Product specifications are subject to change without notice and do not represent a commitment on the part
of Avid Technology, Inc.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement. You can obtain a copy of
that license by visiting Avid's Web site at www.avid.com. The terms of that license are also available in the
product in the same directory as the software. The software may not be reverse assembled and may be
used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy the
software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the express written permission
of Avid Technology, Inc.
The Avid DS Nitris application uses JScript and Visual Basic Scripting Edition from Microsoft Corporation.
Attn. Government User(s). Restricted Rights Legend
U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS. This Software and its documentation are “commercial
computer software” or “commercial computer software documentation.” In the event that such Software or
documentation is acquired by or on behalf of a unit or agency of the U.S. Government, all rights with
respect to this Software and documentation are subject to the terms of the License Agreement, pursuant to
FAR §12.212(a) and/or DFARS §227.7202-1(a), as applicable.
Trademarks
888 I/O, Adrenaline, AirPlay, AirSPACE, AirSPACE HD, AniMatte, AudioSuite, AudioVision, AutoSync, Avid,
Avid DNA, AVIDdrive, AVIDdrive Towers, Avid DNxHD, Avid Mojo, AvidNet, AvidNetwork, AVIDstripe,
Avid Unity, Avid Xpress, AVoption, AVX, CamCutter, ChromaCurve, ChromaWheel, DAE, D-Fi, D-fx,
Digidesign, Digidesign Audio Engine, Digidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction, DigiDrive,
Digital Nonlinear Accelerator, DigiTranslator, DINR, D-Verb, Equinox, ExpertRender, FieldPak,
Film Composer, FilmScribe, FluidMotion, HIIP, HyperSPACE, HyperSPACE HDCAM, IllusionFX,
Image Independence, Intraframe, iS9, iS18, iS23, iS36, Lo-Fi, Magic Mask, make manage move | media,
Marquee, Matador, Maxim, MCXpress, Media Composer, MediaDock, MediaDock Shuttle, Media Fusion,
Media Illusion, MediaLog, Media Reader, Media Recorder, MEDIArray, MediaShare, Meridien, MetaSync,
NaturalMatch, Nearchive, NetReview, NewsCutter, Nitris, OMF, OMF Interchange, OMM,
Open Media Framework, Open Media Management, ProEncode, Pro Tools, QuietDrive, Recti-Fi,
RetroLoop, rS9, rS18, Sci-Fi, Softimage, Sound Designer II, SPACE, SPACEShift, Symphony, the Avid|DS
logo, Trilligent, UnityRAID, Vari-Fi, Video Slave Driver, VideoSPACE, and Xdeck are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
iNEWS, iNEWS ControlAir, and Media Browse are trademarks of iNews, LLC.
Adobe, Acrobat, and Acrobat Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems
Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows XP are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of
their respective owners.
Footage
Saturn “Calvin Egg” — Courtesy of Cossette Communications.
GOT FOOTAGE?
Editors — Filmmakers — Special Effects Artists — Game Developers — Animators — Educators —
Broadcasters — Content creators of every genre — Just finished an incredible project and want to
share it with the world?
Send us your reels and we may use your footage in our show reel or demo!*
For a copy of our release and Avid’s mailing address, go to www.avid.com/footage.
*Note: Avid cannot guarantee the use of materials submitted.
Avid DS Nitris Compositing and Effects Guide • 0130-05576-02A • February 2005
Congratulations on your purchase of an Avid DS Nitris system. You can use
your system to create broadcast-quality output incorporating every possible
production element from full-speed, high-resolution footage, to multimedia
artwork and animation, to computer-generated effects and titling.
This guide contains all the task-oriented instructions, conceptual information,
and reference material you need to use the effects and compositing features of
your system.
This guide is intended for all Avid DS Nitris users, from beginning to
advanced.
n
The documentation describes the features and hardware of all models.
Therefore, your system might not contain certain features and hardware that
are covered in the documentation.
Symbols and Conventions
Avid documentation uses the following symbols and conventions:
Symbol or ConventionMeaning or Action
n
c
w
A note provides important related information,
reminders, recommendations, and strong suggestions.
A caution means that a specific action you take could
cause harm to your computer or cause you to lose data.
A warning describes an action that could cause you
physical harm. Follow the guidelines in this document
or on the unit itself when handling electrical
equipment.
Using This Guide
Symbol or ConventionMeaning or Action
>This symbol indicates menu commands (and
subcommands) in the order you select them. For
example, File > Import means to open the File menu
and then select the Import command.
t
Margin tips
Italic fontItalic font is used to emphasize certain words and to
Courier Bold font
Bold fontBold indicates a user interaction.
Ctrl+key or mouse actionPress and hold the first key while you press the last
Mouse, Pen, and Keyboard
You can use a two-button mouse (with wheel) or a pen and tablet. The left and
right mouse buttons perform different operations. Unless otherwise stated, use
the left mouse button.
