Sapphire Plugins for After Effects Mac 20: What You Need to Know Before You Buy
Sapphire Plugins for After Effects Mac 20: A Comprehensive Review
If you are an After Effects user who wants to create stunning visual effects for your videos, you might have heard of Sapphire plugins. These are a collection of over 270 effects and 3000+ presets that let you enhance your footage with organic and realistic looks that are unmatched by any native effect tools in After Effects.
Sapphire Plugins For After Effects Mac 20
In this article, we will review the latest version of Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20, which is Sapphire 2023.5. We will cover what are Sapphire plugins, why they are useful for After Effects users, what are the main features and benefits of the latest version, how to install and use them, and some tips and tricks for getting the best results.
By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of what Sapphire plugins can do for your videos, and how you of Sapphire plugins, and they include effects such as blurs, glows, distortions, lighting, color correction, stylization, and more. Sapphire Transitions are the transitions that you can use to move from one clip to another, and they include wipes, dissolves, slides, pushes, and more.
One of the most distinctive features of Sapphire plugins is the Builder tool, which allows you to create your own custom effects and transitions by combining and adjusting different Sapphire effects using a node-based interface. You can also use the Preset Browser to browse and apply thousands of presets that are designed by professional artists and editors.
Another unique feature of Sapphire plugins is the integration with Mocha, which is a powerful planar tracking and masking tool that lets you isolate and apply effects to specific areas of your footage. You can use Mocha to track and mask objects, faces, text, logos, and more with ease and accuracy.
Why Use Sapphire Plugins for After Effects?
Stunning Visual Effects
One of the main reasons to use Sapphire plugins for After Effects is that they provide you with stunning visual effects that are organic and realistic. Unlike some of the native effects in After Effects, which can look artificial or flat, Sapphire plugins create effects that are dynamic and natural.
For example, you can use Sapphire plugins to create realistic lens flares, glows, light leaks, fire, smoke, water, sparks, and more. You can also use Sapphire plugins to stylize your footage with film looks, vintage effects, grunge effects, glitch effects, and more. You can also use Sapphire plugins to correct and enhance your footage with color grading, noise reduction, sharpening, and more.
Sapphire plugins are designed to work seamlessly with After Effects' native tools, such as masks, shapes, text layers, expressions, and more. You can also use Sapphire plugins with other third-party plugins, such as Element 3D, Trapcode Particular, Red Giant Universe, and more.
Powerful Effect and Transition Builder
Another reason to use Sapphire plugins for After Effects is that they give you the power to create your own custom effects and transitions using the Builder tool. The Builder tool is an intuitive node-based interface that lets you combine and adjust different Sapphire effects to create unique and complex looks.
You can access the Builder tool by applying the S_Effect or S_Transition effect to your layer in After Effects. Then you can click on the Edit Effect or Edit Transition button to open the Builder window. There you can see a node graph that represents the effect or transition that you have applied. You can add more nodes by dragging and dropping them from the effect list on the left side of the window. You can also connect nodes by dragging wires between them. You can adjust the parameters of each node by selecting it and using the controls on the right side of the window.
The Builder tool also provides you with a preview window that shows you how your effect or transition looks on your footage. You can also use the timeline at the bottom of the window to animate your effect or transition over time. You can also save your custom effect or transition as a preset and share it with others.
Integrated Tracking and Masking with Mocha
A third reason to use Sapphire plugins for After Effects is that they integrate with Mocha, which is a powerful planar tracking and masking tool that lets you isolate and apply effects to specific areas of your footage. Mocha is included with every Sapphire plugin license, so you don't need to buy it separately.
You can access Mocha by applying any Sapphire effect to your layer in After Effects. Then you can click on the Mocha button in the effect controls panel. This will open the Mocha window where you can see your footage and draw shapes around the objects or areas that you want to track or mask. You can then click on the Track button to let Mocha analyze your footage and create a planar track for your shape. You can also adjust the shape's points and edges using the tools on the left side of the window.
Once you have created your shape and track in Mocha, you can click on the Save button to return to After Effects. There you can see that your shape has been converted into a mask for your layer. You can then use this mask to apply your effect only to the area that you want to affect. You can also use the mask to create a matte or a cutout for your layer. You can also invert the mask to apply your effect to the opposite area of your footage.
What's New in Sapphire 2023.5?
Parameter Linking in Builder
One of the new features in Sapphire 2023.5 is the parameter linking feature, which allows you to create dynamic and complex effects by connecting parameters and values across different Sapphire effects. This means that you can make one parameter depend on another parameter, or make one parameter control another parameter, or make one parameter affect multiple parameters.
