Welcome to the Smoke Learning Channel.
In this video we will be looking at the collapsible FX pipeline that lives just above your sequence in Autodesk Smoke.
If you are unsure what I am referring to,
the FX pipeline is the large bar in the interface that is located above the source tab and sequence tabs in the timeline view.
As a reminder, the FX pipeline shows you all the effects that you have applied to a selected segment in the sequence.
You also have a simple parameters bar to do adjustments as well as means to enter the advanced editor
to dig deep down in any applied effect.
However, if you are not using this area above the sequence, say for example, you are an performing editing task
rather than applying effects, this area of the interface stops being useful and just creates a gap
between the sequence and the viewers.
To better manage this area, you can collapse the FX-pipeline using the available button.
This means that you have more space to display your sequence and make better use of the interface.
The same button will also expand the FX-pipeline back to its original size.
Now even if you have collapsed the FX-pipeline, you can still perform effects tasks
using some of the shortcuts and contextual menus.
For example, to add an effect to a segment in the sequence, you would select it, right-click and choose add effect.
This will bring up the FX ribbon to choose your effect.
Applying a Colour Correction as a timeline FX will automatically expand the FX pipeline so that you can get grading straight away.
Please note that the FX pipeline will automatically expand with all timelineFX with the exception of CONNECTFX.
This is because ConnectFX does not have any basic parameters.
You simply double-click on the segment and enter ConnectFX.
No need to see the FX pipeline.
Another scenario to examine is if the FX-Pipeline is collapsed and you want to edit the existing TimelineFX parameters.
All you need to do is expand the track you are working on and double-click on the TimelineFX icon that will expand the FX pipeline.
The last point I would like to touch on is when the FX pipeline is collapsed; the render button is also hidden.
However rendering your effects is not a problem because you can still set it off in 3 different ways.
Right-clicking on a segment and choosing the render option is one way.
You can also go down to the gear menu and choose the render options from there.
Or you can simply press the keyboard shortcut that will start the render for the selected segment in the sequence.
Thank you for watching and please subscribe for future videos coming from the Smoke Learning Channel.
