How to Use Unmult Plugin in After Effects CS6
Unmult is a plugin that allows you to create an alpha channel for any image or video shot on a black background. This is useful for compositing fire, smoke, water and other elements that have a black background. Unmult is available in two versions: the latest version is part of the Universe, Red Giant Complete, and Maxon One subscriptions, and the older version (Unmult 1.1) is free and can be downloaded from the Maxon website. In this article, we will show you how to use Unmult plugin in After Effects CS6.
Step 1: Install Unmult Plugin
If you have a subscription to Universe, Red Giant Complete, or Maxon One, you can install Unmult plugin using the Maxon App. If you don’t have a subscription, you can download Unmult 1.1 from the link below. After downloading the zip file, extract it and place the Unmult.aex file in the following folder:
- Mac: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/Plug-ins/7.0/MediaCore/
- Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Common\Plug-ins\7.0\MediaCore\
Restart After Effects if it was running.
Step 2: Apply Unmult Plugin
Import the image or video that you want to use Unmult on into your project panel. Drag it to the timeline and make sure it is on top of the layer that you want to composite it with. Select the layer and go to Effect > Maxon > Unmult (or Effect > Knoll > Unmult if you are using the older version). You should see that the black background is removed and replaced with transparency.
Step 3: Adjust Unmult Settings
You can adjust the settings of Unmult plugin to fine-tune the result. The main parameters are:
- Tolerance: This controls how much of the black background is removed. A higher value will remove more black, but may also remove some details from the image or video. A lower value will preserve more details, but may also leave some black edges.
- Softness: This controls how soft or hard the edges of the alpha channel are. A higher value will create softer edges, which may look more natural and blend better with the background. A lower value will create harder edges, which may look more crisp and sharp.
- Invert: This option allows you to invert the alpha channel, which means that the black background will become transparent and the image or video will become solid black. This can be useful for creating masks or mattes for other effects.
You can also use other effects such as Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation, etc. to adjust the color and contrast of the image or video after applying Unmult.
Conclusion
Unmult is a simple but powerful plugin that can help you create an alpha channel for any image or video shot on a black background. It can save you time and hassle when compositing elements that have a black background. You can use Unmult plugin in After Effects CS6 by installing it from either a subscription or a free download, applying it to your layer, and adjusting its settings. We hope this article was helpful and informative.