For example, you can link the brightness of a glow effect to the rotation of a distortion effect, so that the glow gets brighter as the distortion rotates. Or you can link the color of a stylization effect to the position of a blur effect, so that the color changes as the blur moves. Or you can link the scale of a transition effect to the opacity of an overlay effect, so that the transition gets bigger as the overlay fades out.
To use the parameter linking feature, you need to open the Builder tool and select any node in your node graph. Then you can right-click on any parameter in the controls panel and choose Link Parameter from the menu. This will open a dialog box where you can select another node and another parameter to link to. You can also choose how you want to link them: by value, by expression, or by curve. You can also unlink any parameter by right-clicking on it and choosing Unlink Parameter from the menu.
Quick Access and Favorites in Builder
Another new feature in Sapphire 2023.5 is the quick access feature, which provides you with a fast option to find and add effects to Builder. Instead of browsing through the long list of effects on the left side of the Builder window, you can use the quick access feature to search for effects by name, category, or tag. You can also see a preview of each effect before adding it to your node graph.
To use the quick access feature, you need to open the Builder tool and click on the magnifying glass icon on the top left corner of the Builder window. This will open a search box where you can type in any keyword related to the effect that you are looking for. You can also use filters to narrow down your search results by category or tag. You can then drag and drop any effect from the search results to your node graph.
In addition to the quick access feature, Sapphire 2023.5 also introduces the favorites feature, which allows you to star frequently used effects and add them to the favorites category. This way, you can access your favorite effects more easily and quickly without having to search for them every time.
To use the favorites feature, you need to open the Builder tool and right-click on any effect in the effect list on the left side of the Builder window. Then you can choose Add to Favorites from the menu. This will add a star icon next to the effect name and move it to the favorites category at the top of the effect list. You can also remove any effect from the favorites by right-clicking on it and choosing Remove from Favorites from the menu.
Custom Parameter Naming in Builder
A third new feature in Sapphire 2023.5 is the custom parameter naming feature, which allows you to create your own names for any parameter inside any Sapphire effect. This can help you to identify key parameters in an effect, especially when you have multiple effects with similar parameters in your node graph.
To use the custom parameter naming feature, you need to open the Builder tool and select any node in your node graph. Then you can right-click on any parameter in the controls panel and choose Rename Parameter from the menu. This will open a dialog box where you can type in your own name for the parameter. You can also restore the original name of the parameter by right-clicking on it and choosing Restore Parameter Name from the menu.
New and Improved Presets
A fourth new feature in Sapphire 2023.5 is the addition of new and improved presets for Sapphire effects and transitions. Presets are pre-made settings that you can apply to your effects and transitions to achieve different looks and styles. They are designed by professional artists and editors who have years of experience with Sapphire plugins.
The new version of Sapphire includes 15 new S_Effect presets and 12 new S_Transition presets, giving you more options and variety for your effects and transitions. Some of the new presets include: S_Effect - Glitchy Text, S_Effect - Retro TV, S_Effect - VHS Distortion, S_Transition - Film Roll, S_Transition - Light Leak Dissolve, S_Transition - Swish Pan.
In addition to the new presets, Sapphire 2023.5 also includes more than 130 updated and improved presets, giving you more refined and polished looks for your effects and transitions. Some of the updated presets include: S_Effect - Film Damage, S_Effect - Film Effect, S_Effect - Night Vision, S_Transition - Dissolve Glow, S_Transition - Dissolve Shake, S_Transition - Wipe Filmstrip.
You can access the presets by using the Preset Browser tool, which you can open by clicking on the Load Preset button in the effect controls panel. There you can see a list of presets organized by category and tag. You can also see a preview of each preset before applying it to your effect or transition.
New Flares
A fifth new feature in Sapphire 2023.5 is the addition of new flares for Sapphire Lens Flare effect. Flares are optical phenomena that occur when light reflects or refracts through a lens or an object, creating bright spots or streaks in your footage. They can be used to add realism, drama, or style to your videos.
The new version of Sapphire includes 12 updated Sapphire Lens Flares, adding more realism and variety to your flare effects. Some of the updated flares include: Anamorphic Flare, Camera Flash, Cinematic Flare, Sci-Fi Flare, Starburst Flare, Sun Flare.
You can access the flares by using the Lens Flare Designer tool, which you can open by applying the S_LensFlare effect to your layer in After Effects. Then you can click on the Edit Lens button in the effect controls panel. There you can see a list of flares on the left side of the window. You can also see a preview of each flare on your footage. You can adjust the parameters of each flare using the controls on the right side of the window.
How to Install and Use Sapphire Plugins for After Effects Mac 20?
Installation Instructions
To install Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20, you need to follow these steps:
Download the Sapphire installer from the Boris FX website. You can choose between a full installer or a patch installer, depending on whether you have a previous version of Sapphire installed or not.
