Render Alpha Channel in Adobe Media Encoder

[Ryan Holmes]

[Chuose Osemeka] “How do we now this this once simple thing now in Adobe Media Encoder?”

Your ability to export an Alpha channel hasn’t changed in AME. You need to determine which codec your using and if that codec supports an Alpha Channel. To enable the Alpha channel look for a drop down menu called “Depth.” That drop down will need to be set to 32bit, which denotes your three channels R, G, and B (24bit) + an alpha channel (8bit). You can then bring that file into whatever software and it should act as you’d expect.

[Chuose Osemeka] “Also how does one reduce the size in AME?”

You’ll have to be more specific on this. If you’re discussing h.264 encoding then you’ll need to look at the data rate you’re using and whether it’s CBR, VBR 1-Pass, or VBR 2-pass. If you’re just talking about any given codec…well that’s a big discussion. Different codecs encode files differently using different sample methods – ProRes vs DNxHD vs PNG vs Animaton vs DVCPRO. And within a given codec there can be multiple options offered (ProRes Proxy, ProRes LT, ProRes, ProRes HQ, ProRes 444) which will can greatly change the size of your resulting file.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Chuose Osemeka]

Thanks

I now can render with alpha channel.

I want to know please which one is the smallest sized codec for quicktime, considering quality too.

Regards

[Justin Coolidge]

This post is false. He provided no instruction on how to do what he said to do then the OP obviously lied about getting it to work because there is not enough information to get it to work.

None of the codecs provide any 32 bit depth and the ones with 8bpc+alpha still does not have alpha, and that was obvious because there is no alpha setting in Media Encoder CC 2017

[Ryan Holmes]

Justin – posting on a 2 year old thread is not generally the best way to get a response, and yet…here I am responding.

[Justin Coolidge] “This post is false. He provided no instruction on how to do what he said to do then the
OP obviously lied about getting it to work because there is not enough information to get it to work.”

This isn’t a cool way to start your post. What I posted is not false, and I did provide instructions to the OP – what format are you using and what codec within that format are vital. Not all formats provide for an alpha channel and the ones that do provide an alpha channel may not depending on the codec you selected to export. Nothing of your post provides specific information.

So generically, look at the “format” type you’re using in AME. Then look at the codec you’re using within that format. Using a format like Quicktime you could use ProRes, but only ProRes4444 will give you an alpha channel. Even then you’ll have to select it by choosing “Render at Maximum Depth” and choosing the appropriate drop down item under the “depth” menu – either “8-bpc + alpha” or “16-bpc + alpha.” But again, this is just looking at Quicktime format using ProRes codec. Different format and different codecs change your options.

People have been exporting alpha from Premiere and Media Encoder for years. There are options, and they are in CC 2017. So you may just need to do more digging regarding your format and codec to find the correct settings.

So please save the hostility for somewhere else. As the Editor-In-Chief, and general Cow Captain Tim Wilson noted to you in a post 2 and a half years ago (https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/1/859926#):

[Tim Wilson] “Creative COW’s roots go back to 1995. We’re still around because people are generous with their time and experience. The people who participate in the COW remember that part of the reason we’re still here is because of all the people who’ve helped us.

So instead of coming in hostile, insisting that you get no help or bad advice, behave like a professional, and participate in the conversations that people are in fact trying to help you with.”

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Chris Devere]

Ok, so how about H.264? Will AME render a clip with an alpha channel using H.264?

[Ryan Holmes]

[Chris DeVere] “Ok, so how about H.264? Will AME render a clip with an alpha channel using H.264?”

Chris – As of 2019, I don’t believe h.264 supports an alpha channel. You’ll need to use an intermediate codec (like DNxHD or ProRes) to carry your alpha channel.

Ryan Holmes
http://www.ryanholmes.me
@CutColorPost

[Chris Devere]

Right after posting that I played with it a little, the resulting ProRes444 plus alpha was half the size of the Lossless + Alpha AVI that AE spits out so I’ll call that a win at the very least. That alpha channel sure is pretty massive for something that “isn’t there”.

Thanks for the help