A Batch effect (FX) is a setup applied directly to one or more segments on the Batch timeline. Batch FX include effects of any module accessed from the Batch node bin. Creating a Batch FX allows you to take a selection of timeline segments into a Batch flow graph environment for procedural compositing. When you create a Batch FX, you perform procedural compositing yet remain in a timeline-based environment. You can edit and reorder any Batch FX node without affecting anything else in your pipeline.

Each time you create a Batch FX, you enter a new setup for the selected segments. Segments can, therefore, have several levels of nested effects. The BFX View allows you to access a schematic hierarchy of all levels of nested Batch FX and their sources relative to the EditDesk record timeline. Alternatively, expand Batch setups to bring the setups nested inside a clip back to the same BFX level.

Although you can also create soft effects on the Batch timeline, their order in the pipeline is fixed and you can apply soft effects to only one segment. As well, you have access to fewer effects modules with soft effects than with Batch FX. Creating soft effects is useful when you want to remain on the timeline and do not need to work in a modular pipeline environment. If you started with soft effects but later decide you need the flexibility of the Batch pipeline, you can convert the soft effects to nodes.

You apply a Batch FX to a source or to a source after it has been modified with soft effects. To apply a Batch FX to a source, you enter a Batch setup from a segment’s timeline with the Pre option. To apply a Batch FX to multiple sources or to a source modified with soft effects, you enter a Batch setup with the Post option. If you bring multiple layers into a Batch setup and want to apply a separate Batch flow graph to each layer, you can split the layers. When you split layers, one clip is created for each layer.

With the support of Batch FX in Smoke, there is a consistent workflow between Autodesk Visual Effects and Finishing products.

Batch FX is available only in Smoke 2K.