Import image from Photoshop with alpha channel and shadow?

[Andrew Stuckey]

Not sure about the Alpha layer stuff but…

To retain the shadow (and any other layer effects), have you tried grouping the layers as a smart object before importing into FC?

Also, the setting Motion > Distort > Aspect(?) can help with correcting pixel ratios. Eg: I use +/- 33.33333 to convert anamorphic/square pixels.

[Jerry Hofmann]

Export it as a still image, set the colors to be millions + , and choose either a Tiff or PNG file to carry the alpha.

Jerry

Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann

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[Tom Matthies]

Take your PhotoShop file (while in PhotoShop) and add a blank layer to the bottom. Select that blank layer. Now, merge the visible layers together and discard any unseen layers. Save as a .png file. Import to FCP. It will come in as a single layer graphic with all of the shadows and effects intact.

E=MC2+/-2db

[Bret Williams]

Ian I’m not sure why everyone is making this so difficult. Andrew is overly complicated, Jerry thinks you’re exporting from FCP, and Tom is going old school.

Ignore the whole alpha channel pict things of the past. Hasn’t been necessary in years. Just do a save as PNG. That’s it. Make sure you don’t have a solid in the background. You want to have the checkerboard transparency showing where things are transparent. Most people wouldn’t, but because you’re still trying to cut the alpha like the old days, you might still be putting black or white in the background layer.

See? Life just got simpler.

[Ian Dillon]

OK. My new friend PNG!

Thanks,
Ian

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[Jerry Hofmann]

Yeah, what I said… export it as a PNG or Tiff…

Jerry

Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann

Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup

8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.

[Tom Matthies]

Old school?! Hey,I’m old. What did you expect? 🙂

E=MC2+/-2db

[Andrew Stuckey]

@ Brett. Grouping layers into a smart object is hardly complex. lol.

If you want to work with individual layers of a Photoshop file inside FCP, then smart objects is the way to go to preserve any effects like shadows. Saves you from having to save and export each layer as it’s own separate PNG.

But since Ian only wants a single layer/image than yes PNG would be more suitable…note I didn’t say less complex 😉

As for the pixel ratio issue, this one IS a little more complex… but at least I offered a solution.

Whether IAN uses individual PNGs or a layered PSD with smart objects, if the pixel ratio of the Photoshop image is not compatible with the pixel ratio of his FCP sequence then it will still be off when he imports it. So he either needs to make an adjustment before or after import.

I prefer making the adjustment in FCP because I can correct one image, then apply the change in bulk to the rest by copying and pasting attributes>distortion.

[Bret Williams]

You most certainly did not. You just described how to export a frame FROM FCP with an alpha intact. He was asking how to save a ps file so that it had an alpha channel that would work when IMPORTED into FCP. Make sense?

[Bret Williams]

He specifically referred to the old days and how easy it was to import an alpha channel pict. He also specified his PROBLEM with the PS files was that he was getting sequences instead of a single file. He also never mentioned having any issues with aspect ratios. However your info on smart objects is great and I’d never thought of that before.