Boris FX

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

Boris FX creates plug-in tools for post-production workflows. The plug-ins support a variety of NLEs, including Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, Avid, Autodesk,  Final Cut Pro X, and OFX hosts such as The Foundry’s NUKE, Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve and Fusion, and Magix VEGAS Pro.

History
Boris FX was founded in 1995 by Boris Yamnitsky. The former Media 100 engineer (a member of the original Media 100 NLE NAB 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. Since 2014, a limited Boris Continuum Lite version is bundled with Avid Media Composer subscription options.

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.

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.

Final Effects Complete
In June 2005, Boris FX expanded its product line by acquiring Final Effects Complete from the Israeli software company Optibase. Final Effects Complete, featuring over 100 VFX plug-ins is available as a separate package for Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Avid Media Composer.

Media 100
In October 2005, Yamnitsky acquired Media 100 from the employer 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 now available free to Mac OS users.

Mocha
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 The Foundry’s NUKE, Blackmagic Design Fusion, Magix 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 The Foundry’s NUKE. As part of the merger, Boris FX acquired the rights to Particle Illusion – a storied particle system from the original developer Wondertouch. In 2018, Boris FX announced the reintroduction of 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.

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