The auto-color match looks too contrasty. Fix: Lower the "Match Strength" to 30% and use the "Edge Only" option so only the border of the subject is corrected.
Garbage mattes are essential for excluding unwanted parts of the screen. Version 5 adds a semi-automatic mask tool. Draw a rough polygon around your subject, and the plugin uses edge detection to snap the mask exactly to the foreground. It then refines the mask over 5–10 frames. This is a game-changer for complex shapes like moving arms or products spinning on a turntable.
Many advanced keyers are render hogs. Not version 5. Thanks to GPU acceleration (CUDA, Metal, and OpenCL) and optimized memory handling, plays back 4K ProRes footage in real time on a mid-range M2 Mac or RTX 3060 PC. 8K keying is smooth on higher-end workstations. This makes it viable for live broadcast and fast-turnaround YouTube production, not just high-end VFX. hawaiki keyer 5
The plugin provides automatic tracking of foreground edges, facilitating more accurate "garbage mattes" that move in sync with the subject.
The standout addition in version 5 is AI-driven face and object tracking. This allows for the creation of dynamic head mattes and secondary keys that follow a subject’s movement automatically, significantly reducing manual masking time. The auto-color match looks too contrasty
Unlike traditional chroma keyers that rely solely on a single color range (e.g., selecting a shade of green), version 5 analyzes the spectral signature of every pixel. This means it distinguishes between the screen color and the foreground subject based on light wavelength behavior, not just RGB values. The result is a cleaner key with far less manual tweaking.
Optimized for Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) and utilizing Metal GPU acceleration, the software offers fast real-time playback and rendering even for complex HDR footage. Workflow and Performance Version 5 adds a semi-automatic mask tool
Spill—the green or blue light bouncing off the screen onto the subject—is the number one enemy of a good key. Previous versions offered decent spill removal, but introduces an adaptive neural network that detects spill even in shadows and semi-transparent fabrics. It dynamically desaturates only the affected areas without draining natural skin tones. Users report a 60% reduction in manual rotoscoping for spill-heavy shots.
: Previously separate plugins (Edge Tools and Comp Tools) are now built directly into the main keyer. This includes: Fine Edge & Edge Blend
. It is specifically built on a new image processing pipeline that utilizes Metal GPU acceleration and is optimized for Apple silicon. Hawaiki Keyer Key Features and New Capabilities AI-Powered Tracking : Version 5 introduces