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Drop Shadow problem Brining animated text as an alpha layer into FCP
I am using AE to generate animated white text with a black drop shadow. I render this out using a straight
In the output module I set the video output to channels: alpha color: straight.
This quicktime movie is then imported into FCP, placed over my live action, and then using the composite mode I select screen. I get my text superimposed over the live action, but the drop shadow is white rather than black. How do I get my drop shadows to come into FCP correctly.
Any help is much appreciated.James Mulryan
Sunset Park Media, LLC
Santa Monica, CA
in**@**********an.com -
6 Replies
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[James Mulryan] “I set the video output to channels: alpha color: straight.”
It should be RGB+Alpha and not Alpha. With Alpha, as you have done, AE only renders the Alpha Channel. And in your case the text and shadow areas are white and near white respectively.
Also, use another composite method instead of Screen in FCP. Don’t they have an Alpha composite mode?
HTH
RoRKbroadcastGEMs – AEPro Volume 02 (Professional Adobe After Effects Project Files – Now Available).
Adobe After Effects Training in Asia.
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SORRY FOR THE CAPS, I’M RENDERING..
I’VE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN RENDERING ANIMATION, RGB+ALPHA. THE SHADOW LOOKS GREAT IN AE, BUT COMES OUT GREYISH IN FCP. IT’S BEEN A WHILE, BUT I BELIEVE I TRIED STRAIGHT AND MULTIPLIED. I THINK I ENDED UP TAKING A SECTION OF THE FCP EDIT INTO AE AND LAYING THE GRAPHICS WITH SHADOW OVER THE TOP OF THAT. THEN RENDER THAT SECTION OUT AND REPLACE IN FCP. VERY CUMBERSOME, BUT IT’S THE ONLY SOLUTION I COULD COME UP WITH IN THE TIME I HAD TO WORK ON IT.
IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND IS THERE A STANDARD FIX FOR IT?
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8core MacPro, 3.0 GHZ, 10GB RAM, OSX 10.5.2AE CS3
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the standard fix is to render a lossless animation mov (or other codec that supports alpha) with these video output settings:
channels: rgb + alpha
depth: millions + (or trillions if working in 16-bit)
color: straight (unmatted)when importing you may need to tell your nle how to handle the alpha channel… i’m not familiar enough with fcp to tell you how it handles files with alpha channels.
Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
Thank you all. Problem solved!
Running animation codex with RGB + Alpha was the trick,
My timeline in FCP was DVCPROHD 720 24p, could not get an RGB and Alpha channel in this codex.
Know I should slap myself for finishing in DVCPROHD. Thinking it might be a good time to switch to pro res.James Mulryan
Sunset Park Media, LLC
Santa Monica, CA
info@jamesmulryan.com -
in FCP if a file has an embedded alpha it figures that out when you superimpose in the timeline. no composite modes are needed
joey -
Yes, no composite mode, just place clip on timeline.
James Mulryan
Sunset Park Media, LLC
Santa Monica, CA
info@jamesmulryan.com
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