Loading clips with alpha-channels enabled

[John Rofrano]

It depends on the file type. You could load one, turn on the alpha channel and then save that setting for all files of that type. Then when you drop a bunch of files of the same type, all of the alpha channels will be set.

Like this:

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Omer Aydin]

Thanks for the reply John, unfortunately this solution didn’t work for me.

I dropped in a pre-keyed .mov file into the timeline and adjusted the properties just like you have posted above and saved the preset.
I tried adding in the other .mov files and they still had no alpha enabled.
Besides, it appears the saved preset only works in current project.
I had to re-adjust all clips when I imported them into another project.

[John Rofrano]

You’re right. I couldn’t get to to work for MOV files either. Maybe this only works for image formats or maybe it’s just a bug in Vegas.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Omer Aydin]

If only Vegas allowed adjusting properties of multi-selected clips.

I think alpha of image files are auto-enabled when loaded.

I agree that it may be a bug, or maybe it’s just for saving the stream type property.

[John Rofrano]

If only Vegas allowed adjusting properties of multi-selected clips.

You can easily do this with a script plug-in like VASST Ultimate S Pro. Excalibur might also have this capability. If you are editing in Vegas without a script productivity plug-in you are missing out on a lot of powerful functionality.

I have a script on the Vegas Scripts page of my web site that will set the alpha channel for all selected events.

Here is the source:

//*************************************************************************
//* Program: SetAlphaChannel.cs
//* Author: John Rofrano
//* Description: This script sets the alpha channel for selected events
//* Last Updated: July 6, 2010
//* Copyright: (c) 2010, Sundance Media Group/VASST, All Rights Reserved
//*************************************************************************
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Sony.Vegas;

class EntryPoint
{
public void FromVegas(Vegas vegas)
{
try
{
foreach (Track track in vegas.Project.Tracks)
{
if (!track.IsVideo()) continue; // only process video tracks

foreach (TrackEvent trackEvent in track.Events)
{
if (trackEvent.Selected && trackEvent.ActiveTake != null)
{
VideoStream videoStream = trackEvent.ActiveTake.MediaStream as VideoStream;
videoStream.AlphaChannel = VideoAlphaType.Straight;
}
}
}
}
catch (Exception e)
{
MessageBox.Show(e.Message, "Set Alpha Channel Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
}
}
}


~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Omer Aydin]

I downloaded the script and tried it on the .mov clips. You have saved me from editing a lot of alpha property. Thank you John 🙂

[John Rofrano]

You are very welcome. Glad I could help.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com