[Ed Gilbert]

Thanks Darby…
I figured it out a little bit ago… It was indeed the None mode that was the culprit. I posted a thank to close this out,but used the word c r a c k in it and it got flagged for review. So, I’m sure it will show up eventually. But, thanks!!

[Ed Gilbert]

Thank you guys! I figured it out… after being schooled a little.. 😉

It was the Render>Transfer Mode setting in Particular. I had set it BACK to Normal. I thought that was the default. By default it is None… And of course when I set it back to None… I have transparency.

And that kids… is why you shouldn’t smoke crack while using After Effects.

Thanks again!

[Ed Gilbert]

Hmmmm….
OK… I checked for the alpha using the “Toggle Transparency Grid” and apparently I don’t have a transparency on the Particle layer.

That layer is a solid with Particular 2.0 on it. I checked the Render settings in Particular… it’s set to normal. So, shouldn’t I be getting an alpha’d background after dropping Particular on a solid? Or am I missing something fundamental here?

I really appreciate the help everyone!

[Ed Gilbert]

Yeah… I was using the solid in the last layer. I would unhide it to see that the background was transparent.

[Ed Gilbert]

I was originally using this comp(Wormhole) in another comp. It was showing up with the black background in there unless is checked the Collapse Transformations on the Wormhole comp layer. Then it would have transparency. But, when I would try to render that comp or pull that comp into another comp the black background is back on the wormhole layer. That is why I decided to try to render the Wormhole so I could avoid whatever weirdness is going on.

[Ed Gilbert]

All of them!!!! Just kidding…
I’ve tried
Quicktime – PNG – RGB+Alpha
Quicktime – JPG – RGB+Alpha
Quicktime – Animation – RGB+Alpha
Video for Windows = No Compression – RGB+Alpha

All of those have worked fine in the past for intermediate files. I’m goin’ nuts!

BTW… I’m using CS4 & Particular 2.0

[Ed Gilbert]

Sorry… the footage was HDV. 1440X1080. I actually figured out something that worked well.

Using the Status View setting in Keylight showed the elements I was seeing the artifacting from. I then clicked on those using the Alpha Bias dropper. That did the trick. I had to tweak some of the other Matte settings but that took care of the problem. Just a case of not fully knowing all the parts of a tool. Sometimes I get in too much of a hurry to get something done and miss important little points!

Thanks for the reply!

ED

[Ed Gilbert]

You nailed it… the article Bill did on the Big Ten was the big inspiration for this project. As I read his article I was inspired to give it a try.

As far as the editorial comments… I’d have to agree. I got caught up in how pretty the Trapcode Shine was and didn’t think to pull back enough to highlight the fingers more. Part of my problem with AE is that I’ve learned a lot of its capabilities, but I haven’t gotten that extra dash of magic you get from doing it regularly. Just because you have a paint brush, paints and a canvas doesn’t make you an artist.

I think someone with a better eye for the various shots and overall composition could have taken the set I built and made it look like a million bucks. It’s kind of frustrating; I generally only get into AE when I’m working on one of these projects. So, I start out rusty trying to remember everything and in the end of the process find that I got too caught up in the mechanics of what I was trying to do instead of what I was trying show.

Thank you Ron & Bogie! I appreciate the comments!

Rock on,

ED

PS…
Just for kicks I added my first AE music video below from about a year ago. It also used the 3D elements just not nearly so elaborate. My drummer and Bass player couldn’t make it to the shoot, so I just popped in stills of them.

[Ed Gilbert]

Thanks… that should keep me busy! I knew there is a way to do this… I just didn’t know what it was called in AE.

Thanks!

[Ed Gilbert]

Thanks!