Re: controlling effects with mattes

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the response..

The only problem with 1. is that this method with adjustment layers, whether precomping and reordering or not, will become problematic when dealing with different lighting passes. For instance, let's say i have a diffuse and specular pass. I need to add the specular pass on top of the diffuse but i want to color correct just the sphere of each of those passes individually. so basically i'd have to precomp the diffuse with all the set matte precomp craziness in there. then i'd have to precomp the specular with all the set matte precomp craziness as well. then finally have a main comp to add the diffuse and specular together. so basically 3 levels of precomping for something that should be very simple.. and not very easily color corrected while viewing one final comp. i mean, it's very doable.. just a bit over the top.. :)

As far as the Remove Color Matting effect.. Is it safe to assume that this is a un-premult operation that's going on? It appears that way. If so, is there a way to premult it back after we apply an un-premult. Either way, I'm still not crazy about the idea that one would have to composite the same object over itself just so the top copy can get graded..

Am I at least correct that AE still has no way of plugging in mattes to effects? For some reason I thought I had heard support for this finally but can't seem to find it any where within the app.

Again, thanks for all your help.