The mid-term update of BorisFX Continuum 2021.5 brings some major improvements mainly to the particle generator as well as to the Cinematographer's Toolkit effects. The latter effects collection, which was added in the 2021 update and includes tools that simulate old analog film techniques and looks, has been expanded with nine GPU-accelerated and HDF-enabled effects (BCC+Multi-Star, BCC+Vignette, BCC+FilmGrunge, BCC+TwoStrip, BCC+Flashing, BCC+Composite, BCC+F-Stop, BCC+Fluorescent, and BCC+Haze).
Those who work with the BCC+ filters on the Avid get better integration, for example via the new "Apply to Title Matte" option, and there is also a Safe Levels option and a True Bypass Switch.
A new node view has been added to the Particle Illusion Generator, which makes it much easier and faster to find and address parameter blocks. The 3D functionality is expanded with new options for setting emitter shapes, forces, deflectors and emission directly in 3D space.
New and quite handy is a deeper integration of Particle Illusion with Adobe After Effects. For example, emitters can now be linked ("Take path from...") to AE lights or (imported) 3D layers when compositing, as well as to masks or text.
As always, the new particle functions are shown quite clearly in a video:
The Continuum 2021.5 plug-in collection is available for Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and OFX host applications such as Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve, Foundry Nuke, and VEGAS Pro. Customers on an annual subscription and upgrade and support plan will receive a free update to the Continuum 2021.5 release. Continuum 2021 costs about (OFX and Apple versions) or about (Adobe), (Avid) or (Adobe, Avid, Apple and OFX) for a 12-month subscription. Perpetual licenses can also be purchased.
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