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FCP export issue with transparent layer
I am exporting a project from FCP Studio 2 in which several elements were imported .gif files of images on a transparent alpha layer. I keyed out the background using “Luma Key”. I also put another filter “Earthquake” onto these clips. Now, when I export the project using Compressor, in any format other than current settings, the background of these images shows up as a transparent green box. This happens with m2v files, DV/NTSC files, etc.
What do I do?
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5 Replies
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The only codecs that support Alpha Channels are ANIMATION and ProRes 4444. ANything else and you lose transparency.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
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Thank you so much Shane for clearing that up so quickly.
So if a client requested a H264 file, I am screwed, right?
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[Boris Undorf] “So if a client requested a H264 file, I am screwed, right?”
If they want one with an Alpha Channel, then yes. That is an impossible request to fulfill.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
This came up a lot a couple of years back and became a big part of my workflow for a very big project (to me at least) that I was working on.
Compressor is no good, and since you’re in FCS2 ProRes 4444 is out. The way to export from FCP with alpha is:
1) Move your video up to v2 or above
2) don’t render – that bakes in the black pixels FCP uses to display transparency
3) Export > QuickTime Movie, self-contained, Animation codecThat should give you a .mov file with an alpha channel that holds up in any QT based app. The file will be big.
Zak
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Excellent advice, thank you Zak. I will give that a shot.
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