2017

NOTE If you are looking for Shadow Softness settings in the Media list, they can now be found directly in the
Shadow (page 521) menu, allowing you to set shadow softness by object, instead of by media.
The effects and tools in the Media list appear from left to right in the order that Action processes them:
Lock and Slip
Use Slip to create a timing offset for your clip and Lock to lock media at a certain frame.
1 In the Media list, drag the slip field for your chosen media.
A positive value starts the clip at the specified frame. A negative value creates a freeze frame effect
where the first frame of the clip is held by the specified number of frames.
2 To lock the media at a certain frame, drag the Lock field to the desired frame number, or click the Lock
field to display the calculator to enter a frame number. Ctrl+Alt click the field to return it to Off.
NOTE If you want to animate the Slip values, use the Channel Editor. The channels are found in their respective
media and are named slip and matte_slip. The Background Slip channel is found in Scene ➤ Media ➤ Background
➤ Slip.
Modular Keyer
When you load media into the Modular Keyer from Action, the front and matte clips for the selected media
are loaded with the back clip and appear at the beginning of the processing pipeline. The front clip is used
as the Front clip and the matte clip is used as the Key In clip for the processing pipeline. The back clip is
used as the Back clip in the processing pipeline and is loaded as a reference only. Any modifications you
make to the Back clip in the Modular Keyer are not used when you return to Action.
NOTE If the Action back clip is a different resolution than the front clip, a Resize node is added to the Back pipeline
when entering the Modular Keyer.
1 In the Media list, double-click the corresponding MK field for your chosen media to enter the Modular
Keyer.
2 As you work in the Modular Keyer, select Action Context from the View box to preview the result.
3 Click Return to return to Action. You do not have to click Render; the modifications are automatically
applied to the media in Action.
4 To mute a Modular Keyer effect, press Alt and click the MK media. The MK in the field turns black to
signify the effect is muted. To unmute the MK effect, press Alt and click the field again.
The MK field is displayed in red if there is an error within the Modular Keyer, such as a broken input
connection. Open the Message History viewer to see the error, and return to the Modular Keyer to fix
the error.
NOTE Since source nodes are applied before any Media list effects, if you do not want to apply the Modular Keyer
effect on a source node, you'll need to create a new media layer for the source node output.
Blur
You can quickly add Gaussian blur along the X and Y axes in the Media list, or enter the full Blur editor to
have access to all blur settings, including other blur types, such as Radial and Defocus.
1 In the Media list, drag the X or Y blur values to apply a Gaussian blur, or double-click the corresponding
Blur field for your chosen media to enter the full Blur editor.
TIP Alt-drag over a front or matte X or Y Blur field to change both values proportionally; or press Alt+Shift
and drag over any front or matte blur field to change all four fields proportionally.
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