VISUAL EFFECTS & COMPOSITING


The industry’s leading rotoscoping and paint tool is packed with major compositing features. Silhouette delivers 400+ VFX nodes, including Boris FX Sapphire, Mocha Pro, and Particle Illusion.

Top artists have relied on Silhouette on Hollywood’s biggest titles for over fifteen years. The Academy and Emmy Award-winning toolkit created by visual effect artists recently made its mark on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Top Gun: Maverick, Dune, and The Mandalorian.

New! Boris FX Hub

Meet the Boris FX Hub. It's your home for downloading, installing, and licensing Boris FX tools. Get ready for a seamless, user-friendly experience.

  • Dive into free trials for any of our products
  • Easily install and license the Boris FX Suite or select software
  • Activate or deactivate licenses without the fuss
  • Stay up-to-date on the latest versions of our products
  • Direct connections to dedicated training and support

Download

WHAT'S NEW

Silhouette 2023.5

  • New! Generative AI: Latest Stable Diffusion XL model generates realistic faces, legible text within the images, and better image composition.
  • New! ML Node: The UpRes ML node uses machine learning, trained on thousands of images, to resize images. Preserve critical features while achieving high-quality results.
  • New! Denoiser ML Refinements: Improved models trained with even more images produce higher denoising precision.
  • New! Tracking Enhancements: Integrated Mocha and Planar Tracker now track multiple layers as well as subtracted layers.
  • New! Regrain Auto Sample: Automatically finds the best area to sample grain.

Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion is a pioneering, deep-learning text-to-image model primarily used to generate detailed images based on text descriptions.

The new Stability node integrates Stable Diffusion models directly in Silhouette. Inpaint, outpaint, or generate images from scratch using text prompts!

Learn to composite with Stability AI images in Silhouette 2023.


Packed with Effects Tools

Latest versions of Sapphire, Mocha Pro, and Particle Illusion.

Sapphire: Award-winning effects with 270+ nodes and thousands of presets. Featuring the best lighting effects, lens flares, and creative image processing filters.

Mocha Pro: Featuring PowerMesh, Remove, and Stabilize. Data ports and node actions integrate Mocha Pro with other nodes.

Particle Illusion: Create realistic particle simulations with 3D emitters, fluid dynamics, and a massive preset library. Add useful environmental elements such as snow, smoke, and fire — all within Silhouette.

Continuum: Atmospheric Glow, Magic Sharp, Beauty Studio, Light Leaks, Video Glitch, Film Glow, and many blur filters.


Grain Management Nodes

Three powerful nodes join Silhouette’s expanded grain management tools.

  • Denoiser ML: Employs sophisticated deep learning techniques to eliminate unwanted noise from images while preserving critical features.
  • Regrain: Based on DasGrain by Fabian Holtz, Regrain samples the source image’s grain, regenerates and randomizes it for the purpose of adding it back to a degrained composite.
  • Sapphire UltraGrain: Adds simulated film and digital camera grain to the image.


Primatte

Make quick work out of challenging blue/green screen footage.

Primatte keys out and replaces blue/green screens with transparency to seamlessly replace backgrounds. The GPU-accelerated algorithm uses three multi-faceted polyhedrons floating in RGB color space to isolate color regions. A 3D Preview display aids in the visualization of the keyed value.

Learn to key with Primatte in Silhouette 2023

FEATURES

PROFESSIONAL ROTO TOOLS


Silhouette is the world’s most refined rotoscoping tool. Create sophisticated masks using B-Spline, Bézier, X-Spline, or Magnetic Freehand shapes. Easy-to-use tools such as variable per-point edge softening and magnetic reshaping assist in creating articulate animations in record time. Render mattes with realistic motion blur or export to industry-standard shape formats including new Cryptomatte support.

Advanced roto tools include:

  • Highly-optimized interface, layer controls, and toolset
  • Specialized shape editing tools include magnetic splines, point groups, weighted keyframes, brush-based reshape, split shapes, collapse, and distribute points
  • Cryptomatte support
  • Integrated point tracking, planar tracking, and Mocha planar tracking
  • IK (Inverse Kinematics) to animate limbs and all manner of jointed creatures
  • Stereoscopic 3D workflow
  • Built for teams and collaboration with review/approval notes for quality control


AUTO PAINT FOR SPEED AND RELIABILITY


Silhouette’s 32-bit float raster-based paint and tracking system meets the demands of high-resolution, color-managed VFX pipelines. A unique AutoPaint recording system delivers the speed of raster paint with the repeatability of vector paint on tasks like matte painting, beauty work, rig removal, or just plain paint.

  • Paint Tools: Pressure-sensitive customizable brushes and presets. Includes Clone, Grain, Repair, Drag, and more.
  • Non-Destructive Paint: Efficient layer system for high resolution film/video paint.
  • Channels & Detail Separation: Paint on individual RGBA channels or work on separated detail and color views for advanced control.
  • Sophisticated Cloning: Advanced offset and warping, onion skin, and display views enable a streamlined workflow for aligning, patching, and removing unwanted pixels.
  • Powerful Tracking Options: Native point, planar tracking, and Mocha options.
  • New Mocha Pro and PowerMeshWarp nodes enable warped surface paint workflows.


