Working with the BCC MultiTone Mix Filter

The MultiTone Mix Þlter uses the source image�s color, luma, or alpha information to create a toned image that uses up to Þve independent colors. MultiTone Mix works by creating a color map based on a speciÞc channel in the source image, then replacing each color range in the map with a new color.

Source image Filtered image

The BCC MultiTone Mix Þlter includes extensive parameters for you to customize. You may need to scroll down to see them. The following illustration does not show all the parameters.

MultiTone Mix processes an image using the following steps:

1.

MultiTone Mix looks at the channel from the source image that is selected as the Input Channel. In this example, the image�s Luma channel is used as the Input Channel.

2.

Where the value of the Input Channel is 0, the Black Color is substituted. Where the value of the Input Channel is 255, the White Color is substituted. Three additional points on the value range, which are speciÞed in the Settings tab, are replaced with the pure Color 1, Midpoint, and Color 3 colors.

3.

Pixels whose Input Channel value falls between the speciÞed points are replaced with a mix of two contiguous colors. For example, if a pixel�s value falls between the Color 1 and Midpoint levels, it is replaced with a blend of the Color 1 and Midpoint colors.

General Controls Parameter Group

At times, you may want to view your clip without the effect that you�ve applied. The

Bypass Effect checkbox

lets you view the source footage without the effect. When the Bypass Effect checkbox is selected, it turns pink. When you applied a BCC effect to an Avid title or matte, enabling the

Bypass Effect checkbox

does not display the original title unÞltered, but rather displays the nested Graphic Fill of the matte key.

Bypass Effect is a parameter change; selecting the Bypass Effect checkbox will unrender a rendered effect. To bypass a rendered effect without unrendering, step into the effect in the Avid timeline to see the unaffected video.

Selecting the

Safe Colors checkbox

enables an NTSC/PAL color-safe Þlter that allows only colors that are safe for broadcast. BCC allows RGB values across the full 0-255 range. When this checkbox is selected, the RGB values are limited to the NTSC/PAL safe range of 16-235.

The

Draft Mode checkbox

allows you to preview your effect in a Draft Mode to speed previews. This is especially useful for effects with multiple track inputs. Deselect this option before rendering your effect.

The

Apply to Title-Matte checkbox

allows you to apply BCC Þlters to titles created in Avid�s Title tool. To apply an effect to a title, drag the effect onto the title (you do not have to Option-drag) and select the

Apply to Title-Matte checkbox

.

The

Invert Matte checkbox

allows you to invert any matte created by your effect. This is useful when you work with imported images.

The

Layer Opacity

slider sets the opacity of the Þlter layer, which allows you to fade effects. When

Apply to Title-Matte checkbox

is selected, Layer Opacity affects the graphic Þll layer, which allows you to fade titles.

The

Field Render menu

sets the rendering optimization for BCC. For most Þlters, you can use the default of

Speed Optimized

. For effects that include edging or DVE moves, you may want to use

Quality Optimized

. Quality Optimized takes more time to render, but will generally correct any problems with jitter or rough edges on effects.

Geometrics Parameter Group

The controls in the Geometrics parameter group allow you to add basic DVE moves to any Þlter.

The Geometrics parameter group includes the following controls.

Selecting the

Enable Geometrics checkbox

allows you to use the parameters to reposition a track. When this checkbox is deselected, the other parameters have no affect.

Position

X

and

Position Y

adjust the horizontal and vertical location of the track.

Scale X

and

Scale Y

change the size of the image along the X and Y axis, respectively. These parameters scale as percentages of the image�s original width and height. Thus, a Scale X value of 200 produces an image twice as wide as the original. Select the

Lock Scale checkbox

to keep the Scale X and Y values in proportion.

Tumble

,

Spin

, and

Rotate

change the image�s perspective along the X, Y, and Z axes respectively. Tumble, Spin, and Rotate can animate over values greater than 360° in order to make the shape complete more than one full revolution.

Tumble Spin Rotate

The Crop controls crop the edges of the image.

Left Crop, Top Crop

,

Right

Crop,

and

Bottom Crop

determine the width, in pixels, of the cropped area on each edge of the image.

For the Crop controls refer to the sides of the original image before it is transformed in 3D space. For example, if you tumble an image 180° so that it appears upside-down, cropping the Top affects the top of the original image, which is actually the bottom of the tumbled image.

The

Blend

control soften the edges of the image by reducing their opacity. The

Blend

parameter

determines the width, in pixels, of the transparent band on each edge of the image. These values are unaffected by the Crop values, allowing you to soften the edges of an uncropped image.

Drop Shadow Parameter Group

The controls in the Drop Shadow parameter group allow you to add an animatable drop shadow to an effect.

The Drop Shadow parameter group includes the following controls.

The

Enable Drop Shadow checkbox

turns the shadow on and off. If this checkbox is not selected, the other parameters have no affect.

Source Opacity

sets the opacity of the source. You can use this parameter to fade in a title or other source, without fading in the shadow.

Distance

sets the distance (in pixels) between the shadow and the image.

