[Filip Vandueren]

Here’s a link to an