Broadcast Colors

This effect alters pixel color values so that the layer can be accurately represented in a television broadcast. Computers represent colors as combinations of red, green, and blue. Consumer video equipment represents colors using different composite signals. Home video equipment cannot reproduce signals above a certain amplitude, and computer-generated colors can easily exceed this limit. (Signal amplitude is measured in IRE units; 120 IRE units is the maximum possible transmission amplitude.) This effect reduces luminance or saturation to a safe level. The layer's quality setting does not affect the Broadcast Colors effect.

Reducing saturation requires greater amplitude modification than reducing luminance to achieve the same IRE unit level, which alters the appearance of your image more. Key Out Unsafe and Key Out Safe make it easy for you to determine which portions of the layer will be affected by the Broadcast Colors effect at the current settings. If you make your background a contrasting color and temporarily select Key Out Unsafe or Key Out Safe, the background will be visible through affected or unaffected areas of the layer, respectively.

For more information, see the After Effects product section on Adobe's Web site.