Slate Tool

The Slate tool lets you add production information over an image or clip, which is useful during the review/approval stage of a project. Although Slate is not a full text tool, you can adjust the size, color, opacity, position, and duration of the text, as well as add a drop shadow. You can also animate the attributes of the text.

When adding information to a composition, you can use variables for the composition's name, date, time, frame number, timecode, and length. You can also enter your own information about the composition, such as the project title, camera, lens, film stock, and so on.

To add production information to a composition:

1. Drag the Slate tool from Image Generation folder in the Tools tab to the dependency graph in the Schematic and attach it to the Output node.
   
2. Apply image properties—see Setting Image Generation Properties and Formats.
3. To add a variable to your composition, select a variable from the list, and click Add. You can add multiple variables.
   

   The composition's name appears in the Player.

4. To enter information about your composition, select the type of information you want to add and click Add UDA. You can add as much or as little information as needed.
   

   The field appears in the text box, but not in the Player.

5. Place the cursor inside the text field and edit the information.
6. Format the text and modify its location.
   Tip

   To scroll the list of fonts, use your mouse wheel or the scroll bar beside the list.

   
7. Add a drop shadow to the text by clicking Drop Shadow and setting its position, color, and opacity.
   
8. Add a background behind the text by clicking Box and setting the color, opacity, and margin.