Combining the alpha channels?

I'm missing something really obvious here, but what is it?
I want to have a subject casting shadows on a moving clouds background. Here's the clip so far using a method that doesn't works quite well enough :
The shadow doesn't work on the darker parts of the cloud. That's not really so much of a prob in 2D, but this is a stereo 3D project and having the shadow intermittently disappear looks odd.
So, to create a shadow that I can then insert between the two Images, I need to combine the alpha channels from the two videos (one created using green as a key, the other the blue sky).
How do I do that? I bet it's really obvious!
Cheers! !http://forums.adobe.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif|___jive_emoticon_name=wink|jivemacro=emoticon|class=jive_macro jive_emote|src=http://forums.adobe.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif!
Currently using CS5

Use the Channel Combiner effect or things like Shift Channel to expose multiple channels and merge them differently. Or you could use a pre-comp that has duplicates of your stuff and then use matte and stencil blending modes. It's really just a matter of using one on top of the ther and combining them sensibly...
Mylenium

Similar Messages

How can I see the alpha channel in the channels palette?

Hello, mi format plugin loads a rgba image. I see it with transparency, that's ok, but when I go to the channels tab I only see 4 items (RGB, Red, Green and Blue).
How can I see the alpha channel of my file in the channel tab?
Thanks!

OK, something must be wrong... but I don't find it!
That's my whole code (resumed). I ommit some code (saving file code (not used) or main function, where I only call te "DoSomething" functions. You can see that I use layers. The DoReadContinue function is only used to show the preview.
In the DoReadStart function I set the parameters for the layers (and the preview), and I fill the "data" and "layerName" params in the DoReadLayerContinue function. I hope you can understand the code!
const int32 IMAGE_DEPTH = 32;
SPBasicSuite * sSPBasic = NULL;
SPPluginRef gPluginRef = NULL;
FormatRecord * gFormatRecord = NULL;
intptr_t * gMxiInfoHandle = NULL;
MXIInfo* gMxiInfo = NULL;
int16 * gResult = NULL;
#define gCountResources gFormatRecord->resourceProcs->countProc
#define gGetResources   gFormatRecord->resourceProcs->getProc
#define gAddResource    gFormatRecord->resourceProcs->addProc
CmaxwellMXI* cMax;
static void DoReadPrepare (void){
    gFormatRecord->maxData = 0;
static void DoReadStart(void){
    char header[2];
    ReadScriptParamsOnRead (); // override params here
if (*gResult != noErr) return;
    // Read the file header
    *gResult = SetFPos (gFormatRecord->dataFork, fsFromStart, 0);
    if (*gResult != noErr) return;
    ReadSome (sizeof( header ) * 2, &header);
    if (*gResult != noErr) return;
// Check the magic number for avoid no-mxi files
    int headerID = CheckIdentifier (header);
    if( headerID != HEADER_MXI ) *gResult = formatCannotRead;
if (*gResult != noErr) return;
// The file is OK. Let's continue to obtain the data of the image.
cMax = new CmaxwellMXI( 0 );
strlen((char*)gFormatRecord->fileSpec->name);
gMxiInfo->filename = _strdup((char *)gFormatRecord->fileSpec->name + 1);
bool res = cMax->getMXIIInfo(
                (const char*)gMxiInfo->filename,
                gMxiInfo->width, gMxiInfo->height,
                gMxiInfo->burn, gMxiInfo->monitorGamma, gMxiInfo->iso,
                gMxiInfo->shutter, gMxiInfo->fStop, gMxiInfo->intensity,
                gMxiInfo->scattering,
                gMxiInfo->nMultilightChannels, gMxiInfo->lightNamesList,
                gMxiInfo->availableBuffersMask,
                gMxiInfo->widthPreview, gMxiInfo->heightPreview,
                gMxiInfo->bufferPreview);
if(!res) return;
// Check the available extra buffers
int count = 0;
if( gMxiInfo->availableBuffersMask & CmaxwellMXI::ALPHA_BUFFER ){
