In part 8 of the Machine Learning series, we examine a series of performance enhancements for Machine Learning and internally generated Motion Vectors in the Timeline in the Flame 2021.2 Update. When using Machine Learning Models and generated Motion Vectors Maps, Flame will now cache the frames to disk to enhanced performance. This removes the need to recalculate the data analysis each time you visit the TimelineFX. Since this type of caching is now part of the project, it can now be managed as well as archived with the Flame project! There is also a new notification when Machine Learning models are initialising to let you know what Flame is doing. And finally, as a new CentOS only feature, the machine learning models are serialised or written to your system disk in order to load faster when you need them. To be clear, this affects the loading times for the machine learning algorithm and not the computations when analysing the footage with a machine learning model.

The Flame Learning Channel

Machine Learning - Part 8 - Serialization, Caching & Archiving - Flame 2021.2

In this part of the Machine Learning series, a new machine learning model called the Salient Semantic Keyer has been added to Flame! As part of our continued development of machine learning technology, This amazing tool can identify objects within a bounding box based on its shape. So you can now create isolation mattes for objects based on the machine learning training and the picture quality (buildings, cars, boats, animals, people and more!) and use them within Image or Action for various grading and VFX tasks. Seeing is believing!

Machine Learning - Part 7 - Generating Mattes with Salient - Flame 2021.2

This video introduces a brand new workflow in Flame to build node flow graphs quickly and efficiently, even if you don't know the names of the nodes!!! The new "Search..." functionality can be used with the node bins or you could bypass the node bins entirely to build any type of node flow graph. Set your favourite tools and hide the ones you don't need. Flame is also smart enough to show you the tools you use the most when using "Search..." This welcome feature will accelerate your productivity and speed more than ever before!

Adding Nodes with Search... - Flame 2021.2

In this video, you'll learn about a big enhancement to the user interface in terms of VFX and Grading. The new Single Panel View allows you to focus on the tool you have selected in an uncluttered display. Tools become easily accessible with fewer sub-menus and it also makes Flame easier to learn for new users. This is a global setting in your user profile for Action, Image and the Gmask Tracer, allowing you to work the way you want. The original Dual Panel View is still available for long time users that prefer that interface.

Interface Update - Single vs Dual View - Flame 2021.2

In this video, you’ll learn how to compare images when performing VFX and Grading in the Flame 2021.1 products. This is quite an essential function if you’re comparing the progression of an effect, one look to another look or simply comparing the current frame to a still reference. Perform comparisons in the Effects Environment and Batch Environments with one set of controls!

Comparing Images in Grading & VFX - Flame 2021.1

In this video, you’ll learn how to compare images when working in the timeline of the Flame 2021.1 products. This has many practical functions such as on-line to off-line comparison, video track comparison and comparison to reference images. This is an essential task during most post-production and we’ll cover the functionality in depth with various examples.

Comparing Images in the Timeline - Flame 2021.1

In the first three videos of this series, you’ve learnt how the Explorer can manage your TimelineFX setups for VFX and Grading within the context of the Effects Environment. In this video, you’ll look at how the Explorer has been implemented in all the environments of Flame 2021.1. We’ll look at MediaHub, Conform, Timeline and finally how the Explorer works with Batch.

Grading & VFX with the Explorer - Part 4 - Flame 2021.1

In parts 1 & 2 in this series, you learnt how to create, organise and apply TimelineFX via the Explorer. This is great for any VFX or grading workflows and I am sure that you’ll put it to good use! In Part 3, we are going to focus particularly on an isolation tool known as a Selective. This tool is available in the Image and Action toolsets and it creates some very interesting opportunities when it comes to TimelineFX Setups and the Explorer. For example, you can have an Image TimelineFX which contains one or multiple Selectives that builds the VFX or grade of a shot. Using the TimelineFX management workflow with the Explorer, allows you to pick specific Selectives within the Image TimelineFX and create TimelineFX setups. These setups can then be repurposed in other shots or even used to experiment with different variations of the Selective within the same or different Image TimelineFX. So this is pretty powerful functionality and I encourage you to watch how it works in this video.

Grading & VFX with the Explorer - Part 3 - Flame 2021.1

In the first video on working with TimelineFX Setups in the Flame 2021 products, we introduced the workflows and showed you how to create and apply TimelineFX Setups in combination with the Explorer. They are all quick and intuitive methods but in order to keep your growing TimelineFX Setups under control, we do recommend organising and filtering your setups where necessary. So in part 2, we’ll dig deep into the Explorer to help you manage and understand what you see. And then we’ll move onto filtering which will be an invaluable tool in the Effects Environment regardless of the type of production and the workflows you are using.

Grading & VFX with the Explorer - Part 2 - Flame 2021.1

In the Flame 2021.1 products, a new TimelineFX management workflow has been introduced in order to give you the most flexibility when performing any VFX, grading or finishing work. This allows you to create, organise and apply TimelineFX setups in a very interactive and user-friendly way. So you now have a system where you can store multiple grades, manage multiple VFX setups and even a still store for grabbed references. There is so much potential with the Explorer! So this video will focus on creating and applying TimelineFX setups. And in the upcoming videos, we’ll expand into greater detail regarding organisation, Selectives, image comparisons and much more.

Grading & VFX with the Explorer - Part 1 - Flame 2021.1

This video takes a deep dive into some of the flexible tools you get with Physical Defocus. The three main areas you’ll cover are depth slicing, Focus Distance and Focus Model. Each one of these aspects can help you refine Physical Defocus to give you the desired depth of field blurring. If you’ve never used Physical Defocus then please watch the earlier videos in this series.

Depth of Field Blurring with Physical Defocus - Part 6 - Flame 2021

This video shows you how to take your own bokeh sample and use it as part of your depth of field blurring. This allows you to be even more creative with the bokeh as well as match real world lens. All you need to do is to lift a small lens bokeh sample from an image or even paint your own one and this works very well with Physical Defocus. One final note is that you can only customise your bokeh with the Physical Defocus Matchbox node and not using Action or Image.

Depth of Field Blurring with Physical Defocus - Part 5 - Flame 2021

This video will take you through the workflow of remapping a Z-depth render pass from absolute values to normalized values in order to make use of it in a compositing situation. Using a normalised Z-depth render pass is a requirement for all the various workflows of adding depth of field blurring using physical defocus and any other 3D post effects. We'll discuss the Z-depth information in detail as well as demonstrate the Depth Normalizer for the main purpose of remapping Z-depth data. This is very useful to know when handling Z-depth data from external CGI render passes.

Depth of Field Blurring with Physical Defocus - Part 4 - Flame 2021

Grading & VFX with the Explorer - Part 3 - Flame 2021

Grading & VFX with the Explorer - Part 2 - Flame 2021

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The Flame Learning Channel

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