AI Finally Proves Its Worth in Video Editing: A Game Changer from Boris FX
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has often been touted as the next big thing in technology, but for many video editors, it has felt like an empty promise. There haven't been many AI workflows that genuinely improved day-to-day tasks—or even mattered much. But that might be changing, thanks to some impressive innovations from Boris FX.
A Revolutionary Moment: Boris FX's 'Machine Learning' Tools
For many years, professionals using Media Composer and After Effects have relied on Continuum, a suite of essential tools from Boris FX. The latest update, Continuum 2024.5, has introduced four powerful Machine Learning (ML) effects: DeNoise, ReTimer, UpRez, and Witness Protection. Surprisingly, it's the Witness Protection effect that's causing the most buzz.
Witness Protection: AI that Simplifies Tedious Tasks
In video editing, it's often necessary to blur out faces or logos when you don’t have permission to show them. Traditionally, this has been a time-consuming and tricky task. But with the new ML Witness Protection effect, what used to be cumbersome is now practically effortless.
The effect is simple to use: just drag and drop it onto the clip. Even if the person being blurred moves behind objects like trees or lampposts, the effect automatically readjusts when they reappear. This efficiency is a result of integrating Mocha tracking technology directly into Continuum.
Practical Applications Beyond Face Blurring
The current ML Witness Protection tool primarily detects faces and masks them with an ellipse. But the potential for its use is enormous:
- Logos on shirts
- Blurring nudity
- Mouths swearing during dialogue
These features can significantly boost productivity, especially for editors working in reality TV and similar fields.
The Broader Impact of Intelligent Effects
The ML technology could soon extend to various other effects:
- Attaching a lens flare to specific objects (sun, headlights, flashlights) just by typing in what it's attached to
- Automatically adjusting complex effects with minimal manual input
These innovations from Boris FX have many editors excited about the potential of AI and ML in video editing. For the first time, AI tools feel like they could make a real, practical difference in everyday workflows.
Conclusion: AI Finally Finds Its Footing in Edit Bay
For years, the promises of AI have felt hollow to many who work in video production. Now, with the release of these new Machine Learning tools from Boris FX, that might be about to change. Editors are seeing real benefits—saving time and reducing frustration—thanks to intelligent, automated effects. Boris FX has delivered a genuine innovation that might finally make AI workflows indispensable in the editing room.
This shift is more than just technological; it represents a new era in video editing where intelligent tools not only simplify tasks but also elevate the quality of finished projects. Good job, Boris FX!
