2011

Table Of Contents
Premultiplication
Topics in this chapter:
Premultiplied Images on page 337
When to Premultiply on page 337
Common Problems with Premultiplication on page 338
Premultiplication Tools on page 338
Premultiplied Images
A premultiplied image is one where the RGB channels have been multiplied by
the alpha channel. In other words, it is a four-channel image in which the red,
green and blue channels have already been multiplied by the integrated matte
channel.
Typically, images from a 3D renderer are premultiplied, which means that the
transparent areas are black in both the RGB channels and the alpha channel.
As such, in premultiplied images, the RGB channels never have a higher value
than the alpha channel.
When to Premultiply
You should consider premultiplying an image if you have to modify a foreground
element and composite over a background image. Furthermore, you should also
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