Additional Background Settings
Background Filter
In many situations, particularly with computer generated backgrounds, the graphics will appear
too sharp compared to the foreground subjects. Sometimes, this sharpness can cause aliasing
artifacts if the antialiasing filters are not set properly in the background rendering system.
Advancing the background filter control will gradually apply a horizontal low pass filter to the
background scene, minimizing aliasing artifacts.
Background Gradient
Enabling this button will replace the background video with an internally generated horizontal
gradient signal. This gradient signal can be used to better demonstrate the impact of
background color controls on the background image.
Test Signal
This setting lets you use a colored field as the background in the final composite.
Background Switch
If you have still sources assigned to both backgrounds one and two in the media pool, clicking
this button will switch between them.
Additional Layer Settings
Test Signal
This setting lets you use a colored field as the layer source in the final composite.
Lighting
Green screens are best optimized when lit flat in neutral light so there are minimal changes in
color and brightness. This can add interesting challenges if you want to create lighting effects
on the set as the lighting can spill onto the green backing affecting the strength of your key.
As a helpful and convincing alternative, you can use the lighting feature to simulate lighting
effects in your composite. For example, you may have pillars of atmospheric spotlights shining
down on your talent. By using an image connected to the layer input that is designed for a
spotlight effect, you can blend that image into the foreground layer. You can even create an
animated image that lets you create dynamic moving lighting effects that are very realistic.
The lighting feature is most realistic when the lighting image used for the foreground lighting
effect is also integrated into the background layer when designing your background image.
This lets both the foreground and background share the effect which makes the overall
simulation more convincing.
To enable the lighting feature, select ‘layer’ from the main menu and then ‘lighting’ from the
‘groups’ menu. Now select ‘lighting’ from the ‘functions’ menu.
Lighting Control Knobs
Minimum Level
This control determines a mixture of the level of the ‘lighting’ input and an internal lighting
level setting. The range of the minimum level control is from 0% to 100%, with the default
setting at 25%.
At 0%, the lighting of the foreground subjects is entirely controlled by the ‘lighting’ input image.
At 100%, the lighting of the foreground subjects is entirely controlled by the lighting level R/G/B
and Master Controls settings.
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Advanced Ultimatte Controls