    // We will use that string to obtain later the desired extra buffer.
    gMxiInfo->extraBuffersList[count] = "ALPHA";
    gMxiInfo->hasAlpha = true;
    count++;
else{
    gMxiInfo->hasAlpha = false;
gMxiInfo->nExtraBuffers = count;
switch( IMAGE_DEPTH ){
case 8:
      gMxiInfo->mode = plugInModeRGBColor;
      break;
case 16:
      gMxiInfo->mode = plugInModeRGB48;
      break;
case 32:
      gMxiInfo->mode = plugInModeRGB48; //96 gives me an error
      break;
// SET UP THE DOCUMENT BASIC PARAMETERS.
VPoint imageSize;
if( gFormatRecord->openForPreview ){
    // Preview always RGB8.
    imageSize.v = gMxiInfo->heightPreview;
    imageSize.h = gMxiInfo->widthPreview;
    gFormatRecord->depth = 8;
    gFormatRecord->imageMode = plugInModeRGBColor;
    gFormatRecord->planes = 3;
    gFormatRecord->loPlane = 0;
    gFormatRecord->hiPlane = 2;
    gFormatRecord->colBytes = 3;
    gFormatRecord->rowBytes = imageSize.h * gFormatRecord->planes;
    gFormatRecord->planeBytes = 1;
else{
    // Configure the layers. All RGBA32.
    imageSize.v = gMxiInfo->height;
    imageSize.h = gMxiInfo->width;
    gFormatRecord->depth = IMAGE_DEPTH;
    gFormatRecord->imageMode = gMxiInfo->mode;
    gFormatRecord->layerData =
        2 + gMxiInfo->nMultilightChannels + gMxiInfo->nExtraBuffers;
    gFormatRecord->planes = 4; // RGBA.
    gFormatRecord->loPlane = 0;
    gFormatRecord->hiPlane = 3;
    gFormatRecord->planeBytes = IMAGE_DEPTH >> 3;
    gFormatRecord->rowBytes = imageSize.h * gFormatRecord->planes * ( IMAGE_DEPTH >> 3 );
    gFormatRecord->colBytes = gFormatRecord->planes * ( IMAGE_DEPTH >> 3 );
    gFormatRecord->transparencyPlane = 3;
    gFormatRecord->transparencyMatting = 1;
    gFormatRecord->blendMode = PIBlendLinearDodge;
    gFormatRecord->isVisible = true;
SetFormatImageSize(imageSize);
gFormatRecord->imageHRes = FixRatio(72, 1);
gFormatRecord->imageVRes = FixRatio(72, 1);
VRect theRect;
theRect.left = 0;
theRect.right = imageSize.h;
theRect.top = 0;
theRect.bottom = imageSize.v;
SetFormatTheRect(theRect);
// No resources for now.
if (sPSHandle->New != NULL) gFormatRecord->imageRsrcData = sPSHandle->New(0);
gFormatRecord->imageRsrcSize = 0;
    return;
/// Called for prewiew only.
static void DoReadContinue (void){
    // Dispose of the image resource data if it exists.
    DisposeImageResources ();
if( gFormatRecord->openForPreview ){
    VPoint imageSize = GetFormatImageSize();
    gFormatRecord->data = gMxiInfo->bufferPreview;
      if (*gResult == noErr) *gResult = gFormatRecord->advanceState();
    if( gFormatRecord->data != NULL ){
      delete[] (Crgb8*)gMxiInfo->bufferPreview;
      gMxiInfo->bufferPreview = NULL;
      gFormatRecord->data = NULL;
// De momento nos olvidamos de los icc profiles [TODO]
    //DoReadICCProfile ();
static void DoReadFinish (void)
    // Dispose of the image resource data if it exists.
    DisposeImageResources ();
    WriteScriptParamsOnRead (); // should be different for read/write
// write a history comment
    AddComment ();
// Clean some memory.
if( gMxiInfo->lightNamesList != NULL ){
    for( unsigned int i = 0; i < gMxiInfo->nMultilightChannels; i++){
      if( gMxiInfo->lightNamesList[i] != NULL ){
        delete[] gMxiInfo->lightNamesList[i];
        gMxiInfo->lightNamesList[i] = NULL;
    delete[] gMxiInfo->lightNamesList;
    gMxiInfo->lightNamesList = NULL;
if( gMxiInfo->bufferPreview != NULL ){
    delete[] gMxiInfo->bufferPreview;
    gMxiInfo->bufferPreview = NULL;
if( gMxiInfo->filename != NULL ){
    delete[] gMxiInfo->filename;
    gMxiInfo->filename = NULL;
if( cMax != NULL ){
    delete cMax;
    cMax = NULL;
static void DoReadLayerStart(void){
// empty
static void DoReadLayerContinue (void){
int32 done;
    int32 total;
VPoint imageSize = GetFormatImageSize();
// Set the progress bar data
done = gFormatRecord->layerData + 1;
total = gMxiInfo->nMultilightChannels + gMxiInfo->nExtraBuffers + 2;
// Dispose of the image resource data if it exists.
