Tiffen DFX?

[Peter Moretti]

Just wondering if any of you have experience with Tiffen's DFX plugin? I've watched some videos on it, and I'm pretty undecided. I already have Boris Continuum Complete and will be using the OFX version in Resolve. So I'm not really sure how much more DFX would add. But if there is some feature of DFX that you really like, please mention away. Thanks!

 

[Hugh Scully]

I'd like to know that too. Also, how do the digital filters stand up to the performance of the optical ones?

 

[Marc Wielage]

Yes, I've used Tiffen DFX for a couple of years and pull that out as a secret weapon. I think you can get comparable results from Boris BCC and GenArts Sapphire (now the same company), but the secret sauce is always a little different.

The Glimmer Glass and other Tiffen effects are not the same as the actual filter, but they're in the ballpark. As much as I'm a post guy, I always say that the glass filter has a unique organic look we can't capture 100% in post. But... the good thing about doing it all in post is that we can always dial it back, which you can't do on set. I have had situations where we mask the filter so it only affects part of the image, which is another thing you can't do (at least, not easily) on set.

I think this is particularly important for glow effects and gradations, and particularly for strong colors like Tobacco filters and stuff like that. All of these filters have different results at different apertures, different light levels, and different focal lengths, but in post, we can make it absolutely identical 100% of the time.

I thought there was a Tiffen DFX demo out there, and there is one up on Tiffen's website:

http://software.tiffen.com/products/dfx-products

This would definitely be a "try before you buy" kind of deal.

I'm very curious to see if Boris and Sapphire will have an announcement at NAB that combines both of them into one product. I think the lens flares are better in Boris, but I think the glow/filters are better in Tiffen. In truth, a lot of the effects are small variations of each other, so while they claim to give you "2000+" filters, I think the reality is it's a few dozen effects with many subtle changes. Be warned the adjustments are very tweaky.

 

[Hugh Scully]

Makes sense, thanks Marc. Masking the effect sounds like a very handy strategy. I have used blur in masks just to soften some wrinkles. Often you don't know you need it until in post.

I marvel at how film in the 90's looks so sharp but skin always looks so good. Lots of guys pick lenses just for that purpose - taking the edge off. It's a battle sometimes. Bigger softer light is the best for it but sometimes it doesn't fit - sometimes you want that contrast.

Glimmer glass is pretty subtle and less of a risk than say Black Pro Mist because of the halation. If you stick to 1/8, 1/4 on Black Pro Mist it is usually OK. North of that keep your eye on it. I haven't seen it but I understand if you stop down a lot you can see the "specs" of the filter - something else to watch for.