Procedural Compositing with Batch > Batch Processing > Assembling a Process Tree >
Connecting Nodes

As you add nodes, you connect them to the process tree by linking the result from one node and using it as a source (front, matte, or back) for the next node in the process tree. You can also connect by linking backward from the source of one node to the output of another (to reuse a node’s output). Exceptions are the BFX Output, Output, and Export nodes: you cannot link from their result.

To connect nodes, you use the coloured tabs on the node's left side; these tabs are called source tabs. The colours of the source tabs correspond with the cursor colours when selecting clips from the Desktopreels. The yellow tab on the node’s right side is called the Result tab. You use the Result tab of a node to connect its result to the front, back, or matte tab of another node.

(a) Matte tab(b) Back tab(c) Front tab(d) Warning tab(e) Result tab(f) Cache tab

If auto display of tooltips is enabled in the Preferences menu, hover over a tab to see the name of the tab. If you have disabled the auto display of tooltips, press and hold Alt+Ctrl+spacebar and hover over the tab.

Node source tabs are described in the following table.

Tab | Colour | Description
--- | --- | ---
Front | Red | Connects a front clip to a node.
Back | Green | Connects a back clip to a node.
Matte | Blue | Connects a matte clip to a node.
Audio | Grey | Connects a clip with audio to an Output node.
Result | Yellow | Connects the result of a node to other nodes.
Output Matte | Blue | Connects the output matte of a node to other nodes.
Cache | Grey and yellow circle | Enables, disables, or sets cache as read only for the selected node. See Caching Frames.
Warning | Red circle | Warns that clip input to this node is unconnected or is missing media, or clips parented to this node do not share the same resolution or a compatible bit-depth. A message also appears in the message bar (press Alt+E and mouse over the node to display the message again).

The available source tabs depend on the node. If the node accepts a front, back, and matte clip, all coloured source tabs are available. If the node only accepts a front clip, the red source tab is available and the other source tabs are grey. The Result tab is always available, except on the BFX Output, Output, and Export nodes. When a source tab or Result tab is not connected to a clip or to another node, the coloured tabs are dimmed.

There are several ways of connecting clips or nodes together. You can connect them manually or automatically. You can also quickly connect several nodes and clips together using the tap-tap feature.

Connecting a Clip to a Node

1. Do one of the following:
   - Click the clip and drag the cursor to a source tab on a node.
   - Select Parent from the Edit Mode box and drag the cursor to a source tab.

   Dragging from a clip to the front tab of a Logic Op

   An arrowed line is drawn from the clip to the source tab. The colour of the line corresponds to the colour of the source tab to which the clip is connected.

NoteExpand the following nodes before connecting them to other nodes: group node, Action node with multiple outputs, or multi-channel clip imported with a Gateway Import node. Select the node and press Shift+C . Or use the advanced autolink feature.

Connecting Nodes Manually

1. Click the Result tab of a node whose result you want to use and drag the cursor to one of the source tabs of the next node in the process tree.

   An arrowed line is drawn from the node to the source tab. For example, click the Result tab of the Colour Correct node and drag the cursor to the front tab of the Flip node to flip the result of the colour-corrected clip.

NoteExpand the following nodes before connecting them to other nodes: group node, Action node with multiple outputs, or multi-channel clip imported with a Gateway Import node. Select the node and press Shift+C . Or use the advanced autolink feature.

Connecting Nodes Automatically

1. Use the Autolink feature by pressing Shift and dragging a node to another node so their tabs touch.

   The nodes are connected.

   NoteUsing Autolink to connect nodes will not connect an audio input to an Export or Output node.

   Action: Press and hold Shift while dragging the Negative node to the Keyer node

   Result: The Keyer output is the front for the Negative node

NoteExpand the following nodes before connecting them to other nodes: group node, Action node with multiple outputs, or multi-channel clip imported with a Gateway Import node. Select the node and press Shift+C . Or use the advanced autolink feature.

Connecting Nodes Using the Advanced Autolink

1. To distinguish between the various source tabs, use the Advanced Autolink feature by pressing Alt repeatedly while still holding Shift to extend a similarly coloured arm from each source tab (starting with the topmost source tab, and cycling counter-clockwise with each press of Alt). The name of the tab is also displayed above the node. You can then touch the extended arm to the tab you want to connect to.

   Approaching a node with multiple outputs, such as a multi-channel clip imported with a Gateway Import node, automatically expands that node.

   Hold Shift and press Alt to extend the Front tab. |
   While still holding Shift, press Alt again to extend the Back tab. |
   While still holding Shift, press Alt a third time to extend the Matte tab. |

Using Advanced Autolink and Retaining Output Links

1. Drag a node while pressing and holding Shift.
2. Optional: Press Alt until the desired coloured arm is extended, then release Alt.
3. While still holding Shift, navigate to the output tabs of the desired node that you want to connect to. Press Ctrl and hover over the output links from the node’s tabs to highlight them in orange.
4. When the desired output links are highlighted (signifying that they will be altered by the operation), release Ctrl and Shift.

   The links are disconnected from the original node, reconnected to the main output of the inserted node, and a new link appears between the original output and the chosen input of the inserted node.

Inserting a Node Between Connected Nodes

1. Drag a node while pressing and holding Shift.
2. Press Alt until the desired coloured arm is extended, then release Alt.
3. While still holding Shift, navigate to the link between two connected nodes.
4. Touch the extended arm to the link, and release Shift.

   The node is inserted, while retaining the input and output connections.

Adding a Node From the Bin Between Connected Nodes

1. Select the node in the schematic that has one or more output links.
2. Hover over the node in the node bin that you want to add.
3. Press and hold Shift, then press Alt repeatedly to cycle through the output links.

   Each press of Alt highlights an output link in orange.

4. Release Alt when the connection that you want to retain is highlighted.
5. While still holding Shift, double-click the node in the bin.

   The node is added to the schematic, and is linked automatically between the desired nodes.

   If the selected node is connected to multiple inputs, the insertion is done on all inputs. Once connected, the link colour returns to its default colour.

Creating a Node Connection Using Tap-Tap Linking

1. Click the socket of the first node or clip you want to connect.
2. Click the socket of the node you want to connect the first node to.

   The nodes are connected.

   NoteIf the first node you click is an Output node, you can add as many subsequent input socket connections as you like. To finish selecting, click anywhere in the schematic work area.

NoteExpand the following nodes before connecting them to other nodes: group node, Action node with multiple outputs, or multi-channel clip imported with a Gateway Import node. Select the node and press Shift+C . Or use the advanced autolink feature.

Breaking a Connection and Simultaneously Adding a New Input

1. Connect the new clip or node's Result tab to the source tab of a node that is already connected to a different source.

   The source tab's original link is disconnected and replaced with a connection to the new Result tab.

Disconnecting Nodes or Clips

1. Drag the cursor across the connecting line between a clip and a node or between two nodes.

   The arrowed line is cut and the source tab is dimmed.

2. You can cut multiple connections in a single stroke by clicking and dragging over several connecting lines in the schematic.
   TipTo quickly disconnect a node, press Ctrl+Alt and click the node to disconnect.