DisposeImageResources ();
uint32 bufferSize = imageSize.v * gFormatRecord->rowBytes;
int nPixels = gMxiInfo->width * gMxiInfo->height;
char* lightName = NULL;
// SET THE BLACK BACKGROUND
if( gFormatRecord->layerData == 0 ){
    gFormatRecord->data = (void*)new byte[bufferSize];
    for( int i = 0; i < nPixels; i++ ){
      ((float*)gFormatRecord->data)[ i * 4 ]     =
      ((float*)gFormatRecord->data)[ i * 4 + 1 ] =
      ((float*)gFormatRecord->data)[ i * 4 + 2 ] = 0.0;
      ((float*)gFormatRecord->data)[ i * 4 + 3 ] = 1.0;
    // Set the layer name.
    gFormatRecord->layerName = new uint16[64];
    gFormatRecord->layerName[0] = 'B';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[1] = 'a';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[2] = 'c';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[3] = 'k';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[4] = 'g';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[5] = 'r';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[6] = 'o';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[7] = 'u';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[8] = 'n';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[9] = 'd';
    gFormatRecord->layerName[10] = '\0';
// LOAD THE LIGHT LAYERS
else if( gFormatRecord->layerData < gMxiInfo->nMultilightChannels + 1 ){
    void* lightBuffer = NULL;
    void* alphaBuffer = NULL;
    byte foob;
    dword food;
    // Get the light buffer.
    bool res = cMax->getLightBuffer(
                           (char*)gMxiInfo->filename,
                           gFormatRecord->layerData - 1, IMAGE_DEPTH,
                           lightBuffer,
                           gMxiInfo->width, gMxiInfo->height, lightName);
    if(!res){
      *gResult = readErr;
      return;
    if( gMxiInfo->hasAlpha ){
      // Get the alpha buffer.
      res = cMax->getExtraBuffer(
                            (char*)gMxiInfo->filename,
                            "ALPHA", IMAGE_DEPTH, alphaBuffer,
                            food, food, foob);
      if(!res){
        *gResult = readErr;
        return;
    else{
      alphaBuffer = (void*)new float[ gMxiInfo->width * gMxiInfo->height * 3 ];
      for( int i = 0; i < nPixels; i++ ){
        // Only need to set the red channel.
        ((float*)alphaBuffer)[ i * 3 ] = 1.0;
    // Put them together.
    gFormatRecord->data = (void*)new byte[bufferSize];
    for( int i = 0; i < nPixels; i++ ){
      ((float*)gFormatRecord->data)[ i * 4 ]     = ((float*)lightBuffer)[ i * 3 ];
      ((float*)gFormatRecord->data)[ i * 4 + 1 ] = ((float*)lightBuffer)[ i * 3 + 1 ];
      ((float*)gFormatRecord->data)[ i * 4 + 2 ] = ((float*)lightBuffer)[ i * 3 + 2 ];
      ((float*)gFormatRecord->data)[ i * 4 + 3 ] = ((float*)alphaBuffer)[ i * 3 ];
    delete[] (float*)lightBuffer;
    delete[] (float*)alphaBuffer;
    // Set the layer name.
//LOAD THE EXTRA CHANNELS
if( ... ){
//READ THE RENDER BUFFER
if( ... ){
// User can abort.
if (gFormatRecord->abortProc()){
      *gResult = userCanceledErr;
      return;
// Commit the layer.
if (*gResult == noErr) *gResult = gFormatRecord->advanceState();
// Update the progress bar.
(*gFormatRecord->progressProc)( done, total );
// Free memory.
if( gFormatRecord->data != NULL ){
    delete[] (float*)gFormatRecord->data;
    gFormatRecord->data = NULL;
if( lightName != NULL ){
    delete[] lightName;
    lightName = NULL;
static void DoReadLayerFinish (void)
// Nothing to do.
And that's the image that I obtain loading a 8 layer image:
The layers have transparency (when I set "transparencyPlane" to -1, or 0, or 1, or 2, or 3, or 4....., I got the same result!). The blending mode is still "normal". I had set it to "linear dodge" The "isVisible" param works OK.
Alpha 1 is still black.
Is possible that I need to set something in the .r file? I had to add "FormatLayerSupport { doesSupportFormatLayers }," to manage layers, for instance.

