GenArts Inc. announced the immediate availability of Sapphire Plug-ins version 2.05 for Avid AVX products. The new version is compatible with Avid systems running on the Intel-based Mac platform and includes various improvements for both Mac and Windows platforms.
The initial release of Sapphire 2 contained 46 new effects, including FilmDamage, Cartoon and many unique temporal effects, as well as a number of improvements for users, such as single click application of effects to a title or key, background and mask inputs, and 2D moves built into the plug-ins. "We are pleased to offer our continued support for Avid's most recent improvements and make our latest plug-in package for their products available on Mac Intel," said Anish Dhanda, managing director of GenArts.
Adam Kranitz, product marketing manager at Avid Technology Inc., said, "GenArts provides the Avid creative community with an indispensable collection of visual effects tools that seamlessly integrates with Avid editing systems and enriches our customers' experience. With this prompt release for Intel-based Macs in parallel with the release of Avid's applications for the platform, GenArts is clearly demonstrating its continued support and strong commitment to the Avid user community."
Key new features in Sapphire Plug-ins 2.05:
* Support for Avid editing systems running on Intel-based Macs: Media Composer Adrenaline v2.7, Media Composer v2.7 software and Avid Xpress Pro 5.7* Universal support for Mac Intel and Mac PowerPC, including new native x86 code to provide excellent performance on Mac Intel processors* Sequences and bins saved with previous versions of Sapphire 2.x on Windows or Mac PowerPC are fully conformable to version 2.05 on Windows, Mac PowerPC and Mac Intel
The upgrade to v2.05 is free for existing v2 customers. 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: $1,800 for Avid Xpress Pro; $2,800 for Symphony Nitris, Media Composer Adrenaline, Newscutter and the Avid DS Assist Station; and $4,800 for Avid DS Nitris v8.0. Sapphire Plug-ins version 1 customers are eligible for special upgrade pricing of $600, $900 and $1,600, respectively. A free trial of the software is available online at the GenArts website.
Founded in 1996 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, GenArts Inc. (www.genarts.com) 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 more than 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 and Shake; Avid AVX products; Autodesk compositing & editing 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 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN franchise, SUPERMAN RETURNS, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, STAR WARS: EPISODE I, II and III, the SPIDER-MAN franchise, SIN CITY, THE MATRIX trilogy, the X-MEN franchise, TITANIC, LOST and CSI.
Avid Technology Inc. (www.avid.com) is a 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.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
