Transparent file format

[Jonathan Pitzer]

Quictime with alpha or PICT sequence. Either one will work well

[David Braswell]

This ultimately depends on your workflow (whether you are editing Quicktime based files or Video for Windows based). If you’re working with QT, you can export as uncompressed (HUGE file) with an alpha channel. Or you can export through the Animation codec (with an alpha channel). If you have a Windows workflow, you can export as an AVI (again with alpha channel). There are other options but not knowing the rest of your story (computer platform and specs, intended use, etc.) I feel these to be the most suitable to start with.

The key is that you need to export RGB+Alpha, Millions of Colors+ in the output module section of AE.

[Ryan Hill]

I do most editing in Premiere, FX in AE.

What brought up this question:
I want to make an overlay for a couple POV shots of someone looking through some futuristic binoculars. To look futuristic, I wanted some random numbers and wiggling lines on the sides, which is why it’s not just a still image.

I figured it would be nice if I could just make one clip of the overlay and then re-use it for all the POV shots in Premiere.

[Jim Kanter]

Add a second output module that outputs only the alpha channel.