Overview

Checker Wipe transitions between two layers by animating a checkerboard pattern of transparency which progressively reveals the underlying layer as the thickness of the transparent regions increases.

Function

Presets and Common Controls

BCC filters come with a library of factory installed presets plus the ability to create your own custom presets and preview them  with the BCC FX Browser™.

BCC filters also include common controls that configure global effect preferences and other host-specific effect settings.

For more information about working with presets and other common controls, Click Here.

Background allows you to choose a layer to composite below the source image.  This option is only relevant when you have applied this transition as “an effect” as opposed to as a “single-track transition”.  When applied as a true transition (in hosts which support transitions) the background layer is automatically set to the incoming transition layer so this menu will be hidden in such situations.

The Animation menu controls whether the filter auto-animates or uses uses a Percent Done slider (which much be keyframed).  Choose from the following options.  The filter automatically adjusts the overall pace of the animation to ensure the transition completes on time for any set of effect parameters.

• Auto animates the incoming clip from hidden at the start of the transition, to fully visible and opaque at the end of the transition. Choosing Auto has the same affect as choosing Pct. Done with a 0 value keyframe at the start of the effect and a 100 value keyframe at the end. When Auto is chosen, Percent Done has no affect.  In some instances Auto may result in the incoming clip reaching fully onscreen before the effect finishes. In this instance, choose Pct. Done and animate the Percent Done parameter instead of using Auto.
• Pct. Done animates the incoming clip from fully hidden (at a value of 0) to fully visible and opaque (at a value of 100). When Pct. Done is chosen, the Percent Done parameter allows you to keyframe the animation progression manually.

Invert Wipe flips the progression of the animation over the course of the transition so that for example the bottom image may appear to wipe on as opposed to the top image wiping off.

Ribbon Count 1controls the number of ribbons into which the image is divided in one direction.  Higher values produce thinner individual ribbons and lower values produce thicker ribbons.

Ribbon Count 2controls the number of ribbons into which the image is divided in the alternate direction.  Higher values produce thinner individual ribbons and lower values produce thicker ribbons.

Lock Ribbon Count causes the effective ribbon spacing to be the same in both directions by ignoring the Ribbon Count 2 setting and using the value set in the Ribbon Count 1 control for both directions.

Direction rotates the wipe pattern around the image center point.

Softness softens the edges of the wipe by increasing transparency in pixels that are close to the edges.

Combine determines  how the two sets of ribbons combine to form checkers.  Union creates a checkers where either ribbon is present, Intersect creates checkers where the ribbons cross. You can also choose to use only one set of ribbons yielding a striped look instead of checkerboards by selecting Stripes 1 or Stripes 2.

Relative Anglecontrols the relative angle of alignment between the two sets of stripes.  The default of 90 degrees produces a pattern of square shaped elements whereas other angles tend to produce increasingly elongated diamond shapes.

Ribbon Offset 1 shifts the position of the ribbons in one direction.

Ribbon Offset 2 shifts the position of the ribbons in the perpendicular direction.

Gradient On enables modulating the wipe shape by an additional linear gradient.  This provides a less symmetrical wipe with the progression advancing earlier in some parts of the image than others along the line of the gradient.

Gradient Amountcontrols the intensity of the gradient effect.  Small values produce little change to the wipe shape whereas larger values generate an increasingly strong bias along the gradient direction.

Gradient Anglecontrols the direction of the linear gradient ramp.  By default it is aligned from left to right but can be rotated to in any direction.

The Output menu controls the output of the wipe. You can also use this menu to preview the matte, or preview the source channel used by the filter to create the effect. Not all of its options are relevant in all situations. Choose from the following options. The following examples show the BCC Radial Wipe.

• Mult. Alpha multiplies the alpha channel created by the filter with the source alpha channel. Only areas that are opaque in both alpha channels are opaque in the output. This results in an image whose opacity at each point is at most its input opacity. For an opaque input image, this is the same as Replace Alpha.

• View Matte displays a grayscale preview of the alpha channel created by the filter, as shown at right. Opaque regions are white, and transparent regions are black.

• Replace Alpha replaces the source alpha with the matte created by the filter. For an opaque input image, this is the same as Multiply Alpha.
• Screen Alpha screens the alpha channel created by the filter with the source alpha channel. Areas that are opaque in either alpha channel are opaque in the output.
• Diff. Alpha subtracts the alpha channel created by the filter from the source alpha as shown at right.
• Zoom scales the input image to the size of the alpha channel created by the wipe. The image is positioned at the center of this alpha channel at its correct aspect. Zoom’s scaling is based on the computed alpha channel and is not sub-pixel animated. In some instances, adjusting parameters such as Influence and Texture can cause Zoom settings to appear jumpy.

• When Zoom**Independent is chosen, the effect is the same as Zoom, but each axis of the source scales independently.

Zoom Effect

• When Borders**Only is chosen, the wipe renders only the borders.
• Borders w Source renders the borders over the source image. As shown in the example at right, the wipe’s alpha channel is ignored.

