Creating High-Contrast Mattes
 
 
 

Use the Auto command to create a high-contrast matte. This command works like the Auto Matte command in the Processing menu. The minimum and maximum luminance values for the matte are set using the two colour pots in the AutoMatte menu. Any pixel with a luminance value below the minimum is set to black, and any pixel with a luminance value above the maximum is set to white.

Unwanted grey areas can be removed from the matte by increasing the percentage in the Auto Gain field in the Setup menu.

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(a) Auto Gain field  

Pixel values between the minimum and maximum values are multiplied by the Gain value. The resulting values are clipped at the specified maximum luminance value. The Gain is expressed as a percentage value. The default value of 100% has no effect on the image since the luminance values are multiplied by 1.

To use the AutoMatte command:

  1. In the Paint menu, click Matte.

    The AutoMatte menu appears.

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    (a) Minimum luminance  (b) Maximum luminance  

  2. Set the minimum luminance value for the matte in the colour pot on the left. To set the value, click the field and use the colour picker to select the lightest colour from the image.
  3. Set the maximum luminance value for the matte in the colour pot on the right.
  4. Set the Auto Gain for the matte. The Auto Gain field is in the Setup menu.
  5. Click Auto to generate the matte.
  6. Click Use to enable the generated matte.