| Questions about Primatte.
Why does Primatte see the wrong layer?
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Most likely, you have the wrong layer selected
in your Photoshop file. You need to cancel Primatte, then go into
your Photoshop Layers palette. Select the layer that contains
your blue (or green) screened image.
Primatte cannot automatically detect
the image you want to mask. You need to tell it which layer
to work with by selecting the layer first. |
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Does Primatte work with 16-bit files?
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Yes, Primatte DOES work with 16-bit files. In fact, Primatte works faster with 16-bit files than with 8-bit files. This is because Primatte processes your file natively in 16-bit.
If you are experiencing speed issues, you may want to convert your file from 8-bit to 16-bit through Photoshop's Image> Mode menu.
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The original version 2.0 release was unable to support multiple layers in 16-bit. However, we released a free 2.1 update to Primatte that takes care of this problem. Get the Primatte 2.1 update here or contact us for more help.
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How can I get the iPod look?
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Most likely, you mean a blackened figure against a bright background. That iPod effect can be achieved through chromakeying as well as a pretty sophisticated use of Photoshop functions like Channels, Calculations, and Layer Modes.
We do NOT suggest or guarantee that Primatte can achieve that iPod look for you. You should search online for a tutorial (like this one) before buying Primatte specifically for the iPod effect.
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Why does the background color turn gray?
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Most likely, you are working on a ‘Background’ layer that does not support transparency. You need to edit that layer to allow your Photoshop file to support transparency. You must do this BEFORE working with Primatte.
In Photoshop, you have 'regular' layers that are fully editable and support transparency. You may also have a single 'Background' layer that has a Lock icon. This is like a piece of paper that's glued down. You need to un-glue that Background layer.
To do so, in your Photoshop Layers palette, double-click the Background layer. You will get a dialog box; just click the 'OK' button. Your layer now reads as 'Layer 0' instead of 'Background' and does not have a Lock icon.
Now your Photoshop layer can support the transparency that Primatte needs. |
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What screen color should I photograph with?
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Is there a
particular shade of Blue or Green that should be used as the
background. I want to get the best possible results when using Primatte Chromakey? Can I use other colors?
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One of the great aspects of Primatte
is that you can use any color, not just green or blue. Blue
and green are the most commonly used because they contrast
with flesh tones. What's most important, actually, is good lighting and staging. As with anything digital, the better your source image,
the better your result. [more]
You want to make sure that the color of your
screen is not in the colors of your subject/object. Also,
black, gray, and white are not great screen colors because you find
them in the shadows and highlights of most subjects.
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We have written a Studio Setup article that gives insight into the process of setting up your studio for chromakey work. |
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Does Primatte work with Premiere Elements?
Why is my 'Filter' menu grayed out?
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Most likely, you are trying to apply Primatte to a Grayscale file. Primatte works only on 24-bit color space files, which would be RGB or CMYK mode. Primatte does not work in Index or Grayscale mode.
In Photoshop, convert your file to RBG or CMYK through the Image> Mode menu item. |
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Zoom/Pan tool crashes.
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I am having issues with the 'Zoom' and/or 'Pan' tools in Primatte. They seem to partially freeze the interface. In some cases, I need to restart the computer.
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This crashing issue is experienced by a small number of people on Mac 0S 10.3 using Primatte 2.0. Our free 2.1 update to Primatte takes care of this problem. Request the Primatte 2.1 update here. That problem does not exist in Primatte 3.0.
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Zoom/Pan tool is slow.
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I'm having a hard time with the 'Zoom' and/or 'Pan' tools in Primatte. They either pan only a small increment or move the image very slowly.
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Regarding the Move and Pan tools, they are a little fussy. Their behavior will not change substantially any time soon as we are dependant on another company for that core functionality.