Working with the Border Parameter Group

The parameters in the Border group adjust the first border you create. To create only a single border, use the parameters in this group. You can create up to three independent borders.

he Borders On checkbox is an easy way to enables all the borders contained in this and the Border parameter group. If this checkbox is deselected, no borders are rendered, even if the Borders On checkbox from the previous Borders parameter group is enabled.

Master Thickness scales the thickness of all borders.

Master Opacity sets the opacity for all the borders, expressed as a percentage.

Master Offset offsets the position of all borders relative to the wipe progress.

Working with the Additional Borders Parameter Group

Each Transition Wipe effect can include up to three independent borders. The Additional Borders parameter group contains controls for two additional borders. To create only two borders, you can use only the controls in this group. To make three borders, create the first border using the parameters in the Border Parameter Group and use this group for the additional and master border controls. Borders are composited in order; if all three borders are used, Border 3 is composited over Border 2, which is composited over Border 1.

The Border On checkbox enables the first border. If this checkbox is disabled, no border is created and the remaining parameters have no affect.

Border 1 Thickness sets the thickness of the first border, in pixels.

Border 1 Opacity controls the opacity of the border, expressed as a percentage. The Border Color controls set the color of the border.

The Border 1****Layer menu generates the border from another timeline layer instead of the chosen Color. If you do not assign a layer to this menu, the specified Color is used.

Radial Wipe

Border Layer menu set to Outgoing

You can create interesting composites by using moving video as your border.

Border 1 Softness adjusts the softness of the border and is scaled to the width of the border. When Softness is 100, the border is fully opaque at its center.

Border 1 Balance controls the balance of softness between the inside and outside edge of the border. Positive values increase the softness at the outside edge, and decrease softness at the inside edge.

Radial Wipe

Border Balance= -99	Border Balance=0	Border Balance=100

Border 1 Offset moves the border relative to the edge of the wipe. Negative values move the border to the left; positive values move the border to the right. You can use the Border Offset parameter to make a border appear as a drop shadow.

Radial Wipe

Border Offset= -5	Border Offset=0	Border Offset=10

Radial Wipe

Stretched and Rotated Radial Wipe with Three Borders

The Border 2 On and Border 3 On checkboxes enable the second and third borders. These are ignored if the Master Borders On checkbox is deselected.

The remaining Border 2 and Border 3 individual border controls are identical to the corresponding Border 1 parameters (Border parameter group).

Working with the Influence and Influence Map Parameters

The Influence and Influence Map parameters allow a channel in the incoming or outgoing clip to influence the wipe. The influence layer pushes the wipe border in or out based on the value of each pixel.

• Note: Using a moving video texture such as water as both an Influence layer and a border can produce a pleasing stylized effect. A custom gradient still image is also a useful source for the Influence.
• Note: Using the Influence controls slows the filter.

The following examples show a Linear Wipe with Influence used on different images.

Linear Wipe

Influence=Off	Influence=incoming fish	Influence=outgoing water

The Influence menu allows you to turn the Influence On or Off. When Off is chosen, the other parameters have no affect. Choosing View lets you see the influence map after it is processed by controls in the Influence Map group.

Influence Intensity adjusts the intensity of the influence. Increasing values create more intensity.

The Inf. Layer menu lets you choose the layer that is used for the influence. If you do not assign a layer to this menu, the other parameters have no affect.

The Channel menu allows you to choose the channel that is used for the influence.

• Alpha, Luma Red, Green, and Blue create influence based on the value of the corresponding channel. Higher values create more influence.
• Choose Luma Inverted or Alpha Inverted to create influence based on the inverse of the value of the corresponding channel. In this case, lower values create more influence.
• If Luma Difference, Luma Lightest, or Luma Darkest is chosen, the filtered layer (the outgoing clip when the effect is a transition) is combined with the chosen Influence Layer to create the channel.

Inf. Threshold works in conjunction with the Inf. Softness parameter to set the value in the Influence Layer above which pixels are considered fully on. Pixels whose channel values are above the Influence Threshold level are fully on; those with channel values below the level are off. For example, if the Channel menu is set to Red and Inf. Threshold is set to 100, then all pixels whose red channel value is higher than 100 create influence.

Inf. Softness softens the edges of the influence by softening pixels whose values are near the Inf. Threshold value. Set Inf. Softness to 0 for a harsh, high-contrast influence, or increase it to soften the edges of the filtered region.

Blur applies a blur to the edges of the Influence channel before creating the wipe.

Choke applies a choke to the wipe. Positive Choke values tighten the matte, while negative values expand the matte.

If the Bidirectional Influences checkbox is deselected, a positive influence value always reveals more image, and a negative value hides more. If this checkbox is selected, the influence can go in both directions.

Working with the Texture Parameters

The Texture controls are similar to the Influence controls. They allow the wipe to be influenced by a Fractal Noise Map, a White Noise map, or both. The Texture controls differ from the pattern controls in that they operate on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The Texture controls can create holes in the wipe, while the Pattern controls do not create holes.

