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3D max and After Effects…. cant find my Alpha!
Hey there guys and gals hope your all having a great day?,
I am pretty new to 3D max and I’m trying to output some simple shapes to compose in AE. But I can’t seem to find anywhere in the render menu of 3DMax to include and Alph matte… Grr… I think I have looked every where but I’m sure i haven’t found the small tick box in the dimly lit celler, hidden in a disused toilet, behind the filing cabbinet with a sign on it saying “Beware of the cheater!” Please help I think I can feel my sanity shifting slightly… (I know… “this wouldn’t happen in Maya!”)Many thanks in advance to you mighty gurus I have grown to love… :o)
LucidDreama
You gotta love ’em!
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6 Replies
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What format are you rendering to? I don’t know Max but you have to save to a file format that supports Alpha in the first place. You can do IFF, TIFF, Targa, RLA, RPF, or what I and a lot of folks do is to Quicktime using the ‘animation codec’.
The gotcha is that sometimes there is no alpha tick button. For example when going to Quicktime animation you set your colors to ‘millions of colors+’. That ‘+’ means an extra channel is in there (alpha). Some 3D apps will let you specify whether your alpha is straight or premultiplied.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com -
That makes a lot of sense thanks…
I was rendering to an avi file which I’m sure supports alpha. I guess I should just learn Maya instead…But thanks for your time…
LucidDreama
You gotta love ’em!
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I don’t think any AVI codecs support alpha. Generally, 32-bit TGAs are the way to go.
Steve
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When you save your file out of 3D max when you set the file type hit the setup key button for that format and you will be given the option needed.
I prefer using a PNG sequence small files, uncompressed. Full support for Alpha.
Andrew
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AVI does not support alpha, never has that I know of, and probably never will. That was your problem.
Secondly you could have had this question answered in 15 seconds by just opening the manual and looking in the index under alpha, or better yet, the help files and typing in “alpha” for the index search.
Everytime I hear questions like this I instantly am amazed at how lazy some people must be, or, amazed at how many people download cracked versions of software then have the audacity to post questions on how to use it.
As others have said, 32 bit TGA, PNG, quicktime ANimation codec are all valid options for alpha. Although from a 3d package I would suggest tga, or png sequences instead.
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Thanks you for your comments and help every one… Problem solved
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