<PAGE>

   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 26, 1997
                                                           Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              ---------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              ---------------------

                                TRUEVISION, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                              ---------------------


     DELAWARE                                          77-0161747
     (State of Incorporation)           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                              ---------------------

                                2500 WALSH AVENUE
                              SANTA CLARA, CA 95051
                                 (408) 562-4200
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)


                              ---------------------
         COMPENSATORY WARRANT FOR THE PURCHASE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                            (Full title of the plan)


                                 R. John Curson
          Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                                Truevision, Inc.
                                2500 Walsh Avenue
                             Santa Clara, CA  95051
                                 (408) 562-4000
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)


                              ---------------------
                                    Copy to:
                               Lee F. Benton, Esq.
                             Julia L. Davidson, Esq.
                               Cooley Godward LLP
                              Five Palo Alto Square
                               3000 El Camino Real
                            Palo Alto, CA  94306-2155
                                 (650) 843-5000



                              ---------------------

<PAGE>

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PROPOSED       PROPOSED
    TITLE OF                    MAXIMUM        MAXIMUM
   SECURITIES                   OFFERING       AGGREGATE      AMOUNT OF
      TO BE     AMOUNT TO BE    PRICE PER      OFFERING     REGISTRATION
   REGISTERED    REGISTERED     SHARE (1)      PRICE (1)         FEE
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Warrant and
  Common Stock
  (par value
  $.001)           400,000       $3.1250     $1,250,000        $378.79
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
     registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(1).  The price per share 
     and aggregate offering price are based upon the average of the high and low
     sales price of the Registrant's Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
     National Market on September 23, 1997, in accordance with Rule 457(c) under
     the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  As soon
as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                                       ii

<PAGE>

                                     PART II

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents filed by Truevision, Inc. (the "Registrant") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement:

     a.   The Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
June 29, 1997 filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

     b.   The Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders held on October 24, 1996.

     c.   The description of the Registrant's Common Stock which is contained in
the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange Act by the
Registrant with the Commission on March 26, 1990.

     All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this
registration statement from the date of the filing of such reports and
documents.


                            DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     Not applicable.


                     INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

     Not applicable.


                    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law the Registrant
has broad powers to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities
they may incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act.  The Registrant's Bylaws require the Registrant to indemnify its directors
and executive officers, and permit the Registrant to indemnify its other
officers, employees and other agents, to the extent permitted by Delaware law.
The Bylaws also require the Registrant to advance litigation expenses in the
case of stockholder derivative actions or other actions, against an undertaking
by the indemnified party to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined
that the indemnified party is not entitled to indemnification.

                                        1

<PAGE>

                                  UNDERTAKINGS

     a.   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          i.   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

            (1)     To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act;

            (2)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-
effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (Section 230.424(b) of this
chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
"Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement.

            (3)     To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;

     PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the issuer pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference herein.

          ii.  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

          iii. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

     b.   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     c.   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                        2

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT
NUMBER
------

5.1       Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

23.1      Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP

23.2      Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
          Registration Statement

24.1      Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages

99.1      Compensatory Warrant for the Purchase of Shares of Common Stock

                                        3

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Santa Clara, County of Santa Clara, State of
California, on September 24, 1997.


                                   TRUEVISION, INC.




                                   By: /s/ Louis J. Doctor
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                        Louis J. Doctor
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer


                                        4

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Louis J. Doctor and R. John Curson, and
each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


  SIGNATURE                     TITLE                   DATE

  /s/ Walter W. Bregman         Chairman of the Board     September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------
      Walter W. Bregman


  /s/ Louis J. Doctor           President, Chief          September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------   Executive Officer
      Louis J. Doctor           and Director
                                (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
                                OFFICER)

  /s/ R. John Curson            Senior Vice President,    September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------   Chief Financial Officer
      R. John Curson            and Secretary
                                (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL
                                OFFICER)

  /s/ Harvey Chesler            Controller                September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------   (PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING
      Harvey Chesler            OFFICER)

  /s/ Kieth E. Sorenson         Director                  September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------
      Kieth E. Sorenson

                                Director                  September __, 1997
  ---------------------------
      Conrad J. Wredberg

  /s/ William H. McAleer        Director                  September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------
      William H. McAleer

                                        5

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



EXHIBIT
NUMBER                             DESCRIPTION         SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER

  5.1          Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP
 23.1          Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP
 23.2          Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is
               contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
               Registration Statement
 24.1          Power of Attorney is contained on
               the signature pages
 99.1          Compensatory Warrant for the Purchase
               of Shares of Common Stock