The mouse and pen operate slightly differently. All the procedures in this
guide are documented for the mouse. You can, however, easily use a pen or
the keyboard. The following table shows the terms relating to the mouse, pen,
and keyboard.
This symbol indicates a single-step procedure.
Multiple arrows in a list indicate that you perform one
of the actions listed.
In the margin, you will find tips that help you perform
tasks more easily and efficiently.
indicate variables.
Courier Bold font identifies text that you type.
key or perform the mouse action. For example,
Shift+Alt+C or Ctrl+drag.
22
This Term Means This with a Mouse Means This with a Pen
ClickQuickly click and release the
left mouse button. Always use
the left mouse button unless
otherwise stated.
Tap the tablet once with the tip of
the pen, or touch the pen to the tablet
with enough pressure to click.
If You Need Help
This Term Means This with a Mouse Means This with a Pen
Double-clickClick the left mouse button
twice rapidly.
Right-clickQuickly click and release the
right mouse button.
DragClick and hold the left mouse
button or the wheel while you
move the mouse.
Alt+key,
Ctrl+key,
Shift+key, etc.
Press and hold the first key while you press the second key. For
example, “Press Alt+F1” means to press and hold the Alt key while
you press the F1 key.
Customizing the Pen or Mouse
By customizing the pen, you can adjust the click pressure, switch functions,
and other features. For information on customizing the pen, refer to the
documentation provided with your Avid DS Nitris system.
You can also customize the mouse. For example, you can select left-handed
configuration or change the double-click speed. For information on
customizing the mouse, refer to the Windows online Help.
Quickly tap the tablet twice in the
same screen pixel or press the F5
key to go from single to doubleclick.
Press the top portion of the switch
on the side of the pen or press the F6
key to go from left to right-click.
Press the pen to the tablet while
moving the pen.
If You Need Help
If you are having trouble using Avid DS Nitris:
1. Retry the action, carefully following the instructions given for that task in
this guide. It is especially important to check each step of your workflow.
2. Check for the latest information that might have become available after
the documentation was published in one of two locations:
-If release notes are available, they ship with your application.
-If ReadMe files are available, they are supplied in your Avid
application folder. ReadMe files are also available from Help.
23
Using This Guide
3. Check the documentation that came with your Avid application or your
hardware for maintenance or hardware-related issues.
4. See “Avid DS Customer Support” on page 24.
5. For Technical Support, please call 800-800-AVID (800-800-2843).
Avid DS Customer Support
The following sections describe various Avid DS Customer Support options.
E-mail Support
The e-mail address for Avid DS Customer Support is: dssupport@avid.com.
You can use it for sending bug reports, usability questions, and avidds.cab
audit reports for system analysis. All e-mails are logged in the support
database and assigned a case number. Send one support request per e-mail.
n
Web Support
Upload Utility
It is mandatory that you include your SID number in the body of your e-mail
message for verification of your maintenance contract and case logging.
Otherwise, response will be delayed.
The Avid DS Support Center at http://www.softimage.com/avidds provides
quick access to a wide range of resources from the Avid DS teams and user
community. Downloads, including presets, drivers, and Quick Fix Engineering
(QFE), provide the latest solutions for use with your Avid DS system. Online
documentation, tutorials, and Knowledge Base articles ensure that you get the
most out of your work with Avid DS. It's like having a dedicated Avid DS
Customer Support engineer sitting at your desk!
For troubleshooting purposes, you can upload your files for Avid DS
Customer Support personnel to examine. You can upload a project's archive,
media files, or other necessary data. Simply zip the files that you need to
upload and use a short name (for easy retrieval), such as archive.zip or
Case274877.zip.
24
To upload your files:
1. Go to the Avid web site at http://www.softimage.com/avidds.
2. Select Contact > Upload Tool.
3. Once the file upload is complete, send an e-mail to dssupport@avid.com
to inform Avid DS Customer Support as there is no automatic notification
when a file is uploaded on the FTP server. Please provide the complete
and exact file name (case sensitive) to retrieve.
Avid Community Forum
Although the Avid DS community forum is frequently monitored by Avid
employees, it is not part of the official support channels. You are invited to
send your support requests to any of the above channels when required.
If you have an e-mail account, you can join the worldwide network of Avid DS
users exchanging ideas. The mailing list has proven to be quite useful for
users, and there is a constant stream of new subscribers.
To subscribe, send an e-mail to majordomo@softimage.com with the
following text in the body of your message: subscribe ds. You can get further
information on using the automated list server by e-mailing
majordomo@softimage.com with “help” as your message.
How to Order Documentation
You can also join other Avid forums on the Avid web site at
http://www.avid.com. Select Support > Forums.
How to Order Documentation
To order additional copies of this documentation from within the
United States, call Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843). If you are
placing an order from outside the United States, contact your local
Avid representative.
25
Using This Guide
Avid Educational Services
For information on courses/schedules, training centers, certifications,
courseware, and books, please visit www.avid.com/training or call Avid Sales
at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843).