The odd tale of Quickmask and the alpha channel

I'm posting this in hope rather than expectation - as I keep requesting this is fixed, but I seem to be a lone voice.
I understand that this code was written back in the 90's - and I get the impression (from a senior Photoshop engineer no less) that no one really understands it...
The odd tale of Quickmask and the alpha channel
Try this:
With Quickmask set to it's defaults (double click the quickmask icon and ensure it's set to 'colour indicates : masked areas'), paint in black to create a 'red' quickmask area. Hit Q to return to the selection border. You should see two selection borders - one at the edge of the image defining the outer edge of the selected area, and one defining the inner edge of the masked area that you painted.
Now hit the 'save selection as channel' button at the bottom of the channel palette to create an alpha channel.Everything's as expected - the alpha is black ('unselected') where you painted.
Now repeat the process, but with the Quickmask mode set to 'colour indicates : selected areas'.
In this case where you paint in QM mode should be selected. Paint a patch and hit the Q key - it is. You have a single selected area. Now hit the 'save selection as channel' button at the bottom of the channel palette to create another alpha channel.
This time the alpha is incorrect - it's the inverse of what it should be.
And it gets worse:
Ctrl / Cmd click on the alpha thumbnail to load the alpha as a selection -
notice that it even loads the black area as a selection.
It's been like this as long as I can remember... and I really wish it was fixed.
I'm a Photoshop ACI. QM is a tool I'd like to get my students to use more, but this behaviour makes it 'difficult' to teach Quickmask to users, particularly in conjunction with alpha channels. In my experience it seems that most users find it more natural to 'paint on' a selection, rather than than 'paint off' a mask.
So most users would prefer to set 'colour indicates : selected areas'
I've been around long enough to know the rubylith heritage upon which Quickmask is modelled, however I now think it's time that baggage was left behind. I wonder what proportion of current Photoshop users even know what rubylith was?
There are two points here:
1. There should be NO connection between the QM paint state and the subsequent creation (or loading) of an alpha channel.
Whether you choose to label it a feature or a bug, it's clearly wrong to toggle out of QM mode, see a selection on screen, make an alpha channel - and find your alpha is reversed.
And in addition to that - it's a 'freak' alpha that subsequently loads reversed...
2. I think it's time to drop the rubylith baggage and set the QM paint mode to a default of set 'colour indicates : selected areas'.

Charles,
Thanks to your replies I've now discovered another twist to this tale...
When I'm saving a selection, I typically use the 'save selection as alpha' button in the channels panel. That shows the issue I'm referring to.
However, I've just discovered - thanks to your comments - that if instead you use the 'Select > Save selection' menu command you get a 'correct' alpha.
If you care to try that second example again you'll find you can get two different alpha's from the same selection - depending upon which saving option you choose!
This is now getting so complex, I'll have to put a pdf together explaining it and send it to our fiends at Adobe.

How can the alpha channel be removed in an image with the command sips?

I solved it by converting the image to jpeg with best quality, but it's a less than optimal solution.
Is there a better way?
I want to know because I'm developing a bash script to manipulate images.
Thank you.

