Starting a Workspace

Usually, when you start combustion, a workspace file is not loaded so the workspace is empty. That is, you do not need to create a workspace; you just start working, and the viewports, panels, and controls appear. Later, you can save your work as a workspace file (a file with the .cws file extension in Windows).

Most of the combustion user interface is hidden or otherwise unavailable until the workspace includes a branch or at least a piece of footage.

To get started in combustion:

Do any of the following:

• Open footage with a Composite, Paint, Keyer, or Color Corrector operator.

This creates a branch for each selected piece of footage unless you select Composite, in which case the footage items become layers in the new composite.

• Open footage into the Footage Library for the workspace.
• Create a Composite, Paint, Text, or Particles branch.

If you select Composite, you define the composite settings. Otherwise, you define the properties of the solid image footage the selected operator receives as its input.

• Create solid image footage.

You define the properties of the solid image footage.

• Open an existing workspace file.

Note: You can also set a preference so that the last workspace file is automatically loaded when you start combustion.

For an introduction to workspaces, branches, and operators, see About combustion. This chapter explains how to create branches and work with footage.