Generating a Matte with the Master Keyer

Using the Master Keyer controls, you can generate and refine a matte for your chroma key.

To generate and refine a matte with the Master Keyer:

1. Set a Player view to Tool Output and, with the selection on the Keyer super tool node, cycle to the Comp Output of the Keyer—see Cycling Through Inputs and Outputs.
2. Select Matte from the Sample menu or press M.
   

   (a) Primary sample color pot  (b) Mix field  (c) Secondary sample color pot  (d) Patch list  (e) Mode menu  (f) Range/Softness sliders  (g) Reset button  (h) Sample menu  

3. Click the Primary Sample color pot and sample the image. Click the image to sample a single pixel, or use Ctrl + drag to sample a larger area.
4. Click the Secondary Sample color pot and then sample the image. Sample an area where you do not want any softness in the matte.
5. Drag in the Mix field to adjust the mix between the primary and secondary sample. Drag right to include more of the secondary sample or left to include less.
6. Gesturally refine the matte. In the image window, click an area of the matte that you want to refine; only those parameters that pertain to the area you click appear. Parameters are displayed in order of importance, from top to bottom (those that are brightest and at the top have the greatest effect on the image). You can then modify a parameter by dragging its highlighted slider.
   
   • To add softness, drag a slider to the right.
   • To remove softness, drag a slider to the left. The red indicator shows the original value and the yellow indicator shows the current value.
   
7. To modify more than one parameter, move the mouse between the parameters until the cursor changes to a double arrow, or drag vertically. When you highlight the parameter you want to adjust, drag the slider.
8. When you are finished modifying the displayed parameters, click another area of the image without highlighting a parameter to hide them. Alternatively, you can press Esc. The parameters are no longer displayed.
9. Repeat steps 6 to 8 in other parts of the matte to further refine it. Only the parameters that apply to the problem area will appear.
10. To scroll through the image and display the pertinent parameters, use Alt+ drag the image without clicking it. The parameters update as you drag. You can then modify the displayed parameters by clicking the image and dragging the highlighted slider.
    Note

    To reset Matte parameters, click the Reset button under the Master Keyer UI. All matte parameters are reset, except the Mix field and the key colors.