I'm developing a Bash script to automate PNG compression.
Converting true color images is often a good idea to reduce file size dramatically but transparency doesn't look any good then. So removing the alpha channel is usually the thing to do.
I think Apple's platform is very easy to use but as soon as I dig deeper into the system it often becomes frustrating. Why isn't there a simple way to do something so simple and basic as removing alpha channels from images from the command line? Sips should be the answer but doesn't seem to be, unless I've missed something, but the manual doesn't give any clue.

How can I output the alpha channel in Premiere elements 10

How can I output the alpha channel in Premiere elements 10. What format should I use?
Tried outputting to an AVI filet but the file did not contain an alpha channel that After Effects 5.5 would recognize.

Bill,
I hope you ordered 32 GB or more on that new computer After Effects 5.5 takes up as much as it can.
The Roto Brush tool is really a timesaver over ordinary Rotoscoping. Although, my problem now is: when I try to send a 1 min. And 11 second video from Adobe Premier Pro 5.5 two Adobe Media encoder 5.5, the process hangs in wait state in the Media Encoder. I have filed a request for help on the Media Encoder forum.
I know you will put your new computer to use in helping other people and for this I thank you.

Rendering the alpha channel

Hi guys I have shot some video against greensreen,keyed out the green and want to save file with the alpha channel because I want to place the keyed video inside an animation applictaion(cinema4d).
I would like to know how can I render my keyed video in shake so that when I place it in the animation program I only get the subject and not the subject with a black background??
Thanks a million
Danny

you nedd to render out the images in a format which carries alpha - like a targa and be sure to highlight rgba - the a standing for alpha.
otherwise you could do a reorder to aaaa and export the alpha channel as a black and white image in another format and use it as a matte in cinema 4D? (can you do that in cinema 4d?)

How to use the alpha channel

I am using the video editing software "Magix Video deluxe 2008 Pro". Is it correct that after buying Quicktime Pro I can use all features from the Pro version via the export window of my video editing software (which is already offering me Quicktime export with the free QT-version)?
I have a movie made with greenscreen and in my video editing software I have already seperated the person in front from the greenscreen. Now, how do I tell Quicktime, which parts should be transparent, so that Quicktime "knows" what information to write in the alpha channel?
Thanks a lot!
Nils

I don't know about the software you used. If it made the "alpha" channel then you can enable it in QuickTime Pro by following these steps:
Open the file and then open the Movie Properties window.
Highlight the "Video" track and click the Visual Settings tab.
In the lower left corner is a pull down menu for "Transparency". Set it to Straight Alpha and use Save As to make a new file leaving your original untouched for further editing.

I need to mask video, and maintain the alpha channel for the masked video!

I wanted to know how to mask video in Final Cut Pro 6, I am sure there are options to do so, can someone please help me with getting started. I want to be able to mask video and maintain an alpha channel.
Thanks in advance,
Sebastian

Did you get anything to show up on the tv? If you got a aura wallpaper then it's working.
If you did then it's in extended desktop mode or a logical extension of the desktop to the right. Drage the player off the right side of the screen to the right and it will appear on the TV.
All the options are in System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement tab.

I'm creating a lower third in Motion and importing into FCP X, but the alpha channel is gone when I import into FCP. What am I doing wring?

I'm trying to export from Motion 5 with an alpha channel, but in FCP X the alpha is gone. What do I do?

