Boris FX releases Sapphire 2026.5
Boris FX has released Sapphire 2026.5, the latest update to its set of effects plugins for compositing and editing software.
The release adds a new lens defocus effect, a new procedural noise effect, and updates Sapphire’s lens flares, glare effect and Effect Builder.
New AdvancedDefocus and TextureRidges effects
Sapphire 2026.5 introduces two new effects. S_AdvancedDefocus, shown in the video at the top of the story, is a defocus effect that mimics the look of real-world camera lenses.
Aimed at “highly stylized motion graphics and transitions”, it recreates bokeh effects, cat’s eye highlights, chromatic aberration, and lens dirt.
S_TextureRidges is a procedural noise effect, focusing random noise into smooth ridges.
Updates to existing tools and effects
Sapphire’s existing Flare Designer, for creating lens flares, gets per-element trigger controls and new offset modes. There are also five new lens flare presets.
The Effect Builder, for creating a range of effects, gets new Dots and Noise nodes, and a reworked, more intuitive interface.
The existing S_Glare effect has been “reimagined”, with “enhanced parameters such as highlight isolation, cleaner rays, and more natural falloff”.
There are also over 100 new or updated presets, including anime, sci-fi and “abstract fractal” motion design looks.
Price and system requirements
Sapphire 2026.5 is available for a range of compositing and editing software, including After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, Flame and Nuke, on Windows, Linux and macOS.
Perpetual licenses now cost $1,865 for the Adobe/OFX and Avid Media Composer editions, or $3,075 for a multi-host licence.
Subscriptions cost $80/month or $545/year for the Avid and Adobe/OFX editions. Multi-host subscriptions cost $144/month or $985/year.
Read an overview of the new features in Sapphire 2026.5 on Boris FX’s website
Read a full list of new features in Sapphire 2026.5 in the online release notes
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