GenArts Sapphire 7 gets new effects, presets, speed boosts
updated 11:12 am EDT, Fri March 29, 2013
Gets real-time rendering in Avid
GenArts has started shipping Sapphire 7, a new edition of its visual effects software. The app plugs into a number of different platforms, including After Effects, Autodesk, Avid, Final Cut, and Nuke. The upgrade includes some new and improved effects, including EdgeAwareBlur, Beauty, Advanced Sharpen, LensFlare, Zap, MotionBlur, and the Avid-only PanAndZoom. New transitions include FilmRoll, CardFlip, and FlutterCut.
The number of presets in the software has been doubled to over 2,500, and presets can now be shared between platforms. GPU code has been tweaked for better performance, and CUDA support has been added to more plugins. Avid users, meanwhile, can render most effects in real-time.
Sapphire 7 licenses start around $1,699, but can be cheaper or more expensive depending on upgrade status and other options. People can also choose to rent the software, or try it free for 14 days.
