User Guide > Composite > Workflow   

Project Manager

The Composite Project Manager provides a way to set project defaults that can be maintained in a single location. New compositing operations can be linked to the defaults and will update to match any global changes. These links can also be broken in cases where the project globals are not desired.

Topics covered:
Setting Project Defaults
Overriding Project Defaults


Setting Project Defaults

To create the project default settings, select Settings > Composite Project... In the dialog you can set parameters such as Resolution, Pixel Aspect Ratio, and Pixel Format.

Here is a quick summary of what the Project Defaults are used for:

Resolution - This defines the number of pixels in X and Y.

Pixel Aspect Ratio - This lets you defines non-square pixels that are sometimes used for digital video formats. An image that uses non-square pixels would appear squashed on a computer monitor but will look correct when output to video.

Pixel Format - This sets the Pixel Depth of the clip. You can choose between 8, 16 and 32 bit and between integer or floating point values.

Pixel Black/White Points - You can set the Black and White points for the project.

Enable Large Canvas - This option ensures that operations are applied to parts of a clip that lie outside of its visible resolution. This infinite resolution means bigger file sizes but ensures that artists have a lot of flexibility when working.


New Operation Settings

To make sure the Resolution and Pixel Format (Depth) settings are used when creating new Operators, you need to use the following settings:

File Operators use the Project Resolution by Default - This setting determines whether or not new operations use the Resolution project defaults.

File Operators use the Project Pixel Depth by Default - This setting determines whether or not new operations use the Pixel Format (Depth) project defaults.


Other Settings

Frame Range - This sets the frame range in the Playbar.

Frame Rate - This sets the Frames Per Second in the Playbar.

Global Cook Resolution - This sets a Proxy resolution that can be used by a composite Render Output that has Override Default Resolution set to Project Proxy Resolution.


Overriding Project Defaults

When you create clips using the New Operation settings, the defaults can be used to define the Resolution and Pixel Depth. When you are looking at the Parameter Pane for the Operation you can click on the Image tab to override the defaults.

Override Resolution - Click on the Image tab and click beside Override Size then choose your own resolution.

Override Pixel Depth - Click on the Image tab and set the Raster Depth to a value other than Default Depth.