New Features for After Effects Users

• New Filters
• Support for 64-bit Host Applications
• Adobe After Effects Integration
• Additional On-Screen Widgets
• New Compare Mode Feature Integration
• New Beat Reactor Feature Integration
• Performance Gains

New Filters

BCC 7 AE includes 11 new filters for After Effects: 3 Way Color Grade, Noise Reduction, Warp, Morph, Video Morph, Lens Blur, Lens Shape, Lens Blur Transition, Particle Array 3D, Pin Art 3D, and Beat Reactor. Read an in-depth description on each new filter

Support for 64-bit Host Applications

BCC 7 AE has been completely re-engineered to operate as a native 64-bit plug-in set for Adobe CS5. Thanks to the many computational efficiencies afforded by 64-bit processors, all BCC 7 AE filters run much faster under a 64-bit architecture.

A 32-bit version of BCC 7 is also available for use in CS4 and CS3.

Adobe After Effects Integration

Many BCC 7 AE filters include the ability to use Adobe After Effects' native lights, masks, and cameras. The result is filters that behave as though they are a native part of After Effects - whether you are working in a 2D or 3D composition. AE's native cameras and lights can be used to create dramatic scene lighting and wonderful fly-through animations, especially when used with new BCC 7 AE particle effects such as the Pin Art 3D or Particle 3D filters. 3D camera and light support is also available with the entire BCC 7 AE 3D Objects category of filters.

In addition to cameras and lights, BCC 7 AE's 3D text generator filters can use AE's native spline mask shapes as 3D paths along which the text can be animated or the shapes can be used to sculpt the sides or bevels of 3D text characters. Or you can use BCC Extruded Spline to generate custom 3D extruded shapes from any 2D AE mask shape. Because these filters are OpenGL hardware-accelerated, you can do all of the effects in real time. Additionally, almost every BCC 7 AE filter includes BCC's built-in PixelChooser matte and masking system. PixelChooser can use After Effects' native spline mask shapes to contain a filter effect to a specific region of the source image.

BCC 7 AE includes three brand-new filters - BCC Warp, BCC Morph, and BCC Video Morph - that utilize AE spline masks and the power of OpenGL to deliver real-time image warping and morphing.

Additional On-Screen Widgets

When working with an image, it's sometimes a lot easier to achieve the desired result when your eyes are focused on the image; this is particularly important in generating masks and mattes. Switching focus to the Control Panel to find and then adjust a parameter takes the eye away from the image which can interrupt the creative process. In an effort to solve this problem, many BCC 7 AE filters now include on-screen widgets. For example, the new 3 Way Color Grade filter includes on-screen controls for its built-in power window masking system. When creating a power window mask with this filter, you can click and drag the screen control widgets to set the mask size, position, egg shape, and edge feathering. This results in faster and more precise mask creation.

Compare Mode

BCC 7 AE includes a new Compare Mode feature. Added to over one-third of BCC 7 AE's filters, this convenient tool enables you to compare the filtered result with the unfiltered source via either a side-by-side view or a live split-screen view. In the side-by-side view, you can view the unfiltered and filtered image result in the composite window as changes are made to the image. In the split-screen view, you can drag the wipe bar anywhere across the image to compare the filtered result with the unfiltered source at any zoom level. Additionally, the Compare Mode feature includes the unique ability to view the filtered result with a live filtered layer in the timeline - without the need to precomp the filtered layer.

List of filters that have the Compare Mode »

Beat Reactor Integration

Beat Reactor is a new BCC 7 AE filter that lets you sample specific bands of audio from a clip and uses the sampled audio levels to drive effect parameters. In addition to being available as a standalone BCC 7 AE filter, the new Beat Reactor technology has been added as a built-in feature for many other BCC 7 AE filters. Beat Reactor makes it easier to generate audio-driven effects such as adding a pulsing light, a glow, or even an image wipe that follows along with the beat of an audio track.

List of filters that have the integrated Beat Reactor »