Key Controls

Use the Key controls to set the key color, and the tolerance and softness ranges. You can set these values using sliders and numeric fields, or by sampling colors in the image. When sampling colors, remember that the cursor samples the color in the key-in source regardless of the output displayed in the Keyer viewport. This lets you adjust softness and tolerance while viewing any of the Keyer outputs.

The Key controls vary depending on the mode you select.The following section describes the Key controls in RGB, YUV, HLS, and RGB-CMYK modes. For information on the Key controls in channel mode, see Extracting a Single Color. For information on the Key controls in Luma mode, see Extracting a Key Based on Luminance.

Keyer Mode

The Keyer Mode list determines the color model used for extracting a matte from the key-in image.

RGB

Defines a range of colors to be keyed out using the red, green, and blue channels of the image.

YUV

Builds a key using the luminance and chrominance channels of the image.

HLS

Builds a key using the hue, lightness, and saturation channels of the image.

RGB-CMYL

Builds a key using the red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow, and lightness channels of the image. This color model offers sub-pixel resolution.

Channel

Extracts pure red, green, or blue from the image. You can also select a custom color, which is useful if the front clip includes transparencies, shadows, or reflections.

Lum

Builds a key according to the clip's luminance values. This mode is useful for clips with high contrast or filmed against a black background.

Key Color

Sets the color to be keyed out.

To set the key color, click the picker, move the cursor over the Keyer or Composite viewport and do one of the following:

• Click a point to sample a single color.
• Click and drag the cursor to use the average of the pixels sampled.
• Press Ctrl (Windows) or Option (Macintosh) while you click and drag the cursor. A rectangular selection box surrounds the sampled pixels. The key color is set to the average of the pixels inside the selection box.

The key color appears in the Key Color box.

Enable Lock to use the same key color when comparing Keyer modes. Disable Lock if you want to sample different pixels for each Keyer mode.

Tolerance Controls

Sets the range of colors to be keyed out.

Do any of the following:

• To reset the tolerance limit to a color, click Set Tolerance, and then sample the color in the viewer.
• To extend the tolerance range to include a color, click the Add Tolerance picker, and then sample the color in the image. Ctrl-drag the cursor over a region to key out all the pixels inside the selection box. To perform detailed adjustments, you can zoom into the image and sample colors at the pixel level.
• To shrink the range so that a color is excluded, click the Remove Tolerance picker, and then sample the color in the image.
• To change the tolerance by the same amount for all the channels, adjust the Tolerance Offset field.

Softness Controls

Sets the range of colors to make semi-transparent and creates a softer key.

Do any of the following:

• To reset the softness limit to a color, click Set Softness, and then sample the color in the image. Continue sampling pixels to add them to the softness range.
• To extend the softness range to include a color, click the Add Softness picker, and then sample the color in the image. Ctrl-drag the cursor over a region to add all the pixels inside the selection box to the softness range. To perform detailed adjustments, you can zoom into the image and sample colors at the pixel level.
• To shrink the softness range so that a color is excluded, click the Remove Softness picker, and then sample the color in the image.
• To change the softness by the same amount for all the channels, set the Softness Offset field.

Color Fields and Sliders

The fields and sliders give you precise control over the softness and tolerance ranges for individual color properties.

You can click a channel button to enable/disable individual color components. When a color component is disabled, that component is ignored when calculating the matte values. In addition, disabled components are not affected by operations that change the tolerance or softness. For example, if the Red component is disabled, then using the Add Tolerance picker does not add tolerance to the Red component.

Plot

Click the Plot picker, and then sample a color in the viewport.

A red line appears in the color gradients denoting the color value of the pixel you sampled. This lets you see where the sampled color falls within the ranges and adjust the ranges accordingly.

Click Lock to plot the same color if you try different Keyer modes.