Alpha not working?

[Debe]

When you saved the Tiff file, was there an option to include the alpha that perhaps you overlooked? Try opening it up in Photoshop or whatever program you used, do a “Save As”, and make sure the option to retain the alpha information is selected.

If you have Photoshop, you can also try “Save As”, and make it a photoshop document. That will also retain the alpha information if you tell it to. It results in a larger file, though.

Try either, or both, and if that doesn’t help, please post back!

debe

[Lokidrummer]

Hey, that still didn’t work….it’s really strange, i’ve tried it as a .gif, a .tif, a .psd, and a .tga . So, i’m really confused. Any other suggestions?

P.S. Ive also tried the format when you right click it (if you have two buttons) and changed the alpha thing to all three of the catagories and none worked (Straight, white, black)

-William

[Debe]

Hmm, well, I’m stumped!

It’s got to be something in the translation! Does anyone else see something in William’s workflow that might be causing his problem that is eluding me?

In your file, the center is blank…it’s the checkerboard, with black bars on top and bottom? When you “Save As”, you have the checkbox for “Include Alpha” checked, and it’s giving you a file that isn’t keyable? (assuming you ARE using Photoshop?)

And this is Photoshop on a Mac? What version?

I’ll let this roll around my brain. There is the option of making the letterbox within FCP. Unless there’s something unique about this file, you may be able to recreate it with a mask or crop or any number of options.

But this SHOULD work, so I’m focusing of figuring out why it’s not…

debe

[Lokidrummer]

Hey, yea, i’ll triple check my boxes and whatnot but what you described is correct, the little checkerboard thing in the middle. I’m using photoshop cs2. Anyways i’ll keep playing around with it.

Also, are there any really good books on final cut pro hd? Thanks

-William

[Debe]

Oh, tons of good books!!

Tom Wolsky has a good one. Kevin Monahan has one that’s not been updated for FCP 5 (yet), but much of the principles apply, and it’s very well written and had easy to follow instructions. Lisa Brenneis always does good work. The Peachpit Press Professional Training Series is always a good buy!

Go to Amazon.com and search for FCP 5 in books. You’ll get a wealth of great options! There’s a “Photoshop for Nonlinear Editors” book, as well!!

I’m still stumped, that TIFF file should work, and converting it to a PSD should work! We must be overlooking something obvious!!

debe

[Lokidrummer]

Ok, so let me try to explain what i need, maybe a better way of doing this….

I have a movie all put together and want it letterboxed….how would i go about doing this….i know that there is a letterbox effect under the effects but i would have to apply it to every clip….so what i was thinking was put a letterboxed transparency on the top track of the timeline, only thing is that when i put it into final cut HD it turns the transparency white, yet when i put it in say photoshop it will be what i need it to be….i’ve tried every file type and it gives me the same thing…is there a setting in final cut that i need to change? or is there just a better way? I hope that helped explain my problem a bit better, Thanks

-William

[David Fortin]

Did you check to see that there was actually an ALPHA channel in the document?

And that the ALPHA channel has the mask areas you want?

David

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[David Fortin]

You could 2 video slugs and then crop each, one for the top mask and one for the bottom. Place them over the length of your timeline.

David

Dual 2.5 G5 {OS 10.3.6}
4.5 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL
DeckLink SP
ATTO ExpressPCI UL4S
Medea Video Raid RT320
Sony UVW-1800
Pansonic AG-DV2500
FCP Production Suite
Media Cleaner Pro 6
2 -Optiquest 21″ CRTs
Bella EZ Keyboard

[Tom Matthies]

Two things.
When the new letterbox graphic was made in Photoshop, was the pull down menu “Background Contents” under the FILE>NEW menu changed to “transparent”? It defaults to “white”. If it wasn’t changed, I’ve seen graphics come in with a white rather than transparent background. Just a thought.
Otherwise, just nest your entire sequence and apply the letterbox filter to the nest. You’ll only need to apply it to the nest to letterbos your entire program. You’ll need to re-render your sequence, but it’s a simple way to add a letterbox to your entire video in one easy step.
Tom

[Lokidrummer]

K, as previously stated, “i probably forgot or skipped over something obvious”

Well, that sure is the truth, in photoshop, right under the tif popup…i just all of a sudden saw the “save transparency”….i can’t even describe how stupid i am….but i guess that’s what happens when you learning. Thanks everybody!

-A VERY embarassed LOKIdrummer