Optics 2024 review: powerful set of tools for taking your images to the next level

Optics 2024 is a Photoshop plugin and standalone app for adding breathtaking cinematic effects to your images.

A screenshot from Optics 2024
(Image: © Paul Hatton / Boris FX)

Our Verdict

Optics 2024, from Boris FX, is well worth a look. The 14-day free trial lets you give it a spin without having to commit and you won’t be disappointed. Even though the interface needs some improvement, the actual tools and capabilities of this application are amazing. All the effects are procedural which makes it easy to customise effects for most use cases. The lighting effects, particle effects, and general image editing tools all extend Photoshop’s tools and the fact that it ships as a plugin means it fits seamlessly into most workflows. The affordable pricing structure makes this a great addition to every artist's post-production workflow.

For

  • Huge number of presets
  • Powerful effects
  • Affordable

Against

  • Interface hard to learn

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Optics 2024 is a powerful tool for adding a whole range of effects to your images. It ships as either a standalone application or as a Photoshop plugin and the choice between the two will depend on your workflow. There are also some differences between the implementation of the two which is worth keeping in mind when deciding which one to use.

Through its innovative tools artists can add lens flares, light rays, and many more filters and effects. Its capabilities are truly deep and wide-ranging and it’s no surprise that it’s been used on a number of films and TV series. But is it good enough to claim a place among the best Photoshop plugins? Let's find out.

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OS:macOS 10.14 or higher / Windows 10 or higher on x64
Processor:Intel or AMD processor
Memory:2GB RAM (8GB+ recommended)
Disk space:High-speed disk array or SSD storage with 1GB available disk space
Graphics card:NVIDIA GTX 460 or better / AMD Radeon 57xx series or better
GPU memory:1GB or higher
The Verdict
9

out of 10

Boris FX Optics 2024

Optics 2024, from Boris FX, is well worth a look. The 14-day free trial lets you give it a spin without having to commit and you won’t be disappointed. Even though the interface needs some improvement, the actual tools and capabilities of this application are amazing. All the effects are procedural which makes it easy to customise effects for most use cases. The lighting effects, particle effects, and general image editing tools all extend Photoshop’s tools and the fact that it ships as a plugin means it fits seamlessly into most workflows. The affordable pricing structure makes this a great addition to every artist's post-production workflow.

Paul Hatton
Writer

Paul is a digital expert. In the 20 years since he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science, Paul has been actively involved in a variety of different tech and creative industries that make him the go-to guy for reviews, opinion pieces, and featured articles. With a particular love of all things visual, including photography, videography, and 3D visualisation Paul is never far from a camera or other piece of tech that gets his creative juices going. You'll also find his writing in other places, including Creative Bloq, Digital Camera World, and 3D World Magazine. 

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