                                        6
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15171}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TRUEVISION INC", "cik": "0000833619", "assigned-sic": "3571", "irs-number": "770161747", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0629"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-36455", "film-number": "97685989"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2500 WALSH AVE", "city": "SANTA CLARA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95051", "phone": "4085624200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2500 WALSH AVENUE", "street2": "2500 WALSH AVENUE", "city": "SANTA CLARA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95051"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "RASTEROPS", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 26, 1997
                                                           Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              ---------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              ---------------------

                                TRUEVISION, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                              ---------------------

     DELAWARE                                          77-0161747
     (State of Incorporation)           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                              ---------------------

                                2500 WALSH AVENUE
                              SANTA CLARA, CA 95051
                                 (408) 562-4200
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

                              ---------------------
         COMPENSATORY WARRANT FOR THE PURCHASE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 R. John Curson
          Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                                Truevision, Inc.
                                2500 Walsh Avenue
                             Santa Clara, CA  95051
                                 (408) 562-4000
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)

                              ---------------------
                                    Copy to:
                               Lee F. Benton, Esq.
                             Julia L. Davidson, Esq.
                               Cooley Godward LLP
                              Five Palo Alto Square
                               3000 El Camino Real
                            Palo Alto, CA  94306-2155
                                 (650) 843-5000

                              ---------------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PROPOSED       PROPOSED
    TITLE OF                    MAXIMUM        MAXIMUM
   SECURITIES                   OFFERING       AGGREGATE      AMOUNT OF
      TO BE     AMOUNT TO BE    PRICE PER      OFFERING     REGISTRATION
   REGISTERED    REGISTERED     SHARE (1)      PRICE (1)         FEE
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Warrant and
  Common Stock
  (par value
  $.001)           400,000       $3.1250     $1,250,000        $378.79
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
     registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(1).  The price per share 
     and aggregate offering price are based upon the average of the high and low
     sales price of the Registrant's Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq
     National Market on September 23, 1997, in accordance with Rule 457(c) under
     the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  As soon
as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                                       ii
PART II

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents filed by Truevision, Inc. (the "Registrant") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement:

     a.   The Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
June 29, 1997 filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

     b.   The Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders held on October 24, 1996.

     c.   The description of the Registrant's Common Stock which is contained in
the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange Act by the
Registrant with the Commission on March 26, 1990.

     All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this
registration statement from the date of the filing of such reports and
documents.

                            DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     Not applicable.

                     INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

     Not applicable.

                    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law the Registrant
has broad powers to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities
they may incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act.  The Registrant's Bylaws require the Registrant to indemnify its directors
and executive officers, and permit the Registrant to indemnify its other
officers, employees and other agents, to the extent permitted by Delaware law.
The Bylaws also require the Registrant to advance litigation expenses in the
case of stockholder derivative actions or other actions, against an undertaking
by the indemnified party to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined
that the indemnified party is not entitled to indemnification.

                                        1
UNDERTAKINGS

     a.   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          i.   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

            (1)     To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act;

            (2)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-
effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (Section 230.424(b) of this
chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
"Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement.

            (3)     To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;

     PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the issuer pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference herein.

          ii.  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

          iii. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

     b.   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     c.   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                        2
EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER
------

5.1       Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP

23.1      Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP

23.2      Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
          Registration Statement

24.1      Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages

99.1      Compensatory Warrant for the Purchase of Shares of Common Stock

                                        3
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Santa Clara, County of Santa Clara, State of
California, on September 24, 1997.

                                   TRUEVISION, INC.

                                   By: /s/ Louis J. Doctor
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                        Louis J. Doctor
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer

                                        4
POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Louis J. Doctor and R. John Curson, and
each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

  SIGNATURE                     TITLE                   DATE

  /s/ Walter W. Bregman         Chairman of the Board     September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------
      Walter W. Bregman

  /s/ Louis J. Doctor           President, Chief          September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------   Executive Officer
      Louis J. Doctor           and Director
                                (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
                                OFFICER)

  /s/ R. John Curson            Senior Vice President,    September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------   Chief Financial Officer
      R. John Curson            and Secretary
                                (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL
                                OFFICER)

  /s/ Harvey Chesler            Controller                September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------   (PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING
      Harvey Chesler            OFFICER)

  /s/ Kieth E. Sorenson         Director                  September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------
      Kieth E. Sorenson

                                Director                  September __, 1997
  ---------------------------
      Conrad J. Wredberg

  /s/ William H. McAleer        Director                  September 24, 1997
  ---------------------------
      William H. McAleer

                                        5
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER                             DESCRIPTION         SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER

  5.1          Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP
 23.1          Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP
 23.2          Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is
               contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this
               Registration Statement
 24.1          Power of Attorney is contained on
               the signature pages
 99.1          Compensatory Warrant for the Purchase
               of Shares of Common Stock

                                        6