Procedural Compositing with Batch > Batch Overview >
About Batch

The Batch module is designed to facilitate inter-module workflow and quicken interactivity as you create effects. Batch provides a flow graph environment where you perform procedural compositing with integrated access to almost all Flame modules and image-processing commands.

You use the Batch processing environment to assemble a process tree of clips and nodes (Flame operations), where the result of each operation serves as the source for the next one. Because a Batch pipeline is not fixed, you have the flexibility of reordering and editing nodes.

You can work in a timeline-based environment within Batch while performing procedural compositing. Each clip has an associated timeline, which you use to perform editing functions, build sequences, apply transitions, or do vertical compositing by applying soft effects.

As well, you can take a selection of timeline segments and enter a separate Batch flow graph environment—a BFX level—where you apply a Batch setup exclusively to the timeline selection. Each BFX level provides access to the same effects modules as the main Batch schematic.

You can access Batch with preselected clips, or use any of the input nodes within Batch to bring in clips. You can bring in clips containing stereo tracks as well as clips of any resolution and bit depth. Some nodes require that the clips be of the same resolution and bit depth. You can change these clip settings directly in Batch.

You can continue work that you performed on a clip before bringing it into a Batch setup. For example, if a Desktop module process was applied to a clip, you can continue to edit the settings by accessing the clip's history from Batch. If a soft effect was applied to a clip in another application, you can access the soft effect settings from Batch and make further changes.

When you are finished working in Batch, you can output clips directly to the Desktop, the library, or to a remote framestore. You can also export image sequences in any supported format. If you saved both your setup and clips, you can go back into Batch in another session to continue working on a setup.

#### Topics in this section

- Batch Concepts: Clips
- Batch Concepts: Nodes
- Batch Concepts: Process Tree
- Batch Concepts: Group Nodes
- Batch Concepts: Rendering