NODE-BASED COMPOSITING & IMAGE PROCESSING


Silhouette's core is a powerful node-based effects tree that delivers film-grade results. View and edit any combination of nodes for complex compositing, matte manipulation, keying, color correction, grain management, look development, morphing, warping, and much more.

Silhouette 2023.5 includes 400+ specialty nodes organized into Color, Composite, Diffusion, Filter, Film Lab, Image, Key, Light, Sapphire, Silhouette, Special Effects, Time, Tints, Transform, Warp, and OFX groups.

Highlights:

  • Gestural node-based compositing
  • Improved tracking and spline data ports and node actions
  • Updated OCIO v2 color managed workflow
  • Customizable workspaces for dual monitor set-ups
  • Exacting color grading with 4-way color wheels and presets
  • Proprietary matte generation
  • Edge tools to color correct or blur the composite's edge
  • Matte manipulation using shrink, grow, blur, and wrap functions
  • Now includes Sapphire effects (270 nodes) and Particle Illusion (1700+ emitters).

Multi-Host Plugin

Now including the Mocha Pro node! The fully-featured Silhouette interface for roto, paint, and compositing can also be launched as a plugin from standard VFX applications: After Effects, Premiere Pro, Nuke, Fusion, Resolve, and Flame.

The Silhouette multi-host plugin is included with all Silhouette standalone application licenses or can be purchased as a separate option.

Not sure which option is best for you? View our compare chart.


Warping & Morphing

Silhouette’s fully-featured shape based warp and morph tools provide the highest level of creative control and render quality for digital retouching, image deformations, and even talking animals. Create invisible touch-ups, subtle facial exaggerations, or dramatic transitions with either shape or pin options.

With a rich history on some of the world’s most famous music videos and effects shots, unique “shape-to-shape morphing transitions” can be timed per layer with interactive previews for fast flexibility. Intro to Morphing Video

Pin Warp is perfect for beauty work, allowing user-defined image areas using pins while leaving other areas untouched. Adjustments can range from subtle nip and tucks to something more obvious like repositioning an arm or leg. Watch Now


Keying & Matte Generation

The powerful Primatte, zMatte, and Power Matte nodes use proprietary matte extraction techniques that handle the most difficult keying and matting challenges, including shots with fine hair detail, smoke, or reflections.

Primatte, the industry standard for keying, uses a GPU accelerated algorithm based on three multi-faceted polyhedrons which can be visualized using the 3D Preview display.

zMatte keying features multiple matte creation, light wrapping, edge correction, spill suppression, and matte manipulation. Watch Now

Power Matte’s unique interactive workflow enhances the matte creation process on normally non-keyable shots with foreground and background shape selectors that generate incredibly realistic and accurate results on semi-transparent objects. Watch Now


Powerful Tracking Options

The industry’s most powerful tracking drives Silhouette’s animation system and can be applied to speed up paint, roto, warp, and stabilization tasks. Choose from point tracking, native planar tracker, or the award-winning Mocha Pro node, now included in Silhouette 2023.5.

New surface tool, data ports, and node actions bring a seamless workflow between Mocha and Silhouette nodes.

Pre-processing filters can increase tracker accuracy for problematic images. Choose Blur, Sharpen, Contrast, Gamma, De-Noise, or Remove Flicker. Post-processing filters can be applied to tracking data, including Average, Smooth, and Merge.


Sapphire, Particle Illusion & Continuum

  • Sapphire: Best-in-class effects include UltraGlow, UltraZap, Lens Flare, Shake, and more. Watch
  • Particle Illusion: Add 2D/3D animated particle simulations like snow, smoke, and fire with fluid dynamics. Learn more
  • Select nodes from Continuum included: Atmospheric Glow, Magic Sharp, Beauty Studio, Light Leaks, Video Glitch, Film Glow, and many blur filters.

Combine new plugins for compositing and effects.


Mocha Pro Node

Award-winning Mocha Pro planar tracking is now a node included with Silhouette.