Primatte's Zoom and Pan tools may not be as responsive as you'd like them to be. If you are working with large Photoshop files and feel that you will have to experiment to get a good mask, then we can suggest a workaround:
Change the resolution to 150 ppi, and scale down the width and height dimensions. Then do a Save As. Now create your mask with this alternate, smaller file and test render as needed. Once you find the correct mask settings, render them out, then open up the high-res file. Primatte remembers the last settings you created, which means you can successfully apply the same mask.
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Will a graphics card accelerate Primatte?
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No, Primatte will not improve in speed with a higher end graphics card. Like Photoshop, Primatte's speed is tied into your amount of RAM and your processor speed. For speed tips, please read this FAQ.
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Error: 'Primatte can't find resources.'
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Most likely you did not install Primatte correctly. This error means that Primatte can't properly find all of its support files.
When you install Primatte, you need to install directly into the Plugins folder of Photoshop. You cannot install elsewhere on your hard drive, then drag the files over.
You should install Primatte again. First you will want to throw away this current installation. To do this, run a 'Find File' command (Mac) or 'Search' command (Windows) for the word 'primatte'. Throw away the files that come up.
Then do a fresh install with the Primatte installer. We have an Windows install doc and a Mac install doc that explain this process in detail.
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Error: 'Invalid serial number.'
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Most likely you did not install Primatte correctly. This error usually occurs when the plugin has been moved from its original
install location. It can also occur if you Here are some suggestions:
– You should not install to the top of your C:/ drive, then move the plugin to Photoshop's 'Plug-ins' folder. You need to install directly to the 'Plug-ins' folder. I would recommend re-installing and starting from scratch.
– Check to make sure the files have not installed as 'Read-Only'. If they have, you need to change their Permissions.
– Try to install Primatte again. First you will want to throw away this current installation. Then do a fresh, new installation that designates the Photoshop Plugins folder. To get the Primatte installer, please send us an email using this easy Request Form.
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How do I place layers behind Primatte?
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A frequent question that we are asked is how to add a new background to a Primatte-treated photograph. This is really a Photoshop (or Elements) question because the process is done inside Photoshop, not in Primatte.
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To do so, you will use Photoshop's Layers palette and the Copy/Paste commands. For a detailed explanation of this process, please download our 'Merge' PDF tutorial. |
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Moved plugin and now it doesn't work.
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I just
upgraded from Photoshop CS to Photoshop CS2. I moved
the 'Digital Anarchy' folder from the Photoshop CS 'Plugins' folder into the new CS2 'Plugins' folder.
Now when I try to use Primatte it works sometimes, but other times I
get an error saying 'access is not allowed'.
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The issue is that you cannot 'drag and drop' a plugin file from one Application folder to another. You need to do a fresh, new installation. You also need throw away the current Primatte files.
When you reinstall the plugin, you will install directly into the Photoshop 'Plugins' folder. Otherwise, the plugin will not be able to properly find resource and support files that are placed in your computer. To get the Primatte installer, please contact us with this easy Request Form
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How can I learn about using 'layers'?
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I just started using Photoshop/Elements. I don't understand how to copy/paste layers or anything else you are describing.
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There is a lot of free information about using layers in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. You can also buy great books and training DVD's. We have a list of recommendations on this page.
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Create an alpha channel with Primatte.
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I want to create an alpha channel in Photoshop with Primatte settings. How can I save the mask created by Primatte?
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Primatte doesn't save mask/alpha information directly, but there is a simple workaround. Here's what you do: Render out a Primatte mask as you would normally. Then re-render the mask on a duplicate Photoshop layer as a grayscale image. You do this by rendering with 'Mask View' selected. Now copy/paste that grayscale image into a Layer Mask on the original layer. Then load in the Layer Mask as selection, and save as an alpha channel.
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This PDF doc gives the steps to create an Alpha Channel or Layer Mask with Primatte. |
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A grayscale image renders out.
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There are two ways to render out Primatte. You have accidentally chosen the second way. Both are shown below.