if you're exporting video animation out of Motion and you need transparency, then you need to make sure that the codec used is ProRes 4444. There are no other options. From the Share > Export dialog, the default Export option is usually "Same as Source." In Motion, that *should* be PR4x4. You can double check that setting by clicking the summary button and reading the last line.
You also need to make sure under the Render section that Color + Alpha is selected (that should also be the default setting.)
However, most of all, you're really wasting your time going about it this way. If you started a Title project in Motion, all you have to do is Save and give the project a Name; pick a category or create a new one. In FCPX, in the Titles browser, look for the category you used and find the project name and drag it onto the storyline.
You have the option of picking parameters in your motion project that you can "publish" to FCPX (things like the lower third background color, text color, positioning, etc... almost every parameter is publishable to FCPX allowing you to customize the project *inside* FCPX.) Any parameter you publish in Motion will be in the Title Inspector in FCPX. You do not have to "bake" your lower third in Motion before using it in FCPX. You can pretty much turn your project into an FCPX plugin.
If you didn't start a Title project, you can still build your lower third as an FCPX Generator. Go to the File menu and Publish Template... In the dialog box, make sure you check Publish As Final Cut Generator. Give the project a Name and select a category (you'll need to wait a few seconds until the Categories update to the FCPX categories...) You can create a custom category if you like and save the project. In FCPX, instead of the Titles browser, look for your template/plugin in the Generators > WhateverCategory > YourLowerThird.

Is there a script or action to delete all the alpha/channels?

Hi
when i work on an image , i create lots of alpha channels , is there a script/action to delete all with 1 click?
i run ps cs6 64bit , windows7 64 bit
i found a short script but it's amazing slow
thanks

Thanks Kelly
i miss you one thing delete all 4 color samples
i use notepad++ and synwrite
something like delete color samples can be done with the plugin
to delete color samples i use this
#target photoshop
app.bringToFront();
var theImage = app.activeDocument;
// flatten the layers
// theImage.flatten();
// delete alphas
// theImage.channels.removeAll();
// delete paths
// theImage.pathItems.removeAll();
// delete layercomps
// theImage.layerComps.removeAll();
// delete color samplers
theImage.colorSamplers.removeAll();
// clear guides

Knuckleheaded Alpha Channel Question of the Week

OK...I rarely monkey around in Motion, but I have amazingly just created about 10 different animated versions of my client's logo for use in various films (cut in SD in FCP). I need to be able to library these rascals so I can just drop them into FCP when I need them.
However, and here is where the knucklehead deal enters the picture.
I am baffled as to how to export the logos out of Motion so there is no black background! I want to create a QT file of each version that I can library and then import into FCP. I have already checked the all of the Alpha channel questions dealing with this issue and the answers are like me and algebra in the 7th grade...huh?
Can somebody give me the kindergarten version of how to get rid of the black background behind my little purple animated logo.
Thanks in advance and I promise to close Motion and step away from the keyboard as soon as one of you mavens helps me solve my little non power user dilemma.

Easiest would be not to export at all, but save a different project file for each version - then just bring the Motion project file into FCP. As long as you have set the background to be transparent (Edit > Project Properties), then the project file will have transparency.
If you want to export, you need to choose a codec that supports an alpha channel, such as Animation or PNG.

Why can't I see the Finder thumbnails for .mov files with alpha channels?

Ever since I upgraded to Mavericks I haven't been able to see the thumbnail for or preview using spacebar any .MOV clips that contain alpha channels in Finder. PSDs and PNGs with alpha channels are fine, and I can still see their thumbnails and previews, it's just .MOV clips with alpha. Here are a couple screenshots:
Most of these clips are using a PNG codec, but I converted on to the Animation codec and tested it in After Effects to make sure it kept the alpha channel and it did, but the same thumbnail error persists.
Any idea why this might be or how to fix it?
27" iMac late 2012
1TB Fusion
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2048 MB
16GB RAM
OS X Mavericks
Thanks.

ok, have copied the photos again from the memory card and hey presto, it all works fine. So in summary...for RW2 files from GF1 camera, I have no thumbnail images, couldn't view in Preview, and neither Quickview nor Coverview were working. Ran the bit of code provided at "https://discussions.apple.com/message/18369759#18369759" (thanks to Snoop Dogg) and then recopied the photos onto my Mac (only required for photos copied since upgrading to Lion, everything from before the upgrade is fine anyway).
Hope others find this helpful.

How do I prevent the image from shearing when I have an alpha channel?

