Exporting to Flash with Alpha Channel

[Tim Wilson]

The place to do your compositing is actually INSIDE Flash 8.

I know that all caps is considered yelling…but I’m yelling. The compositing in Flash 8 is absolutely jaw-dropping. It’s fun for video, but mark my words: this is the tip of the iceberg. Want to see into the future? Pay attention to the use of video in Flash.

I’m not kidding.

So here’s a link to get you started: https://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/alpha_video_03.html

Note that this is page 3 of 4. For some background on how Flash is accomplishing this, I highly recommend reading the first two pages as well.

Skip down to step 11 on page 3. The first ten steps all deal with After Effects, and you ask how to do it without AE. This is the short version:
1) Build the key in FCP.
2) Export the video into a codec that supports alpha.
3) Use the Flash 8 encoder to convert to FLV.
4) Composite over background in Flash.

As you read the article, you’ll learn that there are advantages to doing it this way rather than using AE’s FLV export, including the addition of encoding markers, crop, and trim.

I’ll say it again — Flash 8 is a revolution and a revelation. You may not know it yet, but you will.

Tim

[John Fishback]

This is an excellent discussion. I have one minor suggestion. Use a program like Squeeze (you can get a Flash-only version) to encode the flvs. It has many more options than Flash 8 encoder.

John

Dual 2.5 G5 4 gigs RAM OS 10.4.3 QT7.0.3
Dual Cinema 23 Radeon 9800
FCP Studio 5 (FCP5.0.4, DVDSP4.0.2, Comp2.0.1, STP1.0.2)
Huge U-320R 1TB Raid 3 firmware ENG15.BIN
ATTO UL4D driver 3.50
AJA IO driver 2.1 firmware v23-28
SonicStudio HD DAW, Yamaha DM1000, Genelec Monitors

[Dean Steinmann]

When exporting from FCP, which codecs support alpha?

Dean

[John Fishback]

I believe that the On2 VP6 codec is the only one. It’s an add-on option with Squeeze for Flash. It doesn’t come with the basic Squeeze Flash encoding program. That one uses the older codec that doesn’t support alpha. You also get it if you have Flash 8 Pro. It’s a part of Flash Encoder that comes with it. If you’re going to buy one of these products (and you don’t want to make Flash content) I’d suggest Squeeze as you get many more options for controlling an encode compared to the Flash 8 encoder. However, if you’re going to get into Flash, then buying the Pro version gets you the encoder.

John

Dual 2.5 G5 4 gigs RAM OS 10.4.3 QT7.0.3
Dual Cinema 23 Radeon 9800
FCP Studio 5 (FCP5.0.4, DVDSP4.0.2, Comp2.0.1, STP1.0.2)
Huge U-320R 1TB Raid 3 firmware ENG15.BIN
ATTO UL4D driver 3.50
AJA IO driver 2.1 firmware v23-28
SonicStudio HD DAW, Yamaha DM1000, Genelec Monitors

[John Fishback]

I may have read your post wrong. If you want to export directly from FCP with an alpha and then use that mov to encode, I think you can do that, although, I don’t do it that way. I’ve always used AE to create the alpha, exported that mov and encoded that with On2 VP6 in Squeeze to use in Flash. Sorry if I confused you.

John

Dual 2.5 G5 4 gigs RAM OS 10.4.3 QT7.0.3
Dual Cinema 23 Radeon 9800
FCP Studio 5 (FCP5.0.4, DVDSP4.0.2, Comp2.0.1, STP1.0.2)
Huge U-320R 1TB Raid 3 firmware ENG15.BIN
ATTO UL4D driver 3.50
AJA IO driver 2.1 firmware v23-28
SonicStudio HD DAW, Yamaha DM1000, Genelec Monitors

[Robert Sharpe]

The article you suggest is excellent, however, I have tried everything they suggest (W/O A.E.) and still cannot get an FLV that will export out with a TRANSPARENT alpha. I have tried exporting the keyed clip through QuickTime Movie (Animation – million+ colors) and I have tried a number of other QT Conversion methods. Even with the QT Conversion Export as FLV, using On2 VP6 and checking encode alpha channel, it still comes out as a black background.
If I composite the video in FCP as Straight Alpha, it will export fine with the background, but when I try to export with the background transparent, it will go into Flash Encoder with the background white (transparent) as a .mov file, but will still not encode out as FLV with a transparent background. I’ve been reading blogs and trying this for about a week, but still can’t get it worked out. I’ve exhausted my options – probably something small that I’m overlooking, but I figure it’s time to ask the pros. Thanks!

[Dean Steinmann]

We do this kind of thing often. This is how we get the result:

1. key out green
2. export from fcp in animation codec, millions of colors plus. (to test the resulting file, import it back to fcp and drop it in the timeline.
3. using Sorenson Squeeze and the On2 VP6 codec, compress the file. Play it back using the Sorenson flv player which has a watermark in the background to allow you to see the alpha.

[Robert Sharpe]

Dean,
Thank you!!!! I have the On2 VP6 plug-in for FCP and I have been doing all of the steps you outlined – EXCEPT using Sorenson Squeeze. I have been trying to do it all directly in and out of FCP. I am ordering the software today. Thank you for taking the time to help me out – you are my new Hero (right up there with Bob Dylan)!
Robert Sharpe

[Dean Steinmann]

Glad to help out Robert. I have been assisted countless times on the cow, so I hope to give back a little.

I just found out that the latest version of Episode (4.4) also supports alpha in flv’s. I am currently updating our copy of Episode to see if this is true.

Have a great day.

Dean

[Twintrbrx7]

I am wanting to export transparent video from Final Cut Pro 5. My goal is to create a video spokesperson to be over layed on a web site that has a transparent background.

I have heard the getting Ultra 2 is the way to go but I want to use FCP since I don’t really want to buy Ultra. If I get the Sorsen Squeeze Product will this allow me to accomplish this. Will I need to do anything to the video between exporting from FCP and then dropping in dreamweaver?

I’ve almost got all of this figured out. Close, but missing a few key steps.

Thanks