NewTek TriCaster Studio - Manual (Page 82)

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Alpha Channels
Of course, if the source you choose
covers the entire video frame, it will
completely obscure the primary output
(hiding all other elements). Unless you
want to bring in a full screen billboard
graphic, this would be undesirable.
Fortunately, overlays fully respect
transparency levels (or “alpha channel”
values) of the selected (Overlay) source.
Thus the primary display will ‘peek
through’ transparent sections of the
overlay.
Most of TriCaster’s Text Templates have transparent regions, and are well suited as overlays. Or
you can use many graphic files formats (32bit files, with embedded alpha channel) in the DRR
modules in similar fashion. When enabled as an Overlay, the embedded transparency of images
and clips in the DDRs will be respected.
Hint: PNG (Portable Network Graphics) or Targa32 files serve well as file format choices for still
image overlays.
KEYSTROKE CONTROL
A number of very useful keystroke shortcuts are available:
f – Fade the Overlay (on/off toggle)
d –perform a Take of the Overlay display (on/off toggle)
s –Take All: swap the Main and Preview sources AND toggle the Overlay display on/off
a - Fade All: Fade the Overlay on /off and simultaneously Auto the Main and Preview
sources.
Figure 56