Performance
On my custom-built AMD Athlon 64 3200+ machine, with 1GB of RAM, the software is about average in render times, compared to most other plugins. Some of the modules, such as Blink and Highlight, render very quickly, while others, such as Flare are pretty slow. It seems like the modules featuring more complex particle engines take the longest to preview and render, which makes sense. Starsfall in particular takes a long time to preview from anywhere except the very beginning of the timeline. I suppose this is because it has to internally render the previous few seconds to calculate where the various particles will be located in their life cycle. However, the previews were never so slow that I got frustrated with the workflow, and I suppose if it did get that bad I could switch to AE’s draft mode.
StarsFall is a particle engine that will spit out various star shapes from a mask, text, or vector layer.
Value
For $179, you really get a lot of cool stuff. You’re basically getting five plugins for $36 each, which is a great deal. While most of the modules are very similar to what you’d find in other plugin packages (or even to some of the effects built into After Effects) AlphaStar distinguishes itself by being able to produce some pretty wild effects very quickly by using the included presets. That said, Trapcode’s 3S Pack includes the hard-to-beat Shine (which is similar to Rays), and Starglow (which is similar to Highlight), so if you already own that package you probably won’t have much need for AlphaStar. However, if you don’t yet own that package, for $50 less this is a great alternative that includes a few useful extras.
Rays is similar to Trapcode's Shine, but can also produce realistic fire effects..
Final Comments
Maxim Chernousov’s AlphaPlugins is fast becoming one of my “watch list” companies, where I eagerly look forward to seeing what they’re going to come out with next. With AlphaStar they improve upon the interface of their previous plugin packages while at the same time creating some useful new effects. While the modules in AlphaStar might not be based on the most revolutionary or original concepts, they are capable of pushing old ideas such as lens flares, star filters, or particle engines to new levels. It’s almost as if Maxim has taken these tired old effects and given them new life by dusting them off, shooting them full of steroids, and turning them up to 11!
Ease
of Use
9.0
Depth
of Options
10.0
Performance
7.0
Value
9.0
Overall
Score
8.8
Ryan Graham is the director of Livelihood, a critically acclaimed ultra-low budget zombie comedy. He also runs 37.5 Productions, a post production company specializing in giving a Hollywood sheen to independent films. In his spare time he is the lead guitarist for The Dirty Marmaduke Flute Squad.
