Using the Frame Viewer

Let’s continue our examination of the Tools menu with a brief discussion of the Frame Viewer, which is accessed by hitting OPT 7

The Frame Viewer opens over the Viewer by default and if you’ve never played around with this interesting tool, you should today. You are probably at least aware that it allows you to see two separate frames (and you can select which frames by using the pop-ups at the lower left and right side of the interface) superimposed over one another so that you can compare them. You can customize which portion and just how much of each frame shows and herein lies what I think is the most valuable use for this tool: it affords a perfect way to do color correction for continuity between shots.

Often, if you are cutting between two cameras–say in an over-the-shoulder dialogue scene, you will notice that the continuity of the sequence is compromised because the color of the wall behind the speakers looks different or the overall color cast of the two shots looks different (perhaps the two cameras were white balanced differently). The Frame Viewer allows you to get a chunk of that wall, from each shot, side by side so you match ‘em up exactly with that 3-way Color Corrector filter.