Boris FX

Boris FX is a visual effects and video editing software plug-in developer based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The developer is known for its flagship products, Continuum (formerly Boris Continuum Complete/BCC), Sapphire, Mocha, and Silhouette.

Boris FX creates plug-in tools for feature film, broadcast television, and multimedia post-production workflows. The plug-ins are compatible with various NLEs, including Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, Apple Final Cut Pro, and OFX hosts such as Autodesk Flame, Foundry Nuke, Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve and Fusion, and Vegas Pro.

History
Boris FX was founded in 1995 by Boris Yamnitsky. The former Media 100 engineer (a member of the original Media 100 launch team in 1993) released “Boris FX,” the first plug-in based digital video effects (DVE) for Adobe Premiere and Media 100, in 1995. The plug-in won Best of Show at Apple Macworld in Boston, MA the same year.

Continuum
The initial “Boris FX” DVE plug-in created in 1995 has continued to be developed over the years. The product was renamed Boris Continuum Complete (BCC) in 2001 and was most recently rebranded as Continuum. Various Boris Continuum versions were bundled with Avid Media Composer since 2004.

In October 2015, Boris FX released Continuum (v10), the first product release since the Imagineer Systems acquisition. Continuum (v10) introduced integrated Mocha planar tracking and masking tools into the collection. In October 2017, the company released Continuum (v11), which includes Academy Award-nominated Primatte tech, and a new 360/VR Unit for editing tasks.

In October 2018, Continuum relaunched Particle Illusion, a Mocha Essentials workflow with magnetic edge-snapping, and updates to Title Studio. In October 2019, Continuum introduced Corner Pin Studio with built-in Mocha tracking for quick screen replacement and inserts, 6 stylized transitions, and 4 creative effects.

In October 2020, Continuum released its largest update to date, with over 80 GPU-accelerated cinematic effects (film stocks, color grades, optical filter stimulations, digital gobo library), over 1000 drag and drop presets, a custom FX Editor interface, and real-time particles. In November 2021, Continuum added After Effects multi-frame rendering, native Apple M1 support, fluid dynamics inside Particle Illusion, 60 movie/TV-inspired color-grade presets, and more. In October 2022, Continuum introduced 10 new transitions, a simplified Particle Illusion workflow, an atmospheric glow effect, and over 250 curated presets.

Continuum plugins are used on broadcast television, streaming projects, and films, including A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO/HBO Max), Star Trek: Discovery (CBS), Andor (Disney+), The Curse of Oak Island (History Channel), Keeping up with the Kardashians (E!), This Old House (PBS), Ms. Marvel (Disney+), MasterChef (Fox), WipeOut (TBS), The Boys (Prime Video), and The Today Show (NBC).

Particle Illusion
As part of the merger with GenArts in 2016, Boris FX acquired the rights to the Particle Illusion (formerly particleIllusion) product, a storied particle system from the original developer Alan Lorence, the founder of Wondertouch. In 2018, Boris FX released a redesigned version of the product to a larger NLE/compositing market as part of Continuum (2019). The new Particle Illusion plug-in supports Adobe, Avid, and many OFX hosts.

Media 100
In October 2005, Yamnitsky acquired Media 100 the company that launched his plug-in career. Boris FX had a long relationship with Media 100 which bundled Boris RED software as its main titling and compositing solution. Media 100's video editing software is available as freeware for macOS.

Mocha Pro
In December 2014, Boris FX merged with Imagineer Systems, the UK-based developer of the Academy Award-winning planar motion tracking software, Mocha Pro. Mocha Pro's features include planar tracking (motion tracking), rotoscoping, image stabilization, 3D camera tracking, and object removal. In June 2016, Mocha released (v5) which introduced Mocha Pro's tools as plug-ins for Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and OFX hosts Foundry's NUKE, Blackmagic Design Fusion, VEGAS Pro, and HitFilm for the first time.

Mocha's product line also includes a lite-version of Mocha bundled with Adobe After Effects Creative Cloud known as Mocha AE. Mocha AE has been included with every version of After Effects since CS4. The lite-version of Mocha is also bundled with HitFilm Pro from FXhome. Mocha's tracking SDK (software developers kit) is also licensed to other VFX products including SAM Quantel Pablo Rio, Silhouette FX, CoreMelt, and Motion VFX. In February 2017, Boris FX launched Mocha VR, based on Mocha's planar tracking and masking tools. Mocha VR is the first 360-optimized plug-in for Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer. and OFX Hosts: Nuke, Fusion & Vegas Pro.

Mocha Pro has been used on major films and television shows including Birdman, Black Swan, the Harry Potter series, The Hobbit, and Star Wars.

Sapphire
In September 2016, Boris FX merged with former competitor, GenArts, developer of Sapphire high-end visual effects plug-ins. In March 2017, Sapphire released eight individual Sapphire Units based on separate effect categories. In October 2017, Boris FX released its first new version of Sapphire since the GenArts acquisition. Sapphire (v11) now includes integrated Mocha tracking and masking tools. Sapphire is available for Adobe, Avid, the Autodesk Flame family, and OFX hosts including Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve and Fusion, and Foundry's NUKE. As part of the merger, Boris FX acquired the rights to Particle Illusion. In 2018, Boris FX reintroduced the product to the larger NLE/Compositing market.

Sapphire's plug-ins have been used on major films including Avatar, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Iron Man, The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix trilogy, Titanic, and X-Men.

Silhouette
In September 2019, Boris FX merged with SilhouetteFX, Academy Award-winning developer of Silhouette, a high-end digital paint, advanced rotoscoping, motion tracking, and node-based compositing application for visual effects in film post-production. In November 2019, Boris FX released Silhouette 2020 which includes free built-in Mocha planar tracking, new rotoscoping tools such as magnetic splines and a visual overlay preview, three new paint brushes, and a paint detail separation workflow. In April 2020, Boris FX released the new Silhouette Paint plug-in product for Adobe, Autodesk, Nuke, and other OFX hosts.

Silhouette has been used on major films including Avatar, Avengers: Infinity War, Blade Runner 2049, Ex Machina, and Interstellar.

Optics
In June 2020, Boris FX launched Optics, its first plugin developed for photographers and digital artists. The plugin delivers cinematic effects to Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom and is also available as a standalone application. Optics includes over 160 effects in categories such as lighting, film stocks, lens effects, gobos, and color grades. In February 2022, Boris FX released Optics (v 2022), which adds Particle Illusion, a photorealistic particle engine, beauty tools, and over 2000 presets.

1995

 * Boris FX, Mac World, Digital Video Magazine, Best of Show Award

2013

 * Imagineer Systems, Academy Awards, Scientific and Engineering Award
 * Soundbite, Studio Daily Prime Award

2016

 * Continuum, Post Magazine, NAB 2016 Post Pick

2017

 * Boris FX, Boris Yamnitsky, Digital Video Industry Innovator Award
 * Mocha VR, Post Magazine, NAB 2017 Post Pick
 * Mocha VR, Digital Video, 2017 NAB Best of Show Award Winner

2018

 * Mocha VR, Advanced Imaging Society, 2018 Lumiere Technology Award

2019

 * Silhouette, Academy Awards, Scientific and Engineering Award
 * Sapphire, Engineering Emmy Award
 * Mocha Pro, Engineering Emmy Award
 * Silhouette, Engineering Emmy Award