Creating Node Networks

This section shows you how to create, connect, and delete nodes to build node networks. Each type of node performs a different task or function necessary to create a particular shot:

  • You control the processing performed by a node by adjusting the set of parameters associated with that node.
  • You create a flow of information from one node to the next by connecting the input of a node to the output of another.

Creating Nodes

You create nodes by selecting a node from the Node Menu and placing it in the workspace, or by selecting a node from the Node Connector Menu on an existing node. Both methods are described below:

Selecting Nodes from the Node Menu

The following procedure explains how to select a node from the Node menu.

  1. Use the left mouse button to pull down one of the Node menus.

  2. The nodes are sorted into menus by category: I/O, Tool, Convert, Composite, Matte, Movers, Filters, Effects, Video, and Plug-in.
    • An individual plug-in node may appear both in the Plug-ins menu and in a category menu, as appropriate. You can identify a plug-in in any other node menu because its name appears in lighter type.
    • The last menu in the node menu bar is the Custom menu, which contains nodes or node networks you define. For more information about them, see "Creating Custom Networks " in chapter 7.
  3. Select the type of node you wish to create.

  4. You can select any node, depending on the requirements of your Chalice network (e.g., Blur, Mcomp, Xpresso, etc.).
  5. Slide the cursor to the workspace and click the left mouse button.

  6. As you move the cursor into the workspace, Chalice creates a small rectangular outline of the node.

    When you click the mouse, Chalice places the new node in the workspace and assigns it a unique name. (In the illustration below, the node is a Disk Input node and the default name is "disk1.")

Selecting Nodes from a Node Connector Menu

The following procedure explains how to select a node from the Node Connector Menu, which is a popup menu accessed from the input and output connectors of existing nodes. For more information about the parts of a node, see the section "Overview of the Node Layout ."

This method is a convenient shortcut for node creation. It creates a new node and connects it to the previous node all in one step. You can also use this method to create a new node from the input connector of an existing node. The output of the new node will automatically be connected to the input of the node from which it was created.

  1. Use the middle mouse button to click the output connector of a node.

  2. Chalice displays the Node Connector Menu for as long as you press the mouse button.

    This popup menu contains a list of every node type with an input connector to which the output of the current node can be connected. (The node menu on an output connector will not include nodes without input connectors, such as Color and Disk Input.)
  3. Select a node from the popup menu and release the mouse button.

  4. Chalice creates a rectangular outline of the new node under the cursor position.
  5. Click the workspace wherever you want the new node to be placed.

  6. Chalice places the new node in the workspace. The input of the new node is automatically connected to the output of the node from which it was created.

Say, for example, that you connected a Disk Input node with a foreground element to an Mcomp node, but the element needs to be color corrected before compositing. Middle-click the input connector of the Mcomp node (use the connector attached to the Disk Input) and select "Color Correct" from the Node Connector Menu.

When you place the new Color Correct node in the workspace, its output connector will be attached to the Mcomp input and its input connector will be attached to the output of the Disk Input node.

Assigning Parameter Values to Nodes

Once you place the node in the workspace, Chalice displays a set of parameter tabs for the node in the Node Parameter panel. You then assign parameter values to the node to control its functions. For more information, see "Overview of the Node Panel " and "Setting Node Parameters " in chapter 6.

Connecting Nodes

Once you have created a node and assigned parameter values to it, you then create a subsequent node and link the previous node to it. You repeat this basic operation over and over, building a network that represents a logical schematic of all the processes required to create the scene you desire.

You can think of a network as a stream of data. The stream starts at a source, for example, a Disk Input node, and the data flows downstream (to the right) through the network, passing through various nodes until it reaches a Disk Output node, which is connected to an Exec node. (For a detailed description of this process, see chapter 4, "Key Concepts .")

The following procedure describes how to connect one node to another. It assumes that you have already created more than one node.

  1. To connect one node to a subsequent node in the network, click on the output connector of the first node.
  2. Slide the mouse toward the second node.

  3. Chalice begins to draw a connector line.

  4. Click on the input connector of the second node.

  5. Chalice attaches the connector line to the input connector of the second node.

Some nodes, such as the Disk Input and Color nodes, do not have input connectors. These nodes are used only at the beginning of a network. The Exec node does not have an output connector; it can be used only at the end of a network.

