BCC+ ND Gradient

Category: BCC Grads and Tints

Effect Name: BCC+ ND Gradient

The BCC+ ND Gradient filter, part of the BCC Grads and Tints category. darkens only a portion of the image using a graduated transition between the darkened portion and the original image. It selectively adjusts brightness without affecting color balance. The most likely use for ND Gradient is to balance the difference between the sky and ground in a landscape.

Working with the Filter

FX Editor and Presets

• Use the FX Editor to load or save presets for reuse.
• To load a preset: Open the FX Editor, select a preset from the Presets panel, and click Apply to return to the host application.
• To save a custom preset: While in the FX Editor, click the Create Custom Preset icon in the parameter list, enter a preset name, and click Done. Additionally, a custom preset can be saved from the main menu bar by selecting File->Save Preset.
• To import custom presets from another drive: While in the FX Editor, select File->Import Preset from the main menu bar.

Effect Controls

Mocha Mask and Track

Continuum effects include integrated masking and matte tools that allow you to restrict the effect to specific regions of the image.

• Mocha masks: used to create custom spline masks. Mocha also includes Matte Assist ML and Matte Refine ML, which use machine learning to generate and track masks.
• Pixel Chooser: used to generate geometric shapes, gradients, or mattes based on channel, luma, or color-based selections. Additionally, an AI depth map generator, and an AI-powered face detection model allow for precise control of masks and mattes.

For more information, see Mocha and Pixel Chooser.

Compare Mode

The Compare Mode is used to view the filtered result alongside the original source layer. Several split-screen and side-by-side display options are available.

For more information, see Compare Mode.

• View: Allows you to set the viewer to display various outputs for the Color Gradient.
  • Output: Shows the default look of the BCC+ Gels filter on the image.
  • Grad: Shows the gel gradient. Useful when determining the look of the gradient used in the output.

  F-Stop Group

  • Exposure:Darkens the image using F-Stops as the unit of measure.
  • Preserve Highlights:Preserves the white areas of the image.

  Grad Group

  Grad is the transition area between the darkened portion and the original image. Its direction, corners and size can be adjusted.

  • Type: Controls the direction of the gradient:
    • Top-to-bottom: Gradient runs from top to bottom.
    • Bottom-to-top: Gradient runs from bottom to top.
    • Left-to-right: Gradient runs from left to right.
    • Right-to-left: Gradient runs from right to left.
    • Horizontal Strip: Horizontal strip gradient.
    • Vertical Strip: Vertical strip gradient.
  • Size:Adjusts the overall size of the gradient.
  • Angle:Adjusts the angle of the gradient.
  • Corner PinThe gradient can be corner pinned by adjusting the Corner Pin sliders or dragging the four corner points directly in the viewer.
  Note: You may need to zoom the image out a bit to see the corner points. In addition, to see and adjust the corner points in After Effects, make sure that the effect title in the Effect Controls window is highlighted. For Final Cut Pro, you must activate the cross hair icon next to the corner position parameters to see and adjust the corner points on the screen.
  • Upper-Left: Controls the X and Y position of the Upper Left Point.
  • Upper-Right: Controls the X and Y position of the Upper Right Point.
  • Lower-Right: Controls the X and Y position of the Lower Right Point.
  • Lower-Left: Controls the X and Y position of the Lower Left Point.
  • Mix with Original: Blends the source and filtered images. Use this parameter to animate the effect from the unfiltered to the filtered image without adjusting other settings, or to reduce the effect of the filter by mixing it with the source image.
  • GPU Rendering:Specifies how the effect is rendered.
    • Default: Uses product-wide default of 16 bit half-float GPU rendering.
    • 16 Bit Float: Manually force 16 bit half-float GPU rendering.
    • 32 Bit Float: Manually force 32 bit full-float GPU rendering.
    • Disabled: Forces CPU rendering.