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Darby or anyone: need help with alpha
Hello guys,
I have animations, with an object spinning on a black screen, and these were done in other programs that could NOT export as 32-bit alpha ( only 24-bit ).
So I bring them into AE and resave them as RGB+ALPHA STRAIGHT.
Upon bringing in the re-saved clip into a new project, I can’t see the clip ( overlayed over other layers ). Only if I use the BLEND function, does it finally become visible, but faded, as the term ” blend ” suggests. I need these clips to be strongly visible WITHOUT the Blend ( as all true 32-bit alpha’s should be ).Is there some ” trickery ” to getting around this ??? Seems to me, once an original file did NOT have Alpha, then I always have this trouble.
Many thanks. -
2 Replies
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[stevie003497] “Hello guys,
I have animations, with an object spinning on a black screen, and these were done in other programs that could NOT export as 32-bit alpha ( only 24-bit ).”
What program were you using? What file type are you exporting to? Exporting with alpha could save you here.
“So I bring them into AE and resave them as RGB+ALPHA STRAIGHT.
Upon bringing in the re-saved clip into a new project, I can’t see the clip ( overlayed over other layers ). Only if I use the BLEND function, does it finally become visible, but faded, as the term ” blend ” suggests. I need these clips to be strongly visible WITHOUT the Blend ( as all true 32-bit alpha’s should be ).”This is strange, if you re-save an animation that did not have an alpha channel as an animation with an alpha channel through AE it should give you a ‘full on’ Alpha (fully opaque). You can check the alpha of your composition by pressing opt-4 (alt-4 on PC). If your ‘animation’ (is it an image sequence?) is the only layer in the composition then opt-4 will show you the animation’s Alpha Channel. Unfortunately, there’s really no easy way to create an alpha after the fact.
“Is there some ” trickery ” to getting around this ??? Seems to me, once an original file did NOT have Alpha, then I always have this trouble.
Many thanks.”There are plug-ins that will remove a matte color from the RGB Channels and create an alpha based on that color. Unmult is one such plug-in and happens to be free, however it is limited to a Black matte. In addition, since it removes the Black from the RGB channels as part of the process you will likely lose some of the darker/’richer’ colors or shadows in your animation, these colors will become semi-transparent (as they were semi-black).
https://www.redgiantsoftware.com/unmult.html
Another option is to try to key out your footage.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
Thanks Dave and Darby-I will try out your suggestions.
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