TGAs transparency to AVI

[Brian Scott]

AVI files have no alpha channel (transparency). You will need to render to Quicktime if you need a single file with an alpha channel.

The only way to change all the settings in through a script.

Brian Scott
President
Image Design Productions, Inc.

[Enrique Orozco]

I’ve made 32 bit-AVIs with transparency from other (TIFF & PNG) formats …. my problem is with these TGAs that doesnt come with transparency until I change the media properties….

EOR

[Timothy Duncan]

If your TGA files are for animation (1 frame per file) and they are named in numerical order, then you should re-import the files as an image sequence so you are only dealing with a single clip to change the alpha channel properties.

I prefer using the “file open” method, as this opens properties automatically allowing you to set the alpha appropriately. So here’s how: click on the track of the timeline you want to insert your animation to. Wherever the position bar is located is where the files will be placed. No go to “File” and select “open” and navigate to where your TGA files are located. Select the first file and then check the box at the bottom of the dialogue window that says “Open still image sequence.” To the right of that is also a range selection to that you could import a selection of files, such as 0-150, instead of importing all.

Now you will automatically get the properties window opened for the new clip (which = each individual still image as 1 frame in length).

The only other way to set the alpha for a group of files is via scripting. Excalibur does this.

This is a weak area of Vegas. I believe that Vegas should always enable alpha channel when present — just the way .PSD and .VEG files already treat the alpha. Add this to the feature suggestion form on the Sony Media Software website. The other problem is that if you copy and paste any graphics files between .VEGs, then you lose the properties of the clips. The best way is to nest (to bring one .VEG file into another.

Hope this helps,

And yes — AVIs can certainly have alpha channels. Vegas can read and write 32bit uncompressed AVIs and Quicktime files.

td

[Brian Scott]

I guess I’m living in the old days! I know matrox had to create 2 separate files to have alphas in an avi. What avi codecs can handle alphas?

Brian Scott
President
Image Design Productions, Inc.

[Edward Troxel]

Uncompressed AVI can handle Alpha.

Edward Troxel

[Enrique Orozco]

Thank you all…. there is something new to learn in Vegas..

EOR