Read Node

This node is used to load images from the disk. This node converts all imported images to the native 32-bit linear RGB workspace. It supports file formats such as Cineon, TIFF, PSD, OpenEXR, HDRI, RAW Camera data, and so on. To add a Read node to the Node Graph panel, choose Read from the Image menu or press R; the Read File(s) dialog box will be displayed. In this dialog box, navigate to the desired file and then choose the Open button; the Read# node will be inserted in the Node Graph panel and its properties panel will be displayed with the Read tab chosen in the Properties Bin, as show in Figure 1. Various options available in the Read# node properties panel are discussed next.

Figure 1 The Read1 node properties panel

READ TAB
The options available in this tab are used to read files from the disk, set format, set proxy and proxy format, set frame range, and colorspace. These options are discussed next.

file
This parameter displays the path of the file which is loaded using the Read# node. To change the file, you can click on the folder icon located next to this parameter; the Read#:Replace dialog box will be displayed. Next, navigate to the desired file and then choose the Open button to replace the file.

cache locally
The options in this drop-down are used to set the option for the local caching in a specified folder. Local caching helps in faster reloading of the files. To set the location of the folder for local cache, choose Edit > Preferences from the menu bar; the Preferences dialog box will be displayed. In this dialog box, you can set the local cache folder by modifying the localise to parameter value. Next, choose the Save Prefs button to save the changes made and then close the dialog box. The cache locally drop-down has three options, namely auto, always, and never.

format
The options in this drop-down are used to set the size and pixel aspect ratio of the loaded image. By default, NukeX matches it with the size and pixel aspect information stored in the header of the loaded image.

proxy
This parameter is used to set path for the proxy file. Generally, a proxy file is a low res version of the full res file and is used when proxy mode is on and the required resolution is less than or equal to the size of the file.

proxy format
The options in the proxy format drop-down are used to select the size and aspect ratio of the proxy file.

frame range
The fields corresponding to the frame range parameter are used to set the first and last frames of the image sequence. There are two drop-downs corresponding to the frame range parameter. These drop-downs are used to set the behavior of the Read# node while calculating the frames outside the range specified for the fields. By default, hold is selected in these two drop-downs. As a result, NukeX holds the first and last frames for out of range frames specified by the first and last fields. Other three options available are loop, bounce, and black. The loop option is used to continuously loop the sequence for out of range frames. The bounce option is used to loop the sequence repeatedly back and forth for out of range frames. The black option is used to replace out of range frames with black frames.

frame
The options in the frame drop-down are used to set the frame mode. By default, the expression option is selected in this drop-down. You can enter an expression in the field located next to this drop-down. If the start at option is selected, the playback will not start until the playhead reaches the frame specified in the frame field. If you select the offset option, the frame displayed will be offset by the value specified in the field located next to the frame drop-down.

original range
The fields corresponding to the original range parameter are used to set the original frame range of the loaded images.

missing frames
The options in the on_error drop-down corresponding to the missing frame parameter are used to specify the action needed to be taken if the Read node encounters any error in loading the frames. By default, the error option is selected in the missing frame drop-down. As a result, NukeX displays No Such file or directory error message in the Viewer panel. If the black option is selected from the drop-down, the missing frame is filled with the black color. When the Checkerboard option is selected from this drop-down, the missing frame is filled with a checkerboard pattern. The nearest frame option from this drop-down is used to replace the missing frame by the nearest frame in the sequence. The reload button is used to re-read images from the disk.

colorspace
The options in the colorspace drop-down are used to specify the lookup table (LUT) that is used to convert values that NukeX uses internally. By default, the default option is selected in this drop-down. As a result, NukeX collects information from the header of the image. When the premultiplied check box is selected and alpha channel is available in the input image, NukeX first divides the color channels by the alpha channel before converting from the colorspace and then multiply by the alpha channel afterwards. This helps in removing artifacts from the input images. If you select the raw data check box, NukeX does not convert the data.

SEQUENCES TAB
The options in this tab are used to import a sequence script. These options are discussed next.

import sequence
This button is used to import a sequence script. This script builds a frame sequence list from an EDL file. On choosing this button, the Sequence File dialog box will be displayed. Next, you need to navigate to the script and then choose the Open button to import the script.

frame sequence
This field is used to access multiple sequences using the single read node where the naming of sequences does not follow the numeric sequence.

timecode
This parameter is used to display the timecode if it is included in the image. It displays timecode of the last opened file.

edge code
This parameter is used to display the edge code if it is in the image. It displays the edge code of the most recently opened image.