Features:

  • GPU-accelerated object removal
  • PowerMesh warped surface tracking
  • Insert compositing with AdjustTrack
  • Award-winning stereo 360/VR tools

Learn more about Mocha Pro

Monthly Subscription

$150/month * Maximum flexibility $100/month * Cancel at anytime
Supports one of the following hosts on a single workstation: Adobe, Nuke, Resolve, Flame and VEGAS Pro Includes plugin and standalone application
Always up to date with automatic monthly billing Always up to date with automatic monthly billing
Never miss an upgrade with a subscription Never miss an upgrade with a subscription

Perpetual License

$1,995 $1,095
Supports one of the following hosts on a single workstation: Adobe, Nuke, Resolve, Flame and VEGAS Pro Includes plugin and standalone application
Includes 12 months of free upgrades and support Includes 12 months of free upgrades and support
Single upfront payment Single upfront payment

TECH/SPECS

Product:

Release Number:

Silhouette

2023.5

Requirements:

macOS: 10.15 or higher*

Windows: Windows 10 & 11

Linux: Linux distributions that conform to the CY2021 VFX Reference Platform Platform as specified at www.vfxplatform.com

*macOS 12.0 or higher for best performance when using machine learning nodes

Hardware:

Recommended Hardware:

Processor: Intel or AMD processor

Memory: 8GB or more

Disk: High-speed disk array or SSD storage. 1GB of available disk space for caching and temporary files

Graphics Card: *

NVIDIA GTX 460 or better

AMD Radeon 57xx series or better

OpenGL 2.1 capable graphics card

OpenCL 1.1 capable graphic card

4GB of graphics memory

* NVIDIA Pascal architecture cards or better for machine learning nodes

Licensing options:

Nodelocked or floating license.

Architecture:

  • Resolution independent
  • Region of interest for enhanced performance
  • OpenColorIO v2 color management
  • GPU and OpenGL® accelerated
  • Multi-processor support
  • Mac M1 silicon support

Plugin Support:

Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro
Foundry Nuke
Blackmagic Resolve and Fusion
Autodesk Flame
Note: The Silhouette plugin option includes the Mocha Pro node, but does not include Particle Illusion or Sapphire effects.

COMPARE

COMPARE MOCHA PRO & SILHOUETTE

 

Mocha Pro Plugin

Mocha Pro Application

Silhouette Plugin

Silhouette Application

Standalone application for macOS/Win/Linux

Mocha Pro planar tracking interface

Recommended for video editors (Media Composer, Premiere Pro, VEGAS Pro)

Node-based compositing with color correction and image processing filters

Advanced paint tools with AutoPaint and detail separation

Includes Mocha node for Silhouette

Includes Sapphire effect nodes for Silhouette

Includes Particle Illusion node for Silhouette

(macOS & Win only)

VERSIONS

Began development as a roto-only tool in 2004

.
  • Silhouette v1.0 - Feb 2005: Silhouette ships with b-splines, bezier splines and point tracking
  • Silhouette v2.0 - Jul 2005: Added raster paint, layers, match-move, stabilization
  • Silhouette v3.0 – Aug 2008: Added fully stereoscopic workflow, planar tracking, x-splines, comprehensive keyer
  • Silhouette v4.0 - Mar 2010: Added Power Matte semi-automatic matting system, rewrote planar tracker, open shapes, scripting, commandline rendering, dual-clone painting.
  • Silhouette v4.1 - Feb 2011: Planar Tracker rewritten again to be more robust with less user interaction
  • Silhouette v4.5 - Jan 2012: Added OpenColorIO color management
  • Silhouette v5.0 - Jan 2013: 2D->3D conversion tools, inverse kinematics for roto, shape-based warping and morphing, raster paint history and auto-paint features with match-move
  • Silhouette v5.2 - Jul 2014: Crop node, EXR 2 support, Automation Paint enhancements.
  • Silhouette v6.0 - Nov 2016: Node based GPU accelerated compositor with total of 136 different nodes--all stereo enabled.
  • Silhouette v7.0 - Jun 2018: Sequence Editing, Planar Tracker enhanced to track textureless objects, roto and paint enhancements.
  • Silhouette v7.5 – April 2019: GPU accelerated Mocha, high-resolution image optimization for Paint, compact slider user interface.
  • Silhouette 2020 - September 2019: Magnetic splines, edge snapping, Paint detail separation workflow, group and part tracking.
  • Silhouette 2020.5 - April 2020: Paint plug-in, Node Favorites, Hold Node, Onion Skin and Python 3 support.
  • Silhouette 2021 - May 2021: Fully featured plugin release, Lens Correction node, Review & Approval Notes, improved shape editing and keyframe tools, Gstreamer media engine and more
  • Silhouette 2022 - June 2022: Sapphire, Mocha Pro, Particle Illusion and select Continuum BCC+ filters included; Inpaint, Power Mesh, Point control parameter tracking, Cryptomatte.
  • Silhouette 2023 - April 2023: Primatte, Stability AI, UpRes ML, Denoiser ML, Regrain, Expressions.

VIDEOS

PROFESSIONAL VFX ARTISTS LOVE SILHOUETTE

"The speed I can achieve in Silhouette makes paint job projects much less painful — and genuinely satisfying."

Portia McLean | Digital Paint Artist, Weta Digital



"Silhouette has been one of the central roto tools in our pipeline for nearly a decade and the software has withstood the test of time and scale on over 10,000 shots."

Hitesh Shah | Founder, BOT VFX




"I love the ability to use Silhouette’s tracking and the integrated Mocha to drive roto and paint!"

Katie Morris | VFX Artist & Trainer, KMFX