The Action Selective node allows you to create 2D isolations on surfaces or in cameras, and then create an isolation effects pipeline using Matchbox shaders. You can add multiple selective nodes to a surface or camera, and then use the Priority Editor to reorganize the selective's processing pipeline.
You use Selective nodes to create isolations in context, iteratively, without having to worry about laying down a complex Batch pipeline that is difficult to maintain or modify.
Isolating with Selectives
The following sections transform this: | Into this: |
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This image was created using three selectives, attached to the surface. One Selective for the twirl in the sky, one for the yellow field in the foreground, and one for the purple trees, roads, and walls. This process is described below.
Creating the Sky's Selective
The sky effect is created using an external matte and the Twirl Selective FX.
![](https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/2024/ENU/Flame-Compositingin3d/images/GUID-7D94393E-F1E7-41BA-9DC8-C47C6420B364.png)
- In the Action Schematic, right-click the surface and select Add Selective.
- In the Selective FX browser, select and load the TwirlSFX effect.
Important: Notice how there a Primary map (diffuse) is automatically attached to the surface. This map is required to create a valid rendering pipeline, as displayed in the HUD.
- Back in the schematic, double-click the selective1 node to display its menu.
- In the node's Controls menu, set Input Matte Selection field to 2.
This number is the layer ID of the media used as the matte, as displayed in the Media List.
- Set the Input Matte Channel Selection box to Alpha to use the matte component of the selected media layer.
- Set the Pipeline Selection box to Serial.
This is the best pipeline to use when Matchbox Selective FX are parented to a selective.
- Back in the Schematic, double-click the Matchbox Twirl_SFX1 node and edit its settings to your liking.
Resulting Schematic: | Result view: |
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Creating the Fields' Selective
The field effect is created using a colour correct SFX constrained by a GMask parented to the Selective node.
- In the Action Schematic, double-click the selective1 node to display its menu.
- Click
2 in the Selectives Manager to create a new Selective node.
This creates a new Selective node (selective2) with a parented Colour Correct SFX node.
- Edit the Color Correct SFX settings to your liking.
As no matte is defined for this selective, the whole of the surface is colour corrected.
- Constrain the colour correct with a GMask.
- In the Result viewport, select the surface.
- In the HUD, right-click the number matching the Unique ID of the selective (in this case, 2), and select
- Draw the GMask on the surface to enclose the field.
Once you complete the GMask, the selective's colour correct effect is limited to the matte.
Resulting Schematic: | Result view: |
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Creating the Trees and Roads Selective
The roads and trees are colour corrected using a key created in the Selective node, and constrained by a GMask.
- In the Result viewport, right-click the surface and select
Add Selective Colour Correct.
Its adds the selective3 node with a Colour Correct SFX, and displays both menus.
- In the selective3 menu, display the Keyers tab.
- In the Keyers tab, set the Key Selection box to Tracer. Key out the sky and the fields, keeping the roads and the trees.
- In a viewport, display the Object view using the F8 keyboard shortcut.
- Click Add to create a new tracer analysis.
- Move background and foreground colour pickers to key out the sky and the fields, but keeping the trees and the roads.
- Optional: Some areas can be difficult to key out. Adding a GMask to the selective constrains the key to the GMask-defined area. Remember that the matte of a selective is the result of the intersection between the key and parented GMasks.
- In the Selective node's Controls tab, set the Pipeline Selection box to Comp, and the Original box to Original Source. This ensures the selective punches back to the original media, with no contribution from other selectives.
To view the pipeline, and reorder it, use the Priority Editor. Set the Priority Editor box to Action - Selectives Only.
Once complete, you get to the desired result.
Resulting Schematic: | Result view: |
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