Toaster Skinny

Video Toaster is a set of software controls lying underneath gorgeous module skins that represent real-world equipment, and those skins can be manipulated in very cool ways, with one of those ways allowing users to 'tint' any skin using Video Toaster's Color Picker. There are no limits to the number of modules you can open on the Toaster's desktop, and having several instances of the Digital Disk Recorder (DDR) can be very handy. For example, you could have all your external b-roll, or 'beauty shots' in one DDR, and the segment opening animation in a second DDR.

In the heat of a live switch, Color Picker can help you easily identify one over the other. Dragging a color swatch into ANY Toaster module will 'tint' that module. So, in the example, you can now remember that the Green DDR is for your beauty shots, and the blue DDR for the topic opens. Quickly selecting either one is made much easier through quick identification.

Practicum
Now that you understand what can be done, here's a couple constructive uses that the Toaster Team has applied to tinting module skins:

• Color tinting a DDR causes the switcher 'patch' to reflect that color as well
• Tint individual files in a directory (not yet approved, finished, awaiting approval, etc.)
• Color swatches can be stored on the desktop for easy access and re use
• Making the DVE folder yellow, for easy spotting in any file view
• Tinting clips in ToasterEdit that need work
• Giving the ToasterScope a cool Electric Blue display

Any module can be changed back to its default coloration by right-clicking, since Video Toaster is intelligent enough to know the module has been tinted. A new Tint menu option appears, 'clear current shading'. Saving a configuration will retain those tint settings when that module is reloaded. Whether you wish to tint switchers, DDR's, File bins, Background Generators, or any particular clip or image in your library, let Video Toaster [2] help you color a successful and straightforward project.