Reflection on the Year 2023: A Rearview Mirror
Boris FX, a leading provider of visual effects (VFX) tools for editors, has recently announced a series of significant updates to its suite of products. The latest releases for 2023 and 2024 focus on enhancing user workflow, expanding creative effects, and leveraging AI technologies to improve productivity and creative possibilities in VFX compositing and editing.
Sapphire 2025: Innovative Digital Glitch Art and Precise Rotoscoping
The most notable update comes with Boris FX Sapphire 2025, which introduces a revamped LensFlare and Flare Designer, a new PixelSort digital glitch art effect, and a new WhipLash transition. Sapphire 2025 also offers a new animating shape tool for the Effect and Transition Builder and a redesigned Mocha Essentials workspace with new spline tools such as magnetic edge snapping. The upgrade is optimised for maximum CPU and GPU performance, improving efficiency in VFX workflows.
SynthEyes 2025: AI-Powered 3D Tracking and Matchmoving
SynthEyes 2025 boasts AI-powered updates for 3D tracking, including AI masking for fast object isolation. This significant improvement in speed and efficiency is a game-changer for matchmoving and camera tracking tasks in VFX production.
Expanding the Boris FX Suite
The Boris FX Suite expanded in April with the addition of CrumplePop and SynthEyes. In August, the suite was further enriched with SynthEyes 2024 and a free Particle Illusion Standalone. Boris FX Suite subscribers also gain free access to the premium downloads of all Essential training series.
Free Tools and Essentials
Continuum Essentials and Silhouette Essentials, both available for free or premium download, offer two tracks: rotoscoping and compositing. Additionally, Particle Illusion Standalone was made available for free in May.
Notable Releases
- In April, Sapphire 2023.5, Mocha Pro 2023, and Silhouette 2023 were released.
- Continuum FCP: 2023.5 and CrumplePop 2023.5 were released in June.
- Mocha VEGAS, Continuum FCP - Lens Flares, and Continuum FCP - Light Flicker were released in August.
- The Boris FX Suite was released in October, adding CrumplePop and SynthEyes, along with SynthEyes 2024 and another free Particle Illusion Standalone.
- Optics 2024 was released in September.
- Sapphire 2024, Continuum 2024, CrumplePop 2024, and Silhouette 2023.5 were released in November.
Real-World Applications
Boris FX products have been used in various popular shows and videos, including The Last Of Us, Ted Lasso, Hawkeye, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and YouTuber Jonkari P's meme videos with over 115 million views.
These new tools underscore Boris FX's commitment to combining technical innovation with artistic control, ensuring that their flagship suite continues to be a powerful tool for VFX professionals and creatives alike.
- Boris FX Sapphire 2025, a revamped component of the Boris FX suite, integrates AI technologies by introducing a new PixelSort digital glitch art effect and AI masking for fast object isolation, enhancing productivity in VFX workflows.
- In the technological arena, SynthEyes 2025, a component of the Boris FX suite, leverages AI-powered updates for 3D tracking, providing significant speed and efficiency improvements that revolutionize matchmoving and camera tracking tasks in VFX production.
