Transparency issues.

[Chris Smith]

use a codec that supports an alpha channel.

One of the standards is Quicktime using the Animation codec (lossless preset in AE). However. the trick is to make sure it is set to RGB + Alpha and Millions of Colors+

Try a straight alpha and premultiplied and see which one works best for you.

Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com

[Mike Clasby]

I don’t use FCP, I’m PC bound, but…
When you go to output your movie, Ctrl + M, puts you in the Render Queue,
then in the Render Queue, the “output Module” dropdown, you should choose an output with Alpha, or if none available, go to the bottom and choose “Custom” (just above “Make Template”). That should open the output module.

Now in the “Format” dropdown choose your format, say “QuickTime Movie”, then in the check the “Video Output” checkbox, and click on “Format Options”, then go to “Animation” and “Best” quality, click OK. Back out in the Output Module proper, here’s where you get your transparency (alpha).

The next dropdown are “Channels” and “Depth”. If channels say RGB, and Depth says Millions of Colors, you don’t have your transparency (alpha). So from Channels, choose the bottom in the dropdown, “RGB + Alpha”.
and the Dropdown just below it should change to Millions of Colors +.

You want that +, then your OK for an Alpha Channel (Transparency).

This works even if you choose “Lossless” from that first format choice, you need to get that +, or + alpha.

If that setup works for you, click on the “Make Template” (the bottom choice in the first “Output Module” Dropdown, the “Output Module Templates” box opens for you, just give it a name, Like “QT_Animation_Best +” or “FCP+” or whatever you want, and now it becomes a choice in that first Output Module Drop down in the Render Queue.

Hope this helps and is what your looking for.

[Matthew Kern]

Thank you for your help, it worked… but since this project is due in about 5 hours I panicked and just exported the full project from FCP and imported it into AE and started laying the title comps over it. It worked, but it sure was a pain. Thank you both though, I’ll definitely need to know that for future projects.