Maintaining transparency for projection

[David Braswell]

If you export your movies with an alpha channel, any artwork in the composition that has an alpha channel will retain that alpha channel. I think I understand your request, but from what you’ve written it sounds like you’re looking for a hollographic projection. AE won’t do that and normal video projectors won’t either. Your art may have a transparent background, but unless you place it over another background the art will just appear to be on black. Apologies if I’ve misinterpreted you.

[Rosscoe]

Cheers. Do you know how I can achieve a holographic background? YOu have my request right, it is something that I have set my heart on, and my presentation for my course! Any advice would be appreciated!!!

[Ryan Hill]

I really don’t understand what you are asking for, and I don’t think maverick13 does either.

Are you asking for an actual holograph projector? That’s more of a hardware question than a rendering question.

If you’re trying instead to create a video simulation of some sort of sci-fi device, you can probably change the Layer mode to “lighten” or “add” and then position it as a 3D layer.

Can you give one more shot at describing what it is that you are trying to acheive?

[Rosscoe]

I have seen this in an installation by an artist called Jennifer steinkamp. It appears as though the “background2 of the piece is transparent, as all there is visible is an animated strip that is placed across a wall. I am pretty sure that it is done with with a projector, although this is a more high end one than I own. I want the projection to blend into the space so that just my animation of fluid paint is visible. I have thought that I could simulate this by using a background of grey, as it is unlikely that the space will be completely dark, ideally it would be. Hope this is clearer?!

[Ryan Hill]

So you mean you’d project the image onto a grey wall? I guess that seems like a reasonable approach. Try to set up the lights so none of them shine directly on the wall. Put black shutters on the bulbs if you have to. Think about where the other walls will reflect light, and make most of it go away from your grey wall.

For a lot of this, the only way you’ll know for sure is if you test it.

[David Braswell]

Personally, I would try a black background… something like velvet or duveteen. Assuming a high-key or brightly colored subject, you’ll get more contrast and a better chance that the black alpha channel will truly disappear. Sounds wicked fun!

[Rosscoe]

Thanks very much,thats really helpful. I have time to test these thigs out for a while there I thought that I was on to a loser!