Am finishing up an action/drama film with extensive SPFX in Free DV. It would really help if I could chroma key inside the program. I heard that this is possible with "Spectramatte" which seems to be a complex effect inside Media Composer or something.

Can Avid Free DV do chroma key, and if so, how do you do it/where is it?

And PLEASE, if you don't know the answer, don't give me some lame answer starting with "Well, Free DV was discontinued AGES ago..." I really don't want to hear it.

Thanks in advance! Chris of Colorado

Chris:

If it's there in Free DV, you'll find it in the effects palette (in the tools pulldown menu). Look for the group on the left of the palette named "key". That's where it will be. If you don't see it, you don't have that capability.

You can't do it in FreeDV.

FreeDV was discontinued AGES ago.

There are dozens of apps out there that can do keying for you- like After FX, Commotion, Boris, etc.

I would recommend After Effects as the most cost effective alternative.

.- And there was no Chroma Key of any kind in Avid Free DV, neither other effects but simple dissolves.

You couldn't even install third party FX of any kind in Avid Free DV.

So the answer is a firm NO.

Well, OK. Thanks for the replies. I'll try Jahshaka. I didn't mention, but I'm a freeware fanatic (interpret: I'm Broke) and Free DV is still the best free software around for most editing functions.

On the plus side, I posted at 12:43 and had 4 answers by 1:32! WOW! That's amazing. Other forums I've posted to aren't this active. THANKS A LOT! Anymore problems with Free DV, I know where to go.

Thanks! Chris

chrisColorado:

Well, OK. Thanks for the replies. I'll try Jahshaka. I didn't mention, but I'm a freeware fanatic (interpret: I'm Broke) and Free DV is still the best free software around for most editing functions.

I wouldn't touch Jahshaka with a barge pole. Honestly, their development has been stagnant for too long. Blender now has an excellent node-based system with built in keying tools so you could check that out.

There is also Cinegobs which is very flexible too.