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A “Parent” track can have two compositing modes… Why?
In Pro 9, I’m studying masking & compositing today.
I’m trying to understand the usefulness of establishing Parent and Child relationships between tracks.
If an upper track already bestows its compositing mode to all tracks below it, then why do we need to establish it as a “Parent” track at all?
What does the MASK GENERATOR achieve that couldn’t be accomplished just by an ordinary track, set to MASK (MULTIPLY)?
Why does a Parent track have TWO compositing modes possible? Can you give me a real-life, creative example in which you’d be using two different compositing modes on a Parent track?
Lastly, when a new video track is established on your Timeline, why is its default mode always “MULTIPLY (MASK)” and not something you can immediately see in your Preview, like SOURCE ALPHA? So many times I’ve established a new track, and wondered for a few heartstopping moments why its clip wasn’t visible in Preview… Only to then realize, the compositing mode needs to be switched to SOURCE ALPHA from MASK (MULTIPLY).
I know I ask a lot of questions, but I’ve got a paid video gig hanging over my head at present!
Thanks, Dave
The only things which matter in life are Art and Children. (Georges Seurat)
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1 Reply
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If an upper track already bestows its compositing mode to all tracks below it, then why do we need to establish it as a “Parent” track at all?
An upper track DOES NOT bestows its compositing mode to all tracks below it. Just the one track immediately below it. Parenting allows it to affect multiple tracks.
What does the MASK GENERATOR achieve that couldn’t be accomplished just by an ordinary track, set to MASK (MULTIPLY)?
The Mask Generator, as the name implies, can actually “generate” a mask out of anything. So you could have a color image and apply the Mask Generator and it will turn the image into a Black & White mask. The Mask Generator also makes Black transparent so that a 3rd non-child track can show through.
Why does a Parent track have TWO compositing modes possible? Can you give me a real-life, creative example in which you’d be using two different compositing modes on a Parent track?
Don’t confuse the Track Composite with the Parent Composite. The Parent Composite controls the MOVEMENT of all of the child tracks in unison. The Track Composite only affects the how that track is composited just like all the other tracks. For example, if you parent several 3D tracks and leave the Track Composite of the parent track at 2D, and you rotate the Parent Composite, all of the tracks will look like 2D and be paper thin. Its only when the parent Track Composite is also 3D that all the children will rotate as 3D.
Lastly, when a new video track is established on your Timeline, why is its default mode always “MULTIPLY (MASK)” and not something you can immediately see in your Preview, like SOURCE ALPHA?
It’s not! The default track mode is Source Alpha. You must have changed the composite mode and saved it as the default. Add a new Video Track, set it’s composite mode to Source Alpha, right-click the track header and select Set Default Track Properties… and make sure Composite Mode is checked and press OK.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com
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