# Your first comp

> Read an image, grade it, look at it, write it to disk.

This takes about two minutes. Keep the mouse over the **Node Graph** while you press the node keys.

1. **Read the image.** Press **R**. A file browser opens; pick an image or a sequence (sequences show as one entry, like `plate.####.exr`). A [Read](/docs/nodes/read) node appears.
2. **Look at it.** With the Read selected, press **1**. A [Viewer](/docs/nodes/viewer) node is connected and the image shows in the Viewer. Press **F** over the Viewer to fit it.
3. **Grade it.** With the Read still selected, press **G**. A [Grade](/docs/nodes/grade) node is added below it and connected, and its knobs open in Properties. Drag **gain** up and **gamma** a little; the Viewer updates as you drag. Press **1** again with the Grade selected to view it.
4. **Write it out.** With the Grade selected, press **W** to add a [Write](/docs/nodes/write) node. Set its **file** knob, for example `/tmp/out/graded.####.exr` (`####` is the frame number). Pick the file type and the **output transform** (colour space) on the same panel.
5. **Render.** Press **F5** (or *Render › Render All…*). Confirm the frame range; a progress box shows each frame and has a Cancel button. **F7** renders only the selected Write.
6. **Save.** Press **Ctrl+S** to save the comp as an `.oink` file. Double-click an `.oink` file in your file manager to open it again. Comps saved before the rename, as `.ocomp`, still open.

## Next

- Press **Tab** in the Node Graph and type a name to add any node.
- Open **Help › Examples…** for small finished comps (keying, merging, 3D, AI tools) on sample media.
- Every node's knobs are listed in the [node reference](/docs/nodes). Press **F1** over a node (or click **?** in its Properties panel, then **Documentation**) to jump to its page.
- Coming from another compositor? Read [Switching to Oink](/docs/nuke-users).


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Sources: opencomp_electron/docs/design/nuke-shortcuts.json, opencomp_electron/src/components/shell/compActions.ts, opencomp_core/nodes/io/read.py, opencomp_core/nodes/io/write.py, opencomp_core/nodes/color/grade.py