Intensity

sets the opacity of the drop shadow, and is scaled as a percentage. At a value of 100, the shadow is completely opaque. Lower Intensity values allow the background image to be seen through the shadow. At a value of 0, the shadow is completely invisible.

Softness

controls the softness of the edges of the shadows. A setting of 0 produces a sharply deÞned shadow with hard edges. Increasing Softness produces shadows with softer edges.

Angle

sets the direction of the drop shadow. A setting of 0° places the shadow to the right of the image; a setting of 90° places it directly below the image.

Shadow Color

sets the color of the shadow.

If the source image is opaque, selecting the

Opaque Source

checkbox

can speed rendering and previews. If your source is partially transparent, deselect this option for best results.

The

Black Source

menu

determines the media used to replace black pixels in the Input Channel.

Black Color, Color 1 and Midpoint Color Parameter Groups

Black Color

sets the color output for pixels whose Input Channel value is 0.

The

Color 1

,

Midpoint Color

, and

Color 3

determine the colors output for pixels at intermediate values on the input value range. You can adjust the values that are output to each color with the Level parameters (see below).

The Black Color, White Color, Color 1, Midpoint Color, and Color 3 colors are used in the output only if the corresponding Source menu is set to Color.

White Color

sets the color output for pixels whose Input Channel value is 255.

The

Source 1

,

Midpoint Source

, and

Source 3

menus set the sources used to replace intermediate pixels whose input channel values equal the corresponding color level.

The

White Source

menu

is the source that is used to replace white pixels in the Input Channel.

For each of these menus, you can choose from the following options:

•

Color

uses the corresponding color chosen with the Black Color, Color 1, Midpoint Color, Color 3, or White Color parameters (see below).

•

Layer 1

and

Layer 2

use the color information from the corresponding layers selected in the Source Layer 1 and Source Layer 2 menus (see page 37).

•

Off

eliminates the corresponding input level from the composite image, ignoring the corresponding color chosen with the Black Color, Color 1, Midpoint Color, Color 3, or White Color parameters (see below). This option is not available in the Black Color or White Color menus.

For example, if you set Color 1, Midpoint Color, and Color 3 to Off and Black and White to Color, the Þlter is a simple toner, mapping the image from the black color to the white color.

In this example, all of the Source menus are set to Color. The source image pixels are toned according to the chosen Black Color, Color 1, Midpoint Color, Color 3, and White Colors.

In this example, the Source 1 menu has been set to Layer 1, and the Source Layer 1 menu is set to the original source image. The dark grey pixels in the source image retain their original color. The Black Source, Midpoint Source, Source 3, and White Source menus are still set to Color, so that the other pixels in the source image are toned according to the chosen Black Color, Color 1, Midpoint Color, Color 3, and White Colors.

In this example, the Color 1 menu has been set to Off, so the dark gray level is eliminated from the range. The dark gray pixels in the source image have been toned a mixture of the Black Color (purple) and the Midpoint Color (yellow) according to their luminance values.

The Level parameters control the levels at which the output is taken directly from each source.

•

Source 1 Level

is the input channel value for which the output is the pure Color 1 color. A value of 0 sets this level to the Black Level, and a value of 100 sets it to the Midpoint Level.

•

Midpoint Level

is the input channel value (between 0 and 255) for which the output is the pure Midpoint color. Decreasing the Midpoint Level gives more prominence to the Color 3 and White Colors because it widens the input value range for these colors. Conversely, increasing the Midpoint Level gives more prominence to the Color 1 and Black Colors.

Midpoint Level=75 Midpoint Level=125 Midpoint Level=175

•

Source 3 Level

is the input channel value for which the output is the pure Color 3 color. A value of 0 sets this level to the Midpoint Level, and a value of 100 sets it to the White Level.

Multitone Mix 1 Parameter Group

The

Source Layer 1

menu

sets the source layer used for any source(s) set to Layer 1. If Source Layer 1 is set to

None

, the input layer is used with previous Þlters applied. If it is set to another layer, the corresponding layer is used with no Þlters are applied.

The

Source Layer 2

menu

sets the source layer used for any source(s) set to Layer 2. If Source Layer 2 is set to

None

, the input layer is used with previous Þlters applied. If it is set to another layer, the corresponding layer is used with no Þlters are applied.

The

Input Channel

menu

speciÞes the channel in the source image used to create the color map for the toned image.

The

Output Channels

menu

speciÞes the channels in the image to be processed and output by the Þlter. The choices are

RGB

,

Red

,

Green

,

Blue

,

Red and Green

,

Red and Blue

,

Green and Blue

,

Difference

, and

Alpha

. Difference uses the difference between each Þltered channel and the corresponding source channel.

Mix with Original

blends the source and Þltered images. Use this parameter to animate the effect from the unÞltered to the Þltered image without adjusting other settings, or to reduce the effect of the Þlter by mixing it with the source image.

PixelChooser Parameter Group

The PixelChooser is included in many Boris Þlters and provides several methods to selectively Þlter an image. You can use the PixelChooser to create a matte between Þltered and unÞltered pixels, either by specifying a geometric region or by using the image�s luma or color information.

See the individual PixelChooser Þlter for more detailed information on the PixelChooser controls.