2011

Table Of Contents
Linking Compositions
By linking other compositions with your working version, you can create a
more complex composition. You can link to as many compositions as you
need. You can link to a specific output of a composition, as well as specify the
mark in, mark out and offset times, and the repeat mode.
When you link to a composition, you are by default linking to the primary
version which is read-only. The Link Image tab in the tool UI displays all the
outputs associated with the version to which you are linking. When you
attempt to link to a composition that is outdated, the link node turns red to
indicate that it is out of date.
There are many advantages to linking compositions:
Keeps the tool pipelines of individual compositions separate from each
other. You see only your own tool pipeline. This eliminates the risk of
inadvertently deleting or modifying tools added to the pipeline by another
composition and can also make it easier to identify the different segments
in the production pipeline.
Makes it easy to review different possibilities for a shot. You can link to a
composition and then choose the output you want to see.
Linking makes dependencies easy and efficient. If your work depends on
the result of another composition, you can link to that composition and
work on the composition that contains the link. However, you may be
working on multiple compositions independently and each one will stay
up-to-date or will detect if a more recent version is available. This is
controlled by the Link type list in the link node UI which lets you specify:
primary, latest, working and explicit. For example, when linking to the
Latest version, the link node will realize if it is outdated with respect to
this selection. How the link node reacts to this out-of-date condition is
controlled by the On Load button. When it's on, the link node will update
to the proper version at load time (when the composition is open in
read-only). When On Load is off, it is up to you to visit the link node and
click the Update To button to link to the proper version.
Makes it easy to apply your tool pipeline to a different rendered result.
You just select the result.
To link to a composition:
1 In a File Browser (Ctrl + O for Windows and Linux or Cmd + O for Mac
OS), select a composition and drag it into the Schematic view.
234 | Chapter 11 Working with Compositions