Interest explored: Steven Blasini's Affection for Continuum as VFX Supervisor
Boris FX Continuum: A Powerful and Affordable Suite for VFX Production
In the world of visual effects (VFX), Boris FX Continuum has become a go-to choice for many VFX supervisors. This suite of plugins, compatible with Adobe After Effects, offers a versatile toolkit for compositing, effects creation, and image enhancement.
Steven Blasini, co-owner and VFX supervisor at BFX Imageworks, has been using Continuum plugins for over six years. He has played a significant role in refining the Mocha Pro plugin, having been a beta tester for Imagineer Systems for many years. One of his favourite projects, Cliffs of Freedom, which starred Christopher Plummer, was loaded with tons of invisible VFX that implemented Mocha Pro intrinsically.
Boris FX Continuum's Title Studio, with its Type on Text and Extruded Text features, has made titling tasks more efficient and impressive at BFX Imageworks. The suite's BCC_OpticalFlow plugin is used to smoothly retime footage without causing a stutter effect. This feature has been instrumental in helping VFX supervisors meet deadlines with high-end work quality that impresses clients.
The integration of Mocha's tracking & masking/effects isolation tools in Continuum streamlines the overall workflow by automatically adding positional data for effects. This has been particularly useful in projects like the Netflix series On My Block, where Boris FX Continuum plugins were used to gradually slow down footage and add spotlights.
The Mocha built-in to Continuum's BCC_Spotlight plugin was used to add spotlights to a Netflix show, saving time by eliminating the need to translate tracking data. Similarly, Continuum's Primatte Studio is the go-to keyer at BFX Imageworks due to its predictable and reliable results.
For creating visual effects such as particle animations, Boris FX Continuum's Particle Illusion makes the process easier. This plugin was used to create 3D metallic lettering with internal shimmering and particles for a client's project. Additionally, the suite offers colour grading tools to adjust mood and tone precisely, and green screen spill suppression to cleanly composite keyed footage.
Recently, Boris FX Continuum has incorporated new AI-powered VFX tools to automate and accelerate laborious aspects of VFX production, further assisting supervisors in streamlining their workflow. With its broad range of tools and affordable price, Continuum offers VFX supervisors a comprehensive solution for diverse film, TV, and video post-production needs.
[1] A VFX supervisor commonly uses Boris FX Continuum plugins in Adobe After Effects for tasks like creating visual effects such as particle animations, adding dynamic lens flares, applying color grading and color correction, rotoscoping for masking and isolating elements, green screen spill removal for chroma keying, and adding smoke or other atmospheric effects within their VFX workflow.
[2] Boris FX Continuum has recently incorporated new AI-powered VFX tools to automate and accelerate laborious aspects of VFX production, which can also assist supervisors in streamlining their workflow.
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