You can start a stereoscopic session in Action by loading stereo clips and using the Stereo Startup mode. This creates a stereo camera. The output is set to the stereo camera, a stereo object is created for visualizing the scene, and the clips are placed on separate lines in the Media list.
Note: A stereo clip cannot be loaded in Action if it is selected as the Back input, or if it is selected to replace a clip in the Media list. Also, since Action as a timeline FX uses only one front/matte media, stereo clips are not supported.
When using a stereo clip, its left and right eye tracks are automatically split and placed on individual lines in the Media list. Also, new clips appear in the workspace. They retain the name of the original clips, and are appended with a “_Left” or “_Right” suffix. It is important to save these clips, as they are used for loading an Action setup or loading the previous Action session.
Note: It is not possible to select a mono clip as the Matte input if the Front input is stereo, and vice versa.
To start a stereo session from the Tools tab:
- Click Action.
- From the Input Mode box, select one of the following:
- Clear All to delete all media and objects from the previous setup. Select stereo clips for the front and matte input. This is the Stereo Startup mode.
- Front/Back/Matte to enter Action using the previous setup. Select stereo clips for the Front and Matte input, and a mono clip for the Back input.
Note: If you enter Action using mono clips, the default camera is automatically created. If you need a stereo camera, you must add it manually.
- Select the destination.
If you selected Clear All and selected stereo clips for the Front and Matte input before entering Action (Stereo Startup mode), the following is created:
- In the schematic, a 3D camera (stereo camera) is created and the default camera is hidden.
- In the Output menu, the Mode is set to Stereo and the Camera is set to Result Cam.
- In the Camera menu, the result camera is set to the 3D stereo camera.
- A stereo object is created with the clips you selected.
- In the Media list, the Front and Matte inputs are split into separate lines for the right and left eye.
Note: If you entered Action using the Front/Back/Matte option and want to clear all previous settings and use the Stereo Startup mode, click the Reset To Stereo Mode button in the Action Setup menu. You will now have to bring in new clips.
When you exit Action, the workspace contains left and right clips for the Front and Matte inputs for a total of four new clips.