# Procedural Compositing with ConnectFX

## About ConnectFX

ConnectFX provides a flow graph environment where you perform procedural compositing with integrated access to all effects and image-processing commands. An effect you create in ConnectFX is a setup applied directly to one or more timeline segments.

You use the ConnectFX processing environment to assemble a process tree of clips and nodes where the result of each operation serves as the source for the next one. Because a ConnectFX pipeline is not fixed, you have the flexibility of reordering and editing nodes.

If you entered ConnectFX with the Generate Composite option selected, any Timeline FX already applied to your segment are replicated in the ConnectFX schematic. You can then edit these effects directly in the ConnectFX view, or add or delete as many other effects as needed.

Here is a typical ConnectFX view:

- The default viewport layout is a 2-Up view with the schematic (displaying the process tree) on the left, and the result view on the right. Use the Layout settings under the left viewport to change the layout, or return to this default view.
- You can change the actual view of the selected viewport using the View box under the right viewport. If a selected node has its own views, such as Action, you can select node-specific views also.
- The bottom portion of the ConnectFX view displays the nodes that you can add to your process tree. This bottom area can also display the menu for the selected node in the schematic view. To switch between the node view and selected menu view, use the FX Nodes button (located under the left viewport).
- You can Render your result in the ConnectFX view, or wait until you return to the timeline sequence.

#### Topics in this section

- Creating ConnectFX
- About the ConnectFX Process Tree
- Adding Clips to the Process Tree
- Adding and Connecting Nodes to the Process Tree
- Selecting Nodes in the Schematic
- Adding Media to an Action Node
- Viewing Nodes in Context
- About CFX Output Nodes
- About Loading and Saving ConnectFX Setups
- Using a Create CFX Clip for Caching or Versioning
- Using the Timing View to Offset Clips
- Grouping Nodes
- Mimicking, Copying, and Duplicating Nodes
- Customizing the Tools Bin
- Creating Custom Nodes
- Clip Settings
- ConnectFX Preferences