## Instructions - Work in Fusion page with node flow left-to-right: MediaIn > Key/Track > Merge > Color > MediaOut, keep graph tidy. - Use DeltaKeyer for green screen, sample background color, tune Threshold and Clean Foreground/Background plates. - Track with Tracker (point) for rigid screens, PlanarTracker for perspective surfaces and sign replacements. - Rotoscope with Polygon + B-Spline nodes, animate every 2-4 frames, use Multiframe and motion blur 5-10 samples. - Composite with Merge nodes set to Normal/Screen/Multiply correctly, check alpha with Viewer alpha overlay (A key). - Color-match foreground to background using ColorCorrector + White Balance picker on neutral gray area. - Cache with Render Cache Fusion Output > User, use Proxy mode Half/Quarter for 4K comps during iteration. - Manage resolution: work in timeline resolution, set Fusion proxy to Auto, avoid oversized PNG sequences over 4K. - Add grain match last: FilmGrain or FastNoise at 0.3-0.5 strength so CG elements sit in plate. - Stabilize shaky plates with Tracker > Stabilize before keying, then match-move back with same track inverted. - Label nodes (Rename with Shift+F2), use Underlay boxes for KEY / TRACK / GRADE sections, add Notes for settings. - Deliver comps via Deliver page with Alpha export (ProRes 4444 or EXR) when transparency is needed downstream. - Key green before grade: never white-balance a keyed plate before DeltaKeyer, balance after despill instead. - Gate mattes with Bounding Box + DoD to speed renders on 4K plates by 30-50 percent. ## Examples - Screen replacement: PlanarTrack phone screen > CornerPin match > Merge foreground UI with LightWrap at 25%. - Green screen: DeltaKeyer (Threshold 0.35, Tolerance 0.5) > ErodeDilate -0.3 choke > LightWrap + grain match. - Logo removal: Tracker stabilize > Paint clone 3 frames > Tracker match-move back > Merge over original. ## Workflows ### 1. Key + despill + integrate 1. Pull initial key with DeltaKeyer, view matte (F key) to check holes. 2. Clean matte with ErodeDilate, despill with DeltaKeyer Despill at 0.6. 3. ColorCorrect foreground to background exposure within 0.3 stops. 4. Add edge LightWrap, grain, final Merge over background. ### 2. Track + replace + render cache 1. PlanarTrack surface with 4+ good features, refine with Set highest quality. 2. Pipe tracked corners to foreground via CornerPositioner, match motion blur to plate shutter. 3. Enable Render Cache, review at full res, deliver ProRes 4444 test clip. ## Templates ```text Node naming: IN_plate / KEY_delta / MATTE_clean / TRACK_planar / COMP_merge01 / GRADE_match / OUT_final Key checklist: [ ] Matte solid (no chatter) [ ] Despill natural [ ] Edge 0.5-1px soft [ ] Grain matched [ ] Motion blur on Render cache routine: Proxy Quarter > Block > Stabilize > Full-res check > Cache User > Deliver Tracker QA: Track forward+backward, check drift at 25/50/75%, re-track occlusions manually ``` ## Tools - Fusion nodes: DeltaKeyer, UltraKeyer, Tracker, PlanarTracker, Polygon, Paint, Merge, ColorCorrector, CameraTracker. - DaVinci Resolve Fusion page, Saver/Loader for EXR, OpticalFlow for retime, MagicMask for assisted roto. - References: Mocha Pro (if available), PureRef for boards, ACES color management. ## Advanced - Combine MagicMask + Polygon holdout mattes for hair detail without frame-by-frame roto. - Use 3D CameraTracker to project clean plates onto cards for set extensions and parallax. - Build macros for recurring comps (screen comp, lower-third comp) with published LightWrap/Grain controls. - Work linear: set LUTs correctly, use Gamut mapping to avoid clipped despill on overexposed screens. ## Documentation - Blackmagic Fusion Manual: Keying, Tracking, Rotoscopy, Caching chapters. - Compositing notes: premultiplied vs straight alpha, despill math, tracker drift causes. - Internal: comp template .drp, macro .setting files, delivery preset list in project folder. ### QA checklist - [ ] Matte has no chatter on 200% viewer, edges 0.5-1px, despill skin-safe. - [ ] Track holds at 25/50/75% frames, no slide on occlusions, blur matched. - [ ] Grain 0.3-0.5 matched, LightWrap under 30%, colors within 0.3 stops. - [ ] Cache green before delivery, alpha export tested in NLE timeline. - [ ] Nodes labeled, Underlays KEY/TRACK/GRADE, Notes with Threshold values. ### Roto spec ```text Roto: feather 1.5px foreground / 3px hair | Motion blur 7 samples | Keyframes every 3 frames. Plate: 3840x2160 ProRes | Proxy Quarter for track, Full for edge check | Deliver ProRes 4444 + H264 proxy. ``` - Complements davinci-resolve color page: round-trip via Fusion Connect, grade after comp. - Pairs ffmpeg-media for EXR sequence to ProRes conversion with alpha preserved.