Creative Effects > Modular Keyer > Using Blend Nodes >

# Using Several Layers in a Blend Node

You can use up to four layers in blend nodes to create the composite. Using layers, you can avoid doing multiple passes on the same composite.

Layers are processed upwards from the bottom layer. In other words, the uppermost layer will appear on top of the next layer, and so on.

The back component of the lowest layer is a pure black image (for MBlend nodes) and the node input image (for CBlend nodes). For additional layers, however, the back component is different. On both CBlend and MBlend nodes, the result image of the lowest layer is fed into the next highest layer to serve as its back component. Likewise, the result image of this layer is fed into the next highest layer where it serves as that layer's back component, and so on.

NoteThe Current Layer proxy does not display the current layer using the result of the previous layer, as described above. Instead, it displays the layer as if the back clip were a black image (for MBlend nodes) or the front image (for CBlend nodes).

You can change the order of the layers using the Priority Editor.

To create a new layer:

1. Select the blend node by clicking anywhere in the rectangular box at its right end.

   The node is highlighted and the Blend Node menu appears.

   (a) Layer Name field(b) Add button

2. Click Add to create the new layer.

   A new layer is added to the blend node, above the previous layer. The default name for the new layer is layer2.

3. Add nodes to the layer as needed. See Adding Nodes to the Pipeline.

   A simple, two-layer MBlend node is shown as follows.

To change the order of the layers:

1. Select a layer by clicking either the red or blue box to the right of the pipes.

   The selected layer's name appears in the Layer Name field.

   (a) Layer Name field

2. Click the button to move the selected layer up a layer, or the button to move it down a layer.

Renaming Layers

Rename layers to identify them more easily.

To rename a layer:

1. Select the layer by clicking on the red or blue box to the right of the layer.
2. Click the Layer Name field in the blend node menu.

   The on-screen keyboard appears.

3. Press Esc to remove the previous name and type a new name.
4. Press Enter to save the name.