As MicroFilmmaker Magazine’s resident expert on all things NewBlueFX, I was excited to crack into another plugin package from this excellent video software company. I’ve been consistently impressed with the ease-of-use of NewBlueFX’s plugins; they’ve all contained useful and interesting presets, along with easy to understand, adjustable parameters. Recently I’ve found myself going to their effects over other manufacturers’ more expensive ones, not necessarily because the quality is better, but just because they’re more enjoyable to use and make work seem like fun instead of a chore.
Luckily we get more of the same with their Video Essentials package, which is marketed as a video utility belt of sorts. It probably contains their most useful plugins, in that they’re ones that will likely be used in every project, regardless of the content. We get Color Fixer Plus, Crop Borders, Detail Enhancer, Flash Remover, Pixelator, Sharpen, Soft Focus, Tint, Touch Up, and Video Tuneup. Admittedly, on the face of it, some of these replicate built-in effects already in your editing or compositing software, but NewBlueFX’s versions either look better or are simpler to use. Plus, there are some real gems here that I haven’t seen elsewhere which make this package worth a look for anyone involved in video or film production.
This plugin package is available in the most expansive release from NewBlueFX to date. It will work on both Mac and PC as a plugin for: Corel VideoStudio, Adobe Premiere Pro (and Premiere Elements), Adobe After Effects, Avid Liquid, Avid Media Composer, Avid Xpress Pro, Pinnacle Studio, Sony Vegas, Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Thomson Grass Valley Edius.
(All images in this review were taken from the short film “Paid Advertisement: Power Mini Ultra-Flex Turbo.”)
