User Manual

Table Of Contents
With this done, connecting the Text+ node’s output, which has the alpha channel, to the
MatteControl node’s Garbage Matte input, is a shortcut we can use to make a mask, matte, or
alpha punch out a region of transparency in an image.
Keep in mind that it’s easy to accidentally connect to the wrong input. Because inputs rearrange
themselves depending on what’s connected and where the node is positioned (and, frankly, the
colors can be hard to keep track of when you’re first learning), it’s key to make sure that you
always check the tooltips associated with the input you’re dragging a connection over to make
sure that you’re really connecting to the correct one. If you don’t, the effect won’t work, and if
your effect isn’t working, the first thing you should always check is whether you’ve connected
the proper inputs.
One alternate method of connecting nodes together is to hold down the Option key while
dragging a connection from one node’s output and dropping it onto the body of another node.
This opens a pop-up menu from which you can choose the specific input you want to connect
to, by name. Note that the menu only appears after you’ve dropped the connection on the node
and released your pointing device’s button.
Option-dragging a node connection to drop onto
another node exposes a node input menu.
Once the Text1 node is properly connected to the MatteControl node’s Garbage Matte input,
atext-shaped area of transparency is displayed for the graphic if you load the MatteControl
node into the viewer.
Chapter – 70 Compositing Layers in Fusion 1421