Separate Color Node

The Separate Color Node splits an image into its composite color channels. The node can output multiple Color Models depending on the Mode property.

Inputs

Image

Standard image input.

Properties

Mode

The color model to output.

RGB:

Split the input image into it’s three outputs: Red, Green, and Blue color channels.

HSV:

Split the input image into it’s three outputs: Hue, Saturation, and Value color channels.

HSL:

Split the input image into it’s three outputs: Hue, Saturation, and Lightness color channels.

YCbCrA:

Split the input image into it’s three outputs: Luminance, Chrominance Blue, and Chrominance Red color channels.

Color Space

ITU 601, ITU 709, JPEG

YUV:

Split the input image into it’s three outputs: Luminance, U chrominance, and V chrominance color channels.

Outputs

The outputs of this node depends on the Mode property (see above).

Alpha

The color channel that that is responsible for the image’s transparency.

Examples

Blur Alpha

An example of blurring the alpha channel.

In this first example, we take the Alpha channel and blur it, and then combine it back with the colors. When placed in a scene, the edges of it will blend in, instead of having a hard edge. This is almost like Anti-Aliasing but in a three-dimensional sense. Use this node setup, when adding CG elements to live action to remove any hard edges. Animating this effect on a broader scale will make the object appear to “phase” in and out, as an “out-of-phase” time-traveling sync effect.

Increase Luminance

An example of the scaling the Luminance channel.

This example has a Math (Multiply) node increasing the luminance channel (Y) of the image to make it brighter.

Tip

If running these channels through a Color Ramp node to adjust value, use the Cardinal scale for accurate representation. Using the Exponential scale on the luminance channel gives a high-contrast effect.