For those who don’t know the tool: Boris FX Sapphire is a long-standing plugin suite for compositing, finishing, and broadcast design. It runs in Premiere Pro, After Effects, Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, and Nuke. Sapphire Builder, the node-based editor inside Sapphire, lets users combine multiple filters and create reusable presets for a consistent studio look.

From Synthesis to Sapphire

Following the well-received Syntheyes Essentials training, Boris FX is back with Sapphire Builder Essentials, a free 11-part video course that takes about an hour to complete. Published in December 2025, the training focuses on getting both editors and artists comfortable with Sapphire’s Builder environment and its cross-host workflows.

The videos, presented by product specialist Grant Kay, introduce Sapphire’s extensive filter library, Lens Flare Designer, and the Builder’s node-based workflow for combining multiple effects. The lessons are structured for quick learning, moving from basic setup to professional features such as linked parameters, preset export, and transition creation.

Get all the Videos here: https://borisfx.com/free-training/sapphire-builder-essentials/

Multi-host, one look

Once the groundwork is set, Kay demonstrates how Builder expands Sapphire’s traditional one-filter-per-clip workflow into a modular, node-based design space. Users can layer, branch, and combine filters into complex effects while keeping parameters clearly organised for team-wide use.

Smart presets, real pipelines

A significant portion of the course covers parameter linking and preset management, features often overlooked in casual plugin use but essential in production environments. Viewers learn to connect parameters, expose only relevant controls, and export custom presets to the shared Sapphire Preset Browser, ensuring every workstation produces identical results.

Further episodes explore practical aspects such as handling multiple inputs (foreground, background, and matte), integrating text or graphics from the host, and managing preset compatibility across machines. The training ends with a look at Builder’s system messages and how to handle common warnings, particularly those related to parameter limits in Premiere Pro and time-based effects.

Designed for working artists

Although relatively short, the course presents a clear path for professionals wanting to bring order and repeatability to Sapphire-based looks. By concentrating on collaboration, preset standardisation, and version consistency, Sapphire Builder Essentials positions Sapphire not only as a creative toolkit but also as a reliable production component across hosts. The entire 11-part training is available for free on the Boris FX training portal. As with all new tools and updates, users are advised to test Builder workflows in a controlled environment before rolling them out to client projects.

The post Sapphire gets the “Essentials” treatment first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

For those who don’t know the tool: SynthEyes by Boris FX is a dedicated 3D camera tracking and matchmoving software used across film, VFX, and advertising production. It interfaces smoothly with Nuke, After Effects, Fusion and other DCC applications, delivering fast, precise solves for integration of CG into live action. Part of the Boris FX Suite, SynthEyes sits alongside tools such as Mocha Pro, Continuum, Sapphire, and Silhouette, forming a tightly integrated pipeline of visual effects and finishing plugins.

Free matchmove mastery – for a limited time

Boris FX has announced SynthEyes Essentials, a new training series designed to teach both the conceptual foundations and practical workflows of matchmoving in SynthEyes. The package, usually priced at USD 95, is available as a free premium download until 31 December 2025.

The offer includes over three hours of professional instruction, spread across eighteen videos, with accompanying project files and sample footage. The series is taught by Boris FX product specialist Christoph Zapletal, a long-time VFX artist and trainer – and Digital Production’s own Compositing, Flame and Star trek Author.

Topics include matchmove theory, camera solving, AI-assisted workflows, roto masking, lens distortion management, mesh generation, and object tracking. Boris FX positions the series as a comprehensive, concept-driven training rather than a feature-by-feature tutorial. If you want to learn what you are doing, and not just which button to press, this is the course for you.

What do you get?

Across eighteen lessons and twelve blocks, SynthEyes Essentials builds a structured learning path from theory to application. It starts with conceptual understanding, progresses through tracking, solving, calibration, and ends with practical export and integration workflows. Each block is designed to be modular, allowing artists to focus on specific parts of the matchmove process or follow the series sequentially for a full onboarding to SynthEyes.

Foundations and Core Concepts

The course opens with an Introduction and a clear explanation of the Underlying Concepts of matchmoving. These first lessons establish the theoretical foundation of what camera solving actually does, namely mapping 2D image data into a consistent 3D coordinate space. Christoph outlines how SynthEyes interprets motion, focal length, and parallax, giving artists a solid base before they begin working hands-on. This section sets the tone for the entire training: conceptual understanding first, tools second.

Tracking Workflows

Once the principles are clear, the series moves into practical tracking. Lessons on Automated Tracking and Supervised Tracking demonstrate SynthEyes’ two primary approaches to extracting tracking data. Automated tracking covers point generation and solving for shots that can be processed algorithmically. The supervised section focuses on when and how to step in manually: tuning track points, correcting drift, and controlling motion paths when the automated system struggles. Together, these chapters establish a complete understanding of tracking strategies for real production footage.

Solving and Refinement

The next stage is “The Solver Room”, where all the accumulated tracking data is converted into a working 3D solve. The solver section demonstrates how SynthEyes interprets the camera’s path and reconstructs the scene’s geometry. The training then introduces Roto Masking, showing how to isolate moving foreground elements or exclude unwanted regions from the tracking process. This not only improves accuracy but also keeps solves stable in complex or occluded shots.

