Your first comp

This takes about two minutes. Keep the mouse over the Node Graph while you press the node keys.

1. Read the image. Press R. A file browser opens; pick an image or a sequence (sequences show as one entry, like plate.####.exr). A Read node appears.
2. Look at it. With the Read selected, press 1. A Viewer node is connected and the image shows in the Viewer. Press F over the Viewer to fit it.
3. Grade it. With the Read still selected, press G. A Grade node is added below it and connected, and its knobs open in Properties. Drag gain up and gamma a little; the Viewer updates as you drag. Press 1 again with the Grade selected to view it.
4. Write it out. With the Grade selected, press W to add a Write node. Set its file knob, for example /tmp/out/graded.####.exr (#### is the frame number). Pick the file type and the output transform (colour space) on the same panel.
5. Render. Press F5 (or Render › Render All…). Confirm the frame range; a progress box shows each frame and has a Cancel button. F7 renders only the selected Write.
6. Save. Press Ctrl+S to save the comp as an .oink file. Double-click an .oink file in your file manager to open it again. Comps saved before the rename, as .ocomp, still open.

NextCopy Anchor Link

• Press Tab in the Node Graph and type a name to add any node.
• Open Help › Examples… for small finished comps (keying, merging, 3D, AI tools) on sample media.
• Every node's knobs are listed in the node reference. Press F1 over a node (or click ? in its Properties panel, then Documentation) to jump to its page.
• Coming from another compositor? Read Switching to Oink.