Creating Matte Containers
 
 
 

Containers are a convenient way to group elements on the timeline. The elements, which can come from different layers, can be edited as a unit yet remain individually editable. A matte container is a container with the RGB portion of an image on one track and its matte on another. If the matte for a clip exists separately from it, you can add the clip and its matte to the timeline as a single element by creating a matte container for them.

For single-frame mattes and virtual sources, there are special considerations. If the matte consists of a single frame, it is automatically repeated to match the duration of the front clip. If both the front and matte clips are virtual sources, the matte container is created as a virtual source. You can trim, slip or slide it to any extent.

You can create a matte container in the following ways:

You can mute a matte from the timeline or from the Axis Editor.

NoteFor more information on containers, see Working with Containers.

To create a matte container using the quick menu:

  1. Load your fill to the timeline.
  2. Select the fill on the timeline and apply a soft Axis.
  3. In the quick menu, click Matte.
  4. Select your external matte from the EditDesk.
    NoteYou cannot use a timeline element as your matte selection.

    A matte container is created.

To create a matte container using the editor:

  1. Load your fill to the timeline.
  2. Select the fill on the timeline and apply a soft Axis.
  3. Enter the Axis Editor.
  4. Click Load Matte.

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  5. Select your external matte from the EditDesk.
    NoteYou cannot use a timeline element as your matte selection.

    The matte container is created.

To enter a matte container:

  1. Double-click the matte container or click E beside the Container button.

    The matte container contains two tracks: your fill on V1 and the external matte you selected on V2. You edit the contents of a matte container the same way as a normal container.

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    (a) Fill on V1  (b) External matte on V2  

To mute a matte from the Axis Editor:

  1. Select the matte container.
  2. Enter the Axis Editor.
  3. Select Off from the Matte box.

    The matte is temporarily removed from the vertical edit.

To mute a matte from the timeline:

  1. Click the Container button.

    The LED turns yellow.

    NoteTo unhide the matte, click the Container LED button so that it turns purple.