Combo Page Editor

A combo (i.e. combination) template is a template based on multiple Transition Logic (TL) foreground scenes from different logical layers. Having a combo template allows you to create combo pages that can perform several Transition Logic actions in one page-take. A TL action can a bit more precisely be defined as changing the state for a TL page. A single combo page could for instance take out a lower-third and an animation while at the same time inserting a logo. A bit simplified you could think of a combo page as a template or page that performs several Transition Logic steps or actions, much like you would create a script to perform several actions in a procedure. These TL states could typically be IN, OUT, LEFT, RIGHT, UP, DOWN and so forth.

As combo pages is based on and only works with Transition Logic templates, we will give a brief introduction to TL first.

Transition Logic

Most broadcast video systems have three independent physical layers: Front, Middle and Back. In certain situations this can be limiting. With TL you can have any number of logical layers. TL layers are always created and shown in the “physical” Middle layer and will not interfere with the Front or Back layer. Transition Logic allows for more than one scene to be on air at a time. For example, a graphics covering the lower third of the screen, and another covering the left for over the shoulder graphics, can be on air at the same time.

Playout with transition logic means that the graphics taken to air is loaded into a background scene that can always be on-air. By using this method several independent graphical elements can be on air at the same time and they can be taken in and out independently. Intelligent transitions can be built into the background scene ensuring smooth and seamless transitions between changing elements.

To summarize Transition Logic for combo templates:

  • A Transition Logic scene is not a single scene, but a set of Viz graphic scenes that consist of a background scene that may have multiple layers of graphics that can be on air at the same time and independently controlled.

  • Each layer in the background scene may have multiple referring foreground scenes; however, each layer can only show one foreground scene at a time.

  • A TL layer can have zero or 1 (one) states. If the TL layer doesn’t have a state, then this layer will not be part of the combo template. Only one state can be active or chosen for each layer, however the scene designer can create as many layers as needed.

Combo page editor

As explained above, a combo template can only be created from transition logic (TL) templates. In order to create a combo page, the templates must be in different layers. This must be ensured by the graphical designer when the scenes are created in Viz Artist.

To create a combo template:

  1. Right-click a template in the Templates and Pages scroll-list and select Combo Editor:

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The Combo Template Editor will be shown. For each TL layer the various states that can be selected will be shown as selectable boxes.

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  1. In the Combo Template Editor, select the TL state that should be activated when pages based on the TL template are shown on air. Selected states are highlighted.

  2. Give the new combo template a text description and a unique name.

  3. Press Save.