Lens and Calibration

Zapletal then focuses on optical parameters in three consecutive chapters: Lens Distortion, Lens Calculation, and Lens Calibration. These lessons explain how real-world lenses introduce distortion, how SynthEyes models and compensates for it, and how to calculate or calibrate lenses from footage or reference data. This block is particularly useful for artists working with varying cameras or mixed-format source material, where lens data is inconsistent or missing.

Coordinate Systems and Scene Setup

The two lessons titled Coordinate Systems Part 1 and Part 2 explain how SynthEyes handles scene orientation, scale, and alignment. Understanding coordinate spaces is crucial when exporting solves to downstream 3D applications such as Nuke or Maya. These chapters ensure that solved data lines up correctly with CG scenes and compositing environments, avoiding scale and rotation mismatches in later stages of production.

Mesh Generation

The Mesh Generation Part 1 and 2 chapters explore SynthEyes’ built-in mesh tools. Artists learn how to create proxy geometry that helps verify solves, anchor objects in space, and visualise tracking quality. These lessons demonstrate both automated and manual mesh workflows, preparing users for typical use cases like ground plane setup or background modelling for compositing reference.

Object Tracking

Next, Object Tracking Part 1 and Part 2 move beyond camera solves to show how SynthEyes handles independent object motion. This section is key for shots with multiple moving elements—cars, props, or handheld devices. It explains how to isolate and track objects independently while maintaining a consistent world space between multiple solves.

Export and Integration

The final three chapters deal with transferring the finished solve to other applications. Zapletal demonstrates exporting cameras, point clouds, meshes, and nulls to standard 3D and compositing packages. Topics include export format choices, scaling conventions, and verification of data integrity. The course closes with best practices for integrating SynthEyes results into downstream VFX or editing pipelines.

Availability and next steps

Artists can download SynthEyes Essentials for free via the Boris FX webshop until the end of December 2025. From 1 January 2026, it will be priced at USD 95 for the premium download, though the videos will remain freely viewable on the Boris FX website. As with any training-based workflow adoption, users are advised to validate techniques and settings against their own production data before deploying in critical pipeline stages, but, after we have seen a few of the videos, this one will be useful for pretty much everybody.

The post SynthEyes Essentials Training is here and Free for the Holidays first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

The Boris FX Optics 2026 update refines the user experience and adds several new ML-powered filters. A major new addition is the Photoshop Plugins Panel, a dockable workspace inside Photoshop that lets users browse, apply and adjust Optics filters without leaving the host interface. This streamlines workflow by putting Optics tools alongside standard Photoshop tools. New filters include DeNoise ML, UpRes ML, Depth Map ML and Face ML.

The DeNoise ML filter uses deep learning to reduce unwanted noise while retaining detail, useful for low-light or high-ISO images. The UpRes ML filter uses a trained ML model to upscale images while preserving structure and fine detail, useful for printing, cropping, or restoring old photos.

Depth-Aware and Facial Masking

The Depth Map ML tool analyses an image and produces a depth-based mask distinguishing near and far areas. That mask can then be used to selectively apply blur, colour correction or other adjustments according to depth, for example to simulate depth-of-field or separate foreground from background.

The Face ML mask automatically detects facial regions such as skin, eyes, lips, and mouth, and isolates them into distinct masks. This allows targeted retouching or selective colour adjustments without manual masking. It is particularly useful for portrait work and composite touch-ups. Masks created by Depth Map ML or Face ML can also be used as input sources for other filters, meaning users can chain effects such as depth-based blur or targeted colour correction.

Creative Updates: Sapphire + Particle Engine Enhancements

The update includes refreshed effects from Sapphire (v2025.5) integrated into Optics. Among the new creative tools are PixelSort, a glitch-style pixel sorting effect, and VHSDamage, which simulates analogue tape artefacts such as scanlines, noise and colour degradation.

These add modern, stylised looks beyond standard photo corrections. Additionally, the bundled particle engine Particle Illusion has been updated to v2026, with improvements in animation, camera control and an expanded emitter library. This offers more flexibility for creating smoke, dust, light-particles or abstract effects directly inside Optics.

What This Means for Post-Production Workflows

For photographers, retouchers, matte-painters and artists working in Photoshop or Lightroom, the 2026 upgrade means more of the workflow can happen inside one app: from denoising and upscaling to depth-aware masking, facial retouching, stylised looks and particle effects. The integrated panel helps avoid context-switching and may reduce export/import overhead.

For VFX and compositing artists, Depth Map ML and Face ML offer fast, per-image masking without manual rotoscoping, useful for look-development, concept visuals or quick editorial tasks. The updated Sapphire effects and particle tools expand the creative toolset for stylised or hybrid photographic/CGI work. As always with new tools or effects, test results on real images and evaluate artefacts before using in final deliveries.

Boris FX Optics 2026 is available as a subscription or a perpetual licence. The subscription costs 6 € per month or 66 € per year and includes both the standalone application and multi-host support for Photoshop and Lightroom. A perpetual licence is also offered at 112 €, providing a one-time purchase option for users who prefer to avoid ongoing payments. All versions include the same feature set and access to updates within the 2026 release cycle.

The post Optics 2026 Adds AI-Driven Masks, Upscaling & Depth Tools first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.