Run the installer and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to agree to the license agreement, choose your installation location, and select your host applications.
Enter your license information when prompted. You can either activate your license online using your Boris FX account, or offline using an activation key that you can request from the Boris FX website.
Wait for the installation to complete and restart your host applications.
The system requirements for Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20 are:
Mac OS X 10.13 or higher
After Effects CC 2018 or higher
4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended)
1 GB of disk space (for caching and temporary files)
An OpenGL 2.1 capable graphics card and driver
Using Sapphire Plugins in After Effects
To use Sapphire plugins in After Effects, you need to follow these steps:
Create a new composition or open an existing one in After Effects.
Import your footage or create a new layer in your composition.
Go to the Effects menu and choose Sapphire Effects or Sapphire Transitions. You will see a list of Sapphire effects and transitions that you can apply to your layer.
Select the effect or transition that you want to apply and drag and drop it to your layer in the timeline or the composition window.
Adjust the parameters of the effect or transition using the effect controls panel. You can also use keyframes to animate the parameters over time.
If you want to use the Builder tool, click on the Edit Effect or Edit Transition button in the effect controls panel. This will open the Builder window where you can create your own custom effect or transition using different Sapphire effects.
If you want to use Mocha, click on the Mocha button in the effect controls panel. This will open the Mocha window where you can draw shapes and track and mask specific areas of your footage.
If you want to use the Preset Browser, click on the Load Preset button in the effect controls panel. This will open the Preset Browser window where you can browse and apply thousands of presets for your effect or transition.
Preview and render your composition as usual.
Tips and Tricks for Using Sapphire Plugins in After Effects
Here are some useful tips and tricks for optimizing your workflow and enhancing your results with Sapphire plugins in After Effects:
Use expressions to link parameters across different Sapphire effects or layers. For example, you can link the color of a glow effect to the color of a text layer, or link the rotation of a distortion effect to the rotation of a shape layer.
Use masks to create transitions between clips. For example, you can use a mask to reveal or hide a clip with a Sapphire transition effect, or use a mask to blend two clips with a Sapphire effect.
Use blending modes to create interesting effects. For example, you can use the Screen or Add blending mode to make a Sapphire glow or flare effect more visible, or use the Multiply or Overlay blending mode to make a Sapphire film or grunge effect more subtle.
Use adjustment layers to apply Sapphire effects to multiple layers at once. For example, you can use an adjustment layer with a Sapphire color grading or stylization effect to affect all the layers below it.
Use pre-compositions to create complex effects. For example, you can pre-compose a layer with a Sapphire distortion or lighting effect and then apply another Sapphire effect to the pre-composition.
Conclusion
Sapphire plugins are a collection of over 270 effects and 3000+ presets that let you create stunning visual effects for your videos in After Effects. They are compatible with Mac 20 and other hosts and platforms. They offer features such as the Builder tool, the Mocha integration, the Preset Browser, and more. They also include new and improved features in the latest version, such as parameter linking, quick access, custom parameter naming, new presets, and new flares.
If you are looking for a way to enhance your footage with organic and realistic effects that are unmatched by any native effect tools in After Effects, you should definitely try out Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20. You can download a free trial from the Boris FX website and see for yourself what Sapphire plugins can do for your videos.
Thank you for reading this article. We hope you found it informative and helpful. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. And don't forget to share this article with your friends and colleagues who might be interested in Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20.
FAQs
Here are some answers to some common questions that readers might have about Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20:
How much does Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20 cost?
Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20 cost $1695 for a permanent license, $495 for an annual subscription, or $195 for a monthly subscription. You can also buy Sapphire plugins as part of the Boris FX Suite, which includes Continuum, Mocha Pro, Silhouette, and Optics.
How do I get support for Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20?
You can get support for Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20 by visiting the Boris FX website and accessing the support center. There you can find user guides, tutorials, forums, FAQs, downloads, updates, and contact information.
How do I get updates for Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20?
You can get updates for Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20 by visiting the Boris FX website and accessing the downloads page. There you can find the latest versions of Sapphire plugins and other Boris FX products. You can also check for updates within After Effects by going to the Help menu and choosing Check for Updates.
How do I learn more about Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20?
You can learn more about Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20 by visiting the Boris FX website and accessing the product page. There you can find features, specifications, reviews, testimonials, galleries, videos, webinars, events, and more.
How do I get more presets for Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20?
You can get more presets for Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20 by visiting the Boris FX website and accessing the preset page. There you can find thousands of presets created by professional artists and editors that you can download and use for free.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about Sapphire plugins for After Effects Mac 20. If you want to try them out yourself, you can download a free trial from the Boris FX website and see how they can transform your videos. dcd2dc6462