Working with BORIS RED 4

Tabbed Controls Window

One of the new features in the controls window are individual tabs which automatically wrap and stack over each other so that all parameter controls for the currently selected item are always visible. Another new feature is the array buttons which are stacked along the bottom of the controls window that are highlighted based on their availability within the current context - if a button does not highlight when it is rolled over then it is not available for the currently selected track type.

Composite Window with Mini Timeline

The composite window includes a new mini timeline, which makes navigation and keyframing an easier process as with this feature, users can scrub through the mini timeline to quickly preview an effect or move to a different frame in time without having to go to the timeline which takes the focus away from the composite. In fact, the timeline can even be hidden completely from view using the hide timeline button at the bottom of the composite window and yet the user can still select and keyframe elements via direct selection and object manipulation within the composite window. New keyframes can be generated by using the add keyframe button at the bottom of the composite window - the keyframes for any element in the timeline can be controlled completely through the mini timeline and the controls window.

Timeline with User Configurable Button Array

The array of buttons to the top left of the timeline have been changed in this version. They are bigger than before making them easier to see, take up only two rows and now highlight upon mouse roll-over providing clear indication to the user the action that will follow when the button is clicked. The position of these useful timesaving buttons is fully user configurable - if for instance EPS import is something that is done on a regular basis then this button can be dragged to a more convenient place in the array. If you drag one button over another, they swap places in the array and if you drag one button between any other buttons the button is moved to this new place and the rest shuffle down the row.

Another new convenient feature is that the timeline can contain multiple composites, each of which has it's own tab to make switching from one composite to another within the same project as easy as clicking on the appropriate tab in the timeline. This makes versioning a simple and easy process. For instance, while working with one composite, I can make a duplicate of this composite which is automatically placed on it's own tab in the timeline and quickly witch between each of the versions by clicking on the Composite tab.

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