I'm using After Effects to prepare some videos for the web. They are running at 320x240. The settings are Flv/F4v, Millions of colors, 15 FPS, RGB and Alpha, 44K/16bit Mpeg III audio, CBR 1 pass with a bit rate of 872, On2VP6 encoding.
I create the alpha channel from a greenscreen behind the actor using standard keylight and garbage mattes.
When I do not encode an alpha channel, the image is fine. My problem is that when I try to encode the alpha channel, the image shears to the left from bottom to top, and the whole image is transposed about 40% to the left. But we need the alpha channel.
This is what the shearing looks like. Any ideas on what is happening and how to prevent it? Thank you.

To check the clip, I made a small swf file the same dimensions and frame rate, 320x240 @15fps. It's a single frame, single layer with no skin. It just plays the flv file when you open up the swf. The flv file is external, so to test the results, I just keep rendering in AE to the same flv file name.
The first two seconds play okay. The shearing doesn't begin till after that. So I'm suspecting there is something strange with the keyframes. I even tried messing with the keyframe distance settings at 30 and 15, without effect.
The original video is an 854x480 mov file playing at 14.99 fps, millions of colors, Sorenson 3 coding. When I bring it into the comp, which is set at 320x240 @15 fps, I scale the movie to 50% in size. At your suggestion, I just tried making sure that all the frame rates are 14.99 instead of 15. Sadly, without any benefit. I'm still baffled.

Bluff Titler Alpha Channel problem

Hi
I have made a video file using Bluff Titler. I have exported it with tranparency, but I cannot get the alpha channel to work inside PPRO CS 6.03...
Has anybody tried this with Bluff Titler and would be so kind to share their workflow?
Thanks
/Ulf

have you tried this ?? read the help file at your bluff titler website ?
=======pasted from help =======
4 TRANSPARENCY
BluffTitler can create AVI files with transparency information (RGBA, or AVI with alpha channel). You can do this by selecting Uncompressed AVI with transparency in the File/Export as Movie... dialog. This is very useful if you want to overlay your titles onto your videos, but unfortunately not all video tools can import AVIs with transparency, so try using AVI without transparency if your NLE starts complaining about not being able to read your AVI file.
BluffTitler allows you to export your BT show as compressed AVI with transparency info. This combination of compression and transparency is rare and not many encoders and NLEs support it.
======end paste ========

Alpha channel and imaging lingo

I have a 32 bit image with an alpha channel. When placed on
the stage only
the black anti-aliased text shows and no background shows
(using the copy
ink)
I'm scrolling this image with imaging lingo where I take a
sliding portion
of the original image in one direction or the other. When I
do this the
background of the portion on the stage is white instead of
transparent.
I'm creating an image and assign a portion of the text image
to it. I tried
pImage.useAlpha = TRUE but I get an error saying the property
can't be set
which is rediculous I know. pImage is definitely an image, I
checked it
with the debugger.
useAlpha might not be the correct solution but it brought up
a second
question. First, how can I maintain the alpha channel with
imaging Lingo
and second why do I get the error telling me that the
useAlpha property
can't be set?
Craig
Craig Wollman
Lingo Specialist
Word of Mouth Productions
212-928-9581
www.wordofmouthpros.com

Thanks. You're right, I did need to create the image in 32
bits but
otherwise I only needed to set useAlpha to TRUE and the alpha
was maintained
perfectly without any other changes.
Craig Wollman
Lingo Specialist
Word of Mouth Productions
212-928-9581
www.wordofmouthpros.com
"Lukewig" <[email protected]> wrote in
message
news:ek0ibj$c9k$[email protected]..
> Hi Craig,
>
> If "pImage.useAlpha = TRUE" gives a 'cannot set this
property" error, then
> pImage.depth is less than 32. Change your code to
something like this to
> confirm:
>
> if pImage.depth < 32 then put "oops, no alpha to use"
> else pImage.useAlpha = TRUE
>
> As how to "maintain the alpha channel with imaging
Lingo", I gotta scratch
> my
> head each time (its kind of counter-intuitive). Basic
rule of thumb is
> turn off
> alphas for copypixel operations, extract your alphas and
copypixel them
> separately, and then reset the alpha of the final
composite image (of
> course,
> the details depend on whether your are wanting to
combine your alphas or
> not).
>
> -- Luke
>
>

Combining the alpha channels?

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