Getting Started with Nuke - Nuke 101: Professional Compositing and Visual Effects - page 12

Note

Nuke is cross--platform, meaning it works on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS
X. Windows and Linux machines use the modifier key called Control (Ctrl),
butontheMacthisiscalledCommand.Iwillusetheshortformforthese,but
will always mention both options. Ctrl/Cmd-S means press Control or Com-
mand and the S key simultaneously.

Nodes

Nodes are the building blocks of the process tree. Everything that happens to an image in
Nuke happens by using nodes.
Let's explore the node's graphical representation ( FIGURE 1.9 ).
Figure 1.9. A node's anatomy.

A node is usually represented by a rectangular shape with the name of the node in the
middle. There's usually an input (or more than one) at the top of the node, and a single
output at the bottom. On some nodes there is a mask input on the side of the node, the
functionality of which is discussed in more detail in Chapter 3 .

Creating a node

There are several ways to create nodes. Probably the best way is to choose a node from
the Nodes Toolbar. The Nodes Toolbar is split into several toolboxes , as shown in TABLE
1.1 .

Table 1.1