• Note: Using the Texture controls slows the filter.

The Texture menu controls which type(s) of texture map influences the wipe.

• When Off is chosen, no texture is used.
• Fractal Noise uses a simplified version of the algorithm used by the Noise Map filter to generate the texture.
• White Noise uses the algorithm used by the Pixel Noise filters combined with a high quality blur. The blur amount is set by the Noise Softness parameter.
• Fractal and White Noise combines both types of texture.

Multi Stretch Wipe

Texture=off	Texture=Fractal	Texture=White Noise

Texture Intensity scales the intensity of both the Fractal and White Noise. Negative values reverse the effect, causing pixels that would become more transparent to become more opaque and vice versa.

Fractal Intensity adjusts the intensity of the Fractal Noise texture if Fractal Noise or Fractal and White Noise are chosen in the Texture menu.

Fractal Scale scales the size of the details in the Fractal Noise texture if Fractal Noise, White Noise or Fractal and White Noise are chosen in the Texture menu.

The choices in the Fractal Type menu set the general appearance of the Fractal Noise texture. Choose Smooth, Bubbly or Stringy.

Fractal Flow Rate set the speed of the motion of the Fractal Noise texture pattern.

Fractal Flow Direction sets the direction of the motion of the Fractal Noise texture pattern.

Fractal Morph Start controls the look of the Fractal Noise texture at the first frame of the effect.

Fractal Morph Rate determines the rate at which the Fractal Noise texture surges and rotates inward as the filter auto-animates.

Setting the Downsample menu to 2 speeds rendering by creating a smaller (downsampled) Noise map. This can make the filter appear rougher, which is useful for some effects.

Noise Intensity controls the intensity of the noise texture.

Noise Softness controls the softness applied to the noise texture.

Noise Seed determines the value input to the random number used by the filter to create the noise. Adjust this value when you like the overall appearance of the noise but want to change the random configuration.

Noise Morph Rate controls the rate at which the noise texture evolves over time. This allows you to auto-animate the noise texture. You can also animate this parameter between a static and evolving noise texture by animating this parameter

If the Bidirectional Textures checkbox is deselected, a positive texture value always reveals more image, and a negative value hides more. If this checkbox is selected, the texture can go in both directions.

Working with the Post Process Parameter Group

Gamma controls the value of the middle tones while leaving the white and black of the image unaltered. The Gamma adjustment is made to the derived alpha. Increasing gamma spreads the alpha so that the matte created by the wipe is more opaque. The affect of Gamma is much more noticeable at high softness values.

Alpha Offset controls an offset that is added to the output alpha. You can create a transition by animating from -255 to 255. At a value of -255, the entire image keys out. At a value of 255, the entire image is opaque.

Post Blur blurs the alpha channel after the matte is created. Use Post Blur to soften the edge in the matte for sources with high contrast edges.

Choke applies a choke to the matte. Positive values tighten the matte around the foreground image, while negative values pull the matte away from the edges of the foreground image.

Post Blur and Choke are particularly useful if you used the texture, pattern, or influence controls to make a wipe with a nice shape but too many sharp details.

Borders are computed before Blur and Choke are applied, so using both borders and blur or choke on the same effect may create unexpected results.

Working with the Composite Parameter Group

The controls in this group let you composite an underlying clip with the source image, and allow brightness, contrast, and apply modes to be used in the blended region.

Composite controls only affect images without an alpha channel if you use some Softness value (for example, make the Wipe Edge soft). If the image has an alpha channel, these settings affect partly transparent pixels even without Softness.

The most common use of the Composite settings is to boost the brightness and contrast of the blended region when creating a soft wipe. You can also achieve unusual composites by using an Apply mode.

The Blend menu lets you choose an apply mode to use in the blended region. For more about the available Apply Modes Click Here.

Blend Brightness adjusts the brightness used in the blended region.

Blend Contrast sets the amount of contrast used in the blended region.

Mix with Original blends the source and filtered images. Use this parameter to animate the effect from the unfiltered to the filtered image without adjusting other settings, or to reduce the effect of the filter by mixing it with the source image.

Animation Tuning Group

 These parameters control the overall timing of the transition.  On hosts which permit on-screen heads up display widgets (such as AE, Premiere, and Avid) you should never need to modify these sliders directly since they can be configured in a more convenient and intuitive manner by manipulating the widgets directly in your comp/preview pane.  On hosts without heads up display widgets you can use these sliders directly to fine tune your animation timing, taking advantage of the View Ease Curve option to help visualize the animation rates.

**Ease In:**Control how quickly or slowly the effect amount increases at the beginning of the transition.

Ease Out:  Control how quickly or slowly the effect amount decreases at the end of the transition.

View Ease Curve: (Only visible/enabled in hosts that don’t support heads up display widgets for manipulating these controls directly on screen.)  Enable this control to display a preview graph of the the animation curves rendered into in the composite window*.*