---
title: "Unmult"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/html/Utilities_unmult.html"
section_path: "Utilities > Unmult"
description: "Create an alpha channel for any image or video shot on a black background. This tool is extremely useful for compositing footage of fire, smoke, water …"
---

## UNMULT

![Universe Unmult Plugin](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/U_Unmult_universe.jpg)

Create an alpha channel for any image or video shot on a black background. This tool is extremely useful for compositing footage of fire, smoke, water, and more.

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#### Presets

Unmult offers two easy presets for turning black or white backgrounds into transparent alpha channels. Find them via the blue **Open Dashboard...** button or the **Choose a Preset...** button below it.

![Image: Uni_Utilities_Unmult_presets.png](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Uni_Utilities_Unmult_presets.png)

As with all other Universe tools, you can modify or create an Unmult look and then save it under its own name by pressing the **Save Preset...** button. In Unmult's case, though, you probably won't...unless you just enjoy making presets.

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### Modify the Effect

- With the **Unmult Checkbox** enabled, the layer's black pixels become transparent. To illustrate, we enabled the transparency grid in After Effects, then toggled the Unmult Checkbox off (left) and on (right).\
  ![Image: Uni_Utilities_Unmult_Unmult.png](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Uni_Utilities_Unmult_Unmult.png)
- **Invert** flips the results of the alpha channel, effectively turning white pixels transparent (see below). This is the same as using the Unmult White preset.\
  ![Image: Uni_Utilities_Unmult_Invert.png](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Uni_Utilities_Unmult_Invert.png)
- **Tolerance** adjusts the alpha's edges, potentially including more near-black or near-white pixels in the alpha channel. Compare values of 0 (left) and 30 (right) below.\
  ![Image: Uni_Utilities_Unmult_Tolerance.png](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Uni_Utilities_Unmult_Tolerance.png)