You can draw more than one connector line from any output connector. This enables you to split the dataflow into two or more separate streams for processing.

Each input connector on a node can accept only one connection line. However, depending on their function, many nodes have multiple input connectors.

For example, the Over node has two input connectors, one for the foreground image and one for the background of the composite. The Mcomp node, on the other hand, which can composite a virtually unlimited number of layers, creates additional inputs as needed.

Connecting Nodes in Large Networks

When working with large, complex grail files, all nodes may not fit in the visible portion of the workspace at once.

To connect two nodes that are located far from each other in the workspace, click the output connector of the first node and use the Scroll Bars or Radar Map to move to the area of the workspace that contains the second node.

Note:
Do not click and drag in the workspace itself to move--this will delete the connector line.

Connecting Nodes Located on Different Levels

If a grail file contains Group nodes, you may need to connect a node within the group to an external node. In this case you create export flags for the node connector on the internal node. The external node is connected to the group node connector that points to the internal node. This process is described in detail in the "Grouping Nodes " section of chapter 7.

Disconnecting Nodes

To disconnect a connector line from a node, click on the node's input connector, then click again in the workspace.

Tip:
If you create a connector line from a node by mistake, press the Escape key (while the line is still "attached" to your cursor) to delete the line.

Setting Node Connection Options

You can adjust the appearance of your network node connections in two ways:

Link Straight Option

The Layout menu on the Main Menu bar features a Link Straight option. This option requests that Chalice redraw all connector lines in the network as straight lines, without right angles.

New Layout Option

The Layout menu on the Main Menu bar features a New Layout option. This option rearranges the node layout in the workspace into a grid pattern based on node hierarchy, with the Exec node (if one exists) in the upper-right corner of the workspace. All upstream nodes are arranged based on node type and connections used.

You cannot Undo this change, although you can revert to a previous autosaved version of the grail file. Be certain that you want Chalice to rearrange your layout before you set this option, especially if you have a large and complex network.

Selecting Multiple Nodes

Chalice provides the following methods for selecting multiple nodes. Whichever method you use to select nodes, the title bars of all currently selected nodes will be highlighted in blue:

  • Pick All Ancestors
  • Pick All Descendents
  • Control-Drag Selection
  • Shift-Click Selection
  • Select All Nodes Command (Alt A)

Pick All Ancestors or Descendents

The Local Node Menu of every node includes these options:

  • Choose Pick All Ancestors to select all nodes connected upstream from the current node in the same network.
  • Choose Pick All Descendents to select all nodes connected downstream from the current node in the same network.

Control-Drag Selection

Hold down the Control key while simultaneously using the left mouse button to click and drag in the workspace. Chalice will draw a box bounding the area you define by dragging. When you release the mouse button, all nodes located within the boundary area will be selected.

Shift-Click Selection

You can hold down the Shift key and click the title bars of all nodes you want to select as a group.

Select All Nodes Command

This command can be accessed from the Chalice Edit menu, or by using the keyboard command "Alt A," to select all nodes in the workspace.

Deleting Nodes

To delete a node from the workspace, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Local Node Menu button with the left mouse button and hold.

  2. Chalice displays the Local Node Menu.
  3. Select the Delete NODE option.

  4. Chalice deletes the node.

Alternatively, you can delete a node by selecting it (click the node title bar) and choosing the "Delete NODE(s)" command from the Edit menu of the Main Menu. You can also press the Delete key on the keyboard to delete the selected node.

The Edit menu of the Main Menu also includes an "Undo Delete" command, which you can use to restore nodes you have just deleted.

Replacing Nodes in One Step

You can delete a node and replace it with another type of node in a single step by using the middle mouse button to access a replacement node menu.

  1. Click the Local Node Menu button with the middle mouse button and hold.

  2. Chalice displays the menu of compatible replacement nodes for selection. If you want to replace a Disk Input node, for example, the replacement node menu will contain only the Color node (Disk Input and Color are the only two nodes without input connectors.)
  3. Select the node type you want from the those available in the menu.

  4. Chalice deletes the current node and replaces it with node type you selected. All input and output connections remain intact.




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