The training provider and tool developer Compositing Academy has launched Screen FX, a plugin designed to create 2D motion graphics in Nuke. This tool offers over 50 custom nodes that facilitate the animation of shapes, noise patterns, glitch effects, and transitions, suitable for both conventional motion graphics and on-screen graphics used in VFX.
An Accessible Tool for 2D Motion Graphics and Transitions
Screen FX is presented as "the ultimate plugin for Nuke to create stunning 2D motion graphics." Its toolset includes nodes designed for common effects and transitions, such as:
- Shape-based animations.
- Noise overlays.
- Visual distortion effects.
- Warped image transitions.
Many of these nodes feature predefined settings that allow for rapid iteration, including ready-to-use color palettes and animation styles.
Near-Instant Playback Thanks to GPU Acceleration
The plugin is GPU-accelerated using Nuke's BlinkScript framework, ensuring "near-instant" playback of animations, significantly improving workflow efficiency.
“GPU acceleration makes creating 2D effects and transitions more efficient and faster, which is crucial for work in professional VFX environments.”
For individual artists and small studios, Screen FX offers a more affordable alternative to Nuke-compatible motion graphics tools, such as the Sapphire plugins from Boris FX.
Price and System Requirements
Screen FX is compatible with Nuke 15.0 or higher. It was developed with NukeX 15.1v4, which is highly recommended. It is not compatible with the non-commercial edition of Nuke.
- To take advantage of GPU acceleration, a compatible NVIDIA graphics card with CUDA 4.2+ or an AMD card supporting OpenCL 1.2+ is required.
Perpetual individual licenses cost $99. Team and studio licenses range from $250 to $6,000, depending on the user's needs.
More Information
For more details on Screen FX, you can visit the Compositing Academy website.