The following concepts are used throughout the Batch chapters.
Clips are a sequence of images or frames loaded from an external device such as a VTR and stored in digital format. They are loaded into Batch from the clip library, the EditDesk, or the Import Image module. Clips form the root element of a process tree.
Image courtesy of The Post Group
A node is a graphical representation of a function or module that affects a clip or another node in the process tree. Nodes have one or more input points (also called tabs) used for connecting to clips. For example, a Colour Correct node can accept a Front, Matte and Back connection, whereas an Auto Matte node accepts a Front input.
A process tree is the structure of clips and nodes that ultimately creates an effect. Clips are connected to nodes, and in turn, nodes can be connected to more clips or other nodes. A process tree ends with a BFX Output node.
A group node is a selection of nodes and clips that are collapsed into one node icon. Each node icon displays the group’s contents, inputs, and outputs. You can create groups for different branches of your process tree and work on each separately. Groups are useful for simplifying cluttered schematics. See Grouping Nodes.
(a) Group node
Rendering is the process of generating the final clip or an intermediate result. When rendering in Batch, the process tree connected to the BFX Output node is processed, and effects are applied to the segment. A new clip is generated and the record timeline is updated.
