Secondary Colour Grading > Creating a Secondary by Keying a Range of Colours > Using the Diamond Keyer to Extract a Key >

# Setting the Softness Range in the Diamond Keyer

Once you have set the tolerance range, you can then set the softness range. Softness sets the range of colours to make semi-transparent and creates a softer key. Use softness to create a more natural and softer look when applying secondary colour correction.

To set the chrominance range for softness, you can manipulate the chrominance Softness Diamond. You can use the Add Softness and Remove Softness buttons to set the chrominance range and luminance levels for softness. You can also use the Minimum and Maximum Luminance sliders to set the luminance levels for softness.

To set the chrominance range for softness by moving and modifying the Softness Diamond:

1. View the secondary in the Player. Press F11 to toggle to Secondary view.

   In Secondary view, you can see the effect of the modifications you make while you fine-tune the key.

2. Click and drag the Softness Diamond or click and drag a vertex of the Softness Diamond.
   NoteIf the Softness Diamond vertex is too small to drag with the mouse, you can use the scale and skew controls to expand the diamond. See Using the Scale and Skew Controls in the Diamond Keyer. You can also zoom in or out on the hue cube. Right-click and drag to the right to zoom in or drag to the left to zoom out. The Softness Diamond is red when selected and grey when unselected.

   (a) Softness Diamond vertex

   The chrominance range for softness is modified.

To set the chrominance range and luminance levels for softness using the Add Softness and Remove Softness buttons:

1. View the secondary in the Player. Press F11 to toggle between Secondary view and Matte view.
2. In the Secondaries menu, enable the Add Softness or Remove Softness button to increase or decrease the chrominance range and luminance levels for softness.

   (a) Add Softness and Remove Softness buttons

3. Click or drag in the image. Alt-drag in the image to select a larger area.

   The chrominance and luminance levels for softness are modified.

To set the luminance levels for softness using the Minimum and Maximum Luminance sliders:

1. View the secondary in the Player. Press F11 to toggle to Matte view.

   In Matte view, you can see the effect of the modifications you make while you fine-tune the key.

2. Drag the Minimum and Maximum Luminance sliders (next to the Luminance gradient) to adjust the luminance levels for softness.

   (a) Minimum Luminance slider for softness(b) Luminance gradient(c) Maximum Luminance slider for softness

   NoteAs you move the Minimum and Maximum Luminance sliders for softness, the luminance levels are represented in the Luminance gradient by corresponding yellow markers.

   The luminance levels for softness are modified.