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Please Help:: Creating alpha information…
Hi guys, So i’ve made this great lower third using some particular sparkles and some nice animated text. I now want to take it export it, and save the alpha channel .. so i can import it into avid and avid recognize the alpha information.
But when i render as a Quicktime or AVI it is just pluggin the “Background Color” of After effects where i want the transparency to be.. Do i have to create an “alpha matte” or “track matte”.. I don’t understand what those are and I’ve read up in my manual about them, If anyone can shed any light on this process it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance:)
Kindest regards,
Ben Davidson 🙂
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6 Replies
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Use the render queue (composition>make movie) and set up your output module to create a Quicktime movie in the Animation codec, with your render settings at RGB+alpha (straight), millions+ colors.
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p.s. i’m a retarded newbie to AE so have mercy 🙂 Thanks guys:)
Ben D.
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Steve thank you for your knowledge. I tried it and when I brought it into avid it just showed my lower 3rd and it had a white background. I tried using a Matte Key, Chroma and LUma keys and it still looked crappy. Isn’t there a way for it to recognize the alpha from AE… Maybe because the opacity of levels of the sparkles ETC is changing it can’t compute that into avid… I don’t know.
Help.
Ben
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Hi Ben,
A couple of things come to mind. First, check the alpha as you are working in AE by setting the viewer to alpha view just to make sure there isn’t anything going on that might screw up the alpha you need. If you are not familiar with this, it’s the little pull down button that looks like a red, green and blue circle at the bottom of the viewer window.
Also, make sure the codec you render to supports an alpha channel. Animation works well, but if you are going to an Avid, you might want to use the Meridian codec which you can download from Avid’s site.
Also, as mentioned above, render the animation straight rather than pre-multiplied – Avid can handle pre-multiplied, but for what you are doing, it sounds like straight ought to look better.
Hope this helps,
Lars
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Indeed.
… but if none of that works for you, you can render the comp using two output modules for the render item in the queue:
1- Animation or Meridien, RGB only
2- Animation or Meridien, alpha onlyTo do that, set up the render with the first output module, then select composition>add output module and change the output module’s settings. Another way is to duplicate (ctrl-D) the first output module, then change its settings.
Then you render, and import both rendered clips into the Avid, using the alpha render as an alpha matte within the Avid.
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Steve Roberts/ Lars… I mean this in all sincerity you guys are angels sent from a beautiful motion graphics filled heaven.. Thanks a million 🙂
We got Mo’ Bounce in California!
BEND
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