Key from one track into another?

[Chris Hall]

Well you can:

1)copy that “key” from track 1 as a node (still store)
2)and place that “key” node on the grain clip in track 2
3)then right click in the node tree workspace for that clip and “add alpha output”.
4)Then simply connect the key output from that node to the new alpha output tab (which will be the new additional blue tab below the blue output tab at the end of the node graph).

I also have been adding film grain this way and use a quick luma key to taper off some of the grain in the highlights and deep shadows to give it a bit more of a smoother blend into these areas. Hope that was clear.

Chris Hall
Colorist – Basher Films
Pasadena, CA

[Roman Hankewycz]

Chris,
I’m trying to follow your explanation but what do you mean about copying the key from one clip to another? If you copy qualifying data from one clip to another then it wouldn’t work. How can you copy the finished key information from clip to another?

roman hankewycz
harbor film company // colorist

[Chris Hall]

If you copy the “node” from track 1 to track 2 that has the “key” qualifier in it then you can use that node as your alpha output from track 2 (just connect that node to the alpha output, don’t make it a serial node in the affected color chain or anything). Do it all the time. Maybe I’m not understanding your question right though Roman, let me know if that’s not what you mean.

Chris Hall
Colorist – Basher Films
Pasadena, CA

[Lee Niederkofler]

thanks for your help Chris but I think Ive the same problem as Roman.

Ive copied the key node from track 1 and pasted it in track 2 in an empty serial node but as you can see
in the screenshot, the key won’t work!?

What am I doing wrong?

Screenshot:
https://tinypic.com/r/wlsp42/5

thanks again!
best
lee

[Chris Hall]

Ok, got it, now I understand what you want to do. You are correct, if you’re trying to key a specific part of something on track 1 and add grain only there, then my suggestion won’t work. What I would do is just use that key to generate a black and white image that you can use as a matte (just crank up the contrast until you get a black and white image out of the area you want to key, and export that as a seperate file, then add it to track 2 as a matte connected to the alpha output).

I’m sure there’s another way to do this with blend modes, but my brain doesn’t seem to be working fast enough at the moment to figure it out.

Chris Hall
Colorist – Basher Films
Pasadena, CA

[Lee Niederkofler]

Yes thats the only workflow I came up with but for a complete scene or a complete feature its quite unpractical to do this!

So I hope Blackmagic is listening I really would love this coming as a new feature!!

I’ll try again with blend modes but its quite bad for fine control!

thanks for your help
best
lee