Great upgrade! I love all the new parameters. Apply to Title/Key and Crop/Transform are important new features, and the grouping of effects is magnificent."
Version 2 contains all of the visual effects and features that have established Sapphire Plug-ins as an indispensable part of the digital artist's toolkit - plus many new effects, additional functionality, and overall usability enhancements. "Sapphire 2 includes some great improvements on an already excellent product," noted Gus Comegys of Chainsaw, a post production facility in Santa Monica. "The new FilmDamage effect gives lovely organic results and the ability to easily add effects to titles is a big time saver. At Chainsaw, we have already used many of these new plug-ins on some of our biggest shows."
Sapphire Plug-ins 2 leverages the AVX2™ feature set, enabling Avid editors to be even more productive with onscreen widgets, improved keyframing and many new temporal effects. "Third-party developers play a very important role in the Avid community by offering tools that enrich the editing experience, fuel creativity and further expand the functionality of our products. Over the years, many of our customers have come to rely on GenArts' Sapphire Plug-ins for their visual effects work," said Matt Allard, Senior Product Manager, Avid Technology, Inc. "The release of Sapphire Plug-ins 2 demonstrates GenArts' continued success in taking full advantage of the AVX development architecture as well as their commitment to serving Avid's users."
"We are thrilled with this new version of Sapphire Plug-ins for Avid. This release further improves the Avid user's workflow and adds to their already impressive creative capabilities," explained Karl Sims, President of GenArts, Inc.
Key new features of Sapphire Plug-ins version 2 for Avid products:
- 46 new effects
- Single click application of effects to a title or key
- New crop and 2D transform parameters
- Optional background and mask inputs
- Support for AVX2 keyframe model
- On-screen widgets for visual adjustment of many parameters
- Plug-ins are grouped in 9 menus for easier access
- Support for 16-bit images
- Improved rendering speed
- FilmDamage simulates aged film by adding scratches, dust, stains, grain, shake, flicker, etc.
- Temporal effects such as FieldRemove, FlickerRemove, FeedBack, RandomEdits, TimeSlice, MotionDetect and TimeWarpRGB
- New transition effects such as WipeRings, WipeTiles, SwishPan, DissolveGlow and DissolveFilm
- New stylize effects such as Cartoon, Posterize, HalfToneRings, BleachBypass and Vignette
Availability and Pricing
Sapphire Plug-ins version 2 for Avid can be purchased directly from GenArts or through their worldwide channel of Avid Authorized resellers. Pricing for Sapphire 2 is: $1800 for Avid Xpress® Pro; $2800 for Symphony™ Nitris, Media Composer® Adrenaline™, Xpress or Newscutter®; and $4800 for Avid DS Nitris. Existing version 1 customers qualify for special upgrade pricing of $600, $900 and $1600, respectively. A free trial of the software is available online at
http://www.genarts.com
GenArts will be giving demonstrations of Sapphire Plug-ins version 2 at NAB in booths SL5138J and SL1513.
About GenArts, Inc.
Founded in 1996 in Cambridge, Mass., GenArts, Inc. is the premier provider of digital visual effects plug-ins for the film, broadcast and video industries. Their product, Sapphire Plug-ins, equips digital artists with a collection of over 190 state-of-the-art image processing and synthesis effects such as: Glows, EdgeRays, LensFlare, Lightning, FilmEffect, Warps and Textures. The effects seamlessly integrate into a number of editing and compositing systems including: Adobe® After Effects® and Premiere® Pro; Apple® Final Cut Pro®, Shake® and Motion®; Avid®; Autodesk's® Discreet® Systems and Combustion®; Eyeon® Fusion®; Sony® XPRI®; and Quantel® generationQ products.
Sapphire Plug-ins have become the industry standard for high-end visual effects creation by providing unrivaled image quality, a unique organic look, and ease of use. They have been used extensively in an array of television programs, music videos and feature films, including:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Star Wars – Episode I, II and
III,
Spider-Man 1, 2 and
3,
Sin City,
The Matrix trilogy,
Titanic, Lost and
CSI. Additional GenArts product information can be found at
http://www.genarts.com
About Avid Technology, Inc.
Avid Technology, Inc is the world leader in digital nonlinear media creation, management, and distribution solutions, enabling film, video, audio, animation, games and broadcast professionals to work more efficiently, productively and creatively. For more information about the company's award winning products and services, please visit:
http://www.avid.com
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