Method 1- If you render out Primatte with the 'Comp View' mode showing, then you will get the expected result. This is your subject against transparent pixels, of course. |
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Method 2- When you render out your Primatte mask with the 'Mask View' mode showing, then Primatte renders out a grayscale image. That's great for additional editing if you know a lot about Photoshop. Otherwise, you will want to render with 'Comp View'.
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My mask doesn't immediately show up.
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This is a display glitch that happens on some Mac OS X systems (it doesn't occur in Windows). After rendering Primatte, you don’t immediately see a change in the photograph even though you're sure the mask was created.
The simple fix is to click the ‘Eye’ icon in your Layers palette off, then back on. This clears the display issue.
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How can I make Primatte faster?
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Working with a very high-end computer, Primatte takes more than 15 seconds to create a mask. Can I speed things up?
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A 15-second mask is actually pretty speedy when you consider that Primatte is running some pretty heavy math through Photoshop's architecture. If you compare that performance to applying any intensive filter in Photoshop, like Extract or Warp, its time frame is comparable.
Having said that, Primatte's speed is something that we are always optimizing with each dot release. And there are a few ways to work with the plugin a little faster.
Try changing your Photoshop file from 8-bit to 16-bit [Image> Mode menu]. Often the 16-bit file will process faster because Primatte processes 16-bit natively, then converts it to 8-bit.
If you feel that you will have to experiment to get a good mask, then we can suggest a workaround:
Create a lower-resolution version of your Photoshop file. Change the resolution to 150 ppi, and scale down the width and height dimensions. Then do a Save As. Now create your mask with this alternate, smaller file and test render as needed. Once you find the correct mask settings, render them out, then open up the high-res file. Primatte remembers the last settings you created, which means you can successfully apply the same mask. |
The file 'Primatte.8bf' will not open.
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It sounds as if you have correctly installed the
plugin. However, you want to access it through your Photoshop
application, not from your hard drive.
Open a new Photoshop file, then go to the Filters menu. You
should see a 'Digital Anarchy' item listed at the bottom of that menu, with
a sub-menu choice of 'Primatte'.
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Can't access 'Composite Against Background'.
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This option may be grayed out for one of a few reasons.
Have you put the new background image into a layer in your Photoshop file? That layer needs to sit behind the Primatte-treated layer. The layer also needs to be the bottom-most layer in your Photoshop file.
Otherwise, what version of Photoshop are you using? In Photoshop 6.0 or earlier, the option for ‘Composite Against Background Layer’ is grayed out and unavailable. You need Photoshop 6.5 or later to use this feature. |
Why do I see a checkerboard?
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The checkerboard background that you see is related to Photoshop, not Primatte. This is how Photoshop expresses an area in your file that is transparent. Thee checkerboard will not print or display itself visually outside of Photoshop.
To turn on/off or adjust the view options, go to your Photoshop preferences. On Windows, choose Edit> Preferences. On a Mac (shown below), choose Photoshop> Preferences. Go to the 'Transparency & Gamut' option.
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Use Primatte in other apps?
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I want to use Primatte inside of After Effects. Can I do that with your plugin?
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Primatte is available for most applications in
other visual disciplines, such as photography, special effects,
video production, and 2D compositing. Digital Anarchy only develops
and sells the Photoshop version of Primatte.
If you are interested in Primatte for any software
other than Photoshop, please
visit Photron at www.primatte.com for more details. |
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Get Primatte 2.0 for Mac OS 10.3.
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I wantd to try your software using my Mac, however I am using OSX 10.3. I see that Primatte 2.0 works with this OS. Can you provide me a link to download the demo of Primatte 2.0 for the Mac?
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We can definitely sell you Primatte 2.0 and give
you a 3.0 upgrade when you've moved to 10.4 (or higher). Here is the Primatte 2.0 Mac demo to tryout.
Version 2.0 support material and training is posted here. You can benefit from our other Tips and Training pages, but that 2.0 material is the best place to start.
Once you have decided to purchase Primatte, please contact us beforehand to let us know that you need version 2.0 NOT 3.0. |
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