importing alpha FROM after effects

[Michael Hancock]

You need to render it with Millions of Colors+. The + is your alpha channel. Without it you’ll get a black background (like you’re currently getting). I assume when you import you’re choosing either Use Existing or Invert Existing Alpha, right? That’s what gives you the matte key. The trouble is, there isn’t actually an alpha channel for the matte key to effect, so you’re getting a black background.

Try rerendering with Millions of Colors+. If the Avid codec you’re using doesn’t give you that option it’s because it doesn’t support alpha channels. Animation codec definitely does and is a lossless codec, but takes a little longer to import. Worth it though. Let us know if that helps.

Mike.

[Mike Wolfe]

thanks for the help, however it’s still not working correctly.

i didn’t know about the million+ option. here’s the rundown:

format: quicktime movie
format options: Avid Packed Codec
channels: RGB+Alpha
depth: millions+
color: premultiplied (matted)

then in avid i’ve tried just about every setting i can think of…..
the avid help menu says that i need to import using the 601/709 color level.
with the alpha options, i’ve tried “use existing,” “invert existing,” and for the hell of it “ignore” with no luck.

i eventually used a workaround by creating a solid color background on the after effects timeline, then in avid i ignored the alpha channel and created a matte key in order to maintain the effect properties.

clearly i’m missing a step somewhere, and although i have the workaround i’d like it to work the way it’s supposed to.

any other suggestions? thanks again for trying.

[Dan Archer]

I know it sounds simple, but it bit me once, so no offense inteneded. Make sure that if you made a black solid to check your look against or something like that that you turn it off before you render the millions+. If you have a solid background it will give you an aplha for the whole page that wont let anything thru. Again this is just a thought it had me mad as hell one night for about thirty minutes…

[Michael Hancock]

Lecherro: “Make sure that if you made a black solid to check your look against or something like that that you turn it off before you render the millions+.”

Good point…I think we’ve all made that mistake more than we’d like to admit!

One thing to note–set your alpha to straight, not premultiplied. Avid prefers it that way. Also, which Avid codec exactly are you using? Try using the Avid Meridien Uncompressed codec, Millions+, Straight alpha. I’ve never had problems with it. Also, try the same thing with Quicktime Animation.

Another option is to render out an image sequence, like a targa sequence or (my favorite) a png sequence. And be sure to check that you do in fact have your animation over a transparent background. Good luck, and sorry to hear it isn’t working for you.

Mike.

[Erik Pontius]

I usually just export out of AE with the animation codec set to best, millions+, straight alpha, and lower field first.
Then make sure that your import settings are set to invert alpha, rgb and lower field and import. Works like a champ.
Avid will import a premult but doesn’t do a very good job…leaves a lot of semi-transparent areas still mixed with your background. Lower field first (I’m in NTSC land) helps smooth out the edges of text a bit.

Erik

[Mike Wolfe]

i kept getting an error trying the Avid Meridien codec, so no go there. however everything showed up fine using the quicktime animation codec…so that’s what i’ll use from now on.

thanks so much for your help in solving this issue.