Key Type
Selects the Key Type used by ChromaKeyer.
← Fusion node reference
Keying & MatteIntermediate
ChromaKeyer
Color-range keying
Builds an alpha matte from a selected chroma range and includes spill/fringe controls for green-screen, blue-screen and color isolation work.
ChromaKeyer
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
ChromaKeyer extracts a subject by selecting a color range and converting that range into transparency, with controls for softness and spill cleanup.
Overview
What ChromaKeyer does
ChromaKeyer is a practical keyer when the background is reasonably uniform and the separation can be described as a color range. It is faster to configure than more advanced keyers in many straightforward shots.
The initial color sample is only the start. Soft Range, matte cleanup and spill suppression determine whether hair, semi-transparent edges and shadows survive convincingly.
For difficult screens with uneven lighting or heavy contamination, UltraKeyer or DKeyer may offer more control. ChromaKeyer remains valuable for simple green/blue screens and secondary color isolation.
Mental model
Think of ChromaKeyer as defining which region of color space belongs to the background, then turning that region into transparency while protecting the subject.
Common uses
Green-screen extraction
Blue-screen extraction
Quick product/object isolation by color
Create a matte from a saturated color
Prepare alpha for Merge
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Input
Image containing the color background or color range to isolate.
Effect Mask
Limits the keyer to a selected area.
ChromaKeyer
Fusion node
Output
Keyed image with generated alpha and optional spill/fringe treatment.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Color Range
Defines the range over which this operation is active.
Lock Color Picking
Links Color Picking so they change together.
Soft Range
Softens the transition between keyed and retained colors.
Useful for hair and antialiased edges, but too much can make the matte translucent.
Reset Color Ranges
Defines the range over which this operation is active.
Spill Color
Sets the spill Color.
Spill Suppression
Reduces background-color spill on the keyed foreground.
Spill Method
Chooses how unwanted key color is neutralized.
Compare methods on skin and fine edge detail.
Fringe Gamma
Adjusts the gamma of the colored fringe around the keyed edge.
Fringe Size
Sets the width of the edge region affected by fringe correction.
Fringe Shape
Controls the shape and character of edge/fringe cleanup.
Red/Cyan, Green/Magenta, Blue/Yellow
Adjusts the red/cyan, green/magenta and blue/yellow balance used to clean up the keyed edge.
Matte / Filter
Selects the filtering method.
Chooses the resampling or filtering method used by the operation.
Blur
Sets the amount of blur.
Clipping Mode
Selects the Clipping Mode used by ChromaKeyer.
Contract / Expand
Contracts or expands the matte boundary.
Small values are useful for edge cleanup; aggressive values can remove fine detail.
Gamma
Adjusts the midtone response without moving the black and white points equally.
Threshold Low / High
Sets one boundary of the active range.
Restore Fringe
Restores Fringe in the processed result.
Invert Matte
Inverts the current map, mask or selection.
Solid Matte / Invert
Inverts the current map, mask or selection.
Garbage Matte / Invert
Inverts the current map, mask or selection.
Post Multiply Image
Multiplies RGB by alpha after processing.
Enable it when the following composite expects premultiplied image data.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Sample the screen/background color.
- 2
Expand the Color Range only as far as needed.
- 3
Inspect alpha/matte view and preserve fine subject detail.
- 4
Adjust Soft Range for edge transition.
- 5
Apply spill/fringe cleanup conservatively.
- 6
Refine the matte with MatteControl if necessary, then composite with Merge.
Typical node chain
MediaIn→
ChromaKeyer→
MatteControl→
Despill→
Merge
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Green screen
A straightforward key is cleaned and composited over a new plate.
MediaInChromaKeyerMatteControlDespillMerge
Color isolation
A saturated object color becomes a matte for a local effect.
MediaInChromaKeyerColorCorrector
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Sampling only one ideal screen pixel when the background varies across the frame.
Destroying hair detail with an overly tight range.
Using spill suppression to compensate for a poor matte.
Judging only the RGB composite and never viewing alpha.
Production notes
Practical tips
Use a garbage mask to remove set areas that never need keying.
Separate matte cleanup and despill into dedicated nodes when the shot is complex.
Check semi-transparent detail over several test backgrounds.
Related nodes