26
Chapter 1
Compositing
The Compositing chapter of the Avid DS Nitris Getting Started Guide
introduces you to the basics of compositing, compositing methods, and the
compositing layout. It also covers basic compositing concepts such as the
composite container clip and layer effects. It is important that you read and
understand the Compositing chapter of the Avid DS Nitris Getting Started Guide and complete the provided tutorials before working on the procedures
in this chapter.
This chapter introduces the Effects Tree as a compositing method and covers
advanced compositing topics such as premultiplication, working with
Photoshop files, and processing.
Chapter 1 Compositing
Quick Recap: Compositing
Here is a quick recapitulation of the Compositing chapter of the Avid DS Nitris
Getting Started Guide. Below are answers to basic questions, which you
should know by now, that will help you understand the material presented in
this chapter.
QuestionAnswer
What is Compositing?The layering of two or more images together to form one new integrated image.
What is a matte?A grayscale image that defines the transparency of an image when it is
composited over another. It lets you isolate and protect specific parts of the
image while compositing.
What is the difference between
an internal matte and an
external matte?
What is a composite container
clip?
What is the Layers view?The Layers view is part of the Compositing layout. It displays the content of the
What are the 4 effects that you
can apply to a layer?
What is the result area?The result area is the part of the Layers view that displays the final composite of
An internal matte is part of the image that is stored in the alpha channel. An
external matte can either be created from scratch by using an effect such as the
keyer, provided as a separate clip, or come from another image. For more
information, see “Working with Mattes” on page 39.
A clip on the timeline that lets you layer video clips. An opened container clip
displays the video clips on multiple tracks and the result is a single clip on the
top timeline of the Editing layout. You can apply effects on individual clips
inside the container or on the entire composite container clip.
Remember that when compositing with layers, you are working within a
composite container clip as soon as you switch to the Compositing layout.
composite container clip in a layer format and lets you reorder layers, animate,
add effects, and apply blending operations. For more information, see “Working
with the Layers View” on page 32.
•Color Correction
•DV
•Graphics
•Keyer
all layers both for RGB and alpha channels.
28
Using the Effects Tree to Composite
Using the Effects Tree to Composite
In the Avid DS Nitris Getting Started Guide you learned about two methods of
compositing.
•Simple track compositing which lets you composite in the Editing layout
by adding video tracks to the timeline and placing clips on the video
tracks. An advantage of using this method is that when compositing you
can see your clips in context of the timeline.
•Compositing using layers which lets you work in the Compositing layout
with composite container clips and the Layers view. The Layers view has
a great advantage in that it provides a visual interface when layering your
clips. It is also useful when importing Photoshop files as each
“Photoshop” layer occupies its own layer in the Layers view as a linked
image file in Avid DS Nitris. For more information, see “Working with
Layered Photoshop Images” on page 65 and “Working with the Layers
View” on page 32.
The third method is compositing with the Effects Tree. The Effects Tree in the
Compositing layout is a powerful tool that lets you create and manage
complex multi-layered effects and composites.
It shows the relationship between effects and images in a pictorial format. It is
made up of nodes: the graphical representation of the input images, and the
resulting output. Nodes are joined by connectors, which connect input and
output ports.
Port
Output nodeEffects nodesInput nodeConnector
•Input nodes represent the source image from a track in the Layers view or
from a clip and its effects on the timeline.
•Effects nodes represent each effect applied or added to the Effects Tree.
Each effect node reads an input image, processes the image, and gives a
specific output image as the result.
•Output nodes represent the output image of the Effects Tree. The result
of all the nodes is fed to the output node which is displayed in the viewer.
29
Chapter 1 Compositing
n
n
You can build and apply an Effects Tree to a clip, track, layer, or as a
transition. Each method has its advantages. For more information. see “Using
Effects Trees” on page 73.
There are a number of advantages for using the Effects Tree:
•You can have complex interactions between layers
•Ability to add multi-input effects. You can apply any combination of
image effects in the Effects Tree.
•You can reuse the treatment of an element repeatedly within a composite
•You can apply blending operations by using the Composite node—see
“Applying Blending Operations in the Effects Tree” on page 111.
Tip: To work more quickly in the Effects Tree, use the keyboard shortcuts.
Select Help > Keyboard Shortcuts. You can also set the default preferences for
your Effects Tree in the User Preferences dialog box. Select File > User Preferences (Effects Tree property page).
For more information, see “Using Effects Trees” on page 73.
Relationship within the Compositing Layout
30
It is important that you understand the relationship between the different
elements of the Compositing layout in order to work efficiently without
getting lost within the layout.
It is made up of 3 significant parts that interact with each other:
•The composite container timeline
•The Layers view
•The Effects Tree
Loading...
+ 536 hidden pages
You need points to download manuals.
1 point = 1 manual.
You can buy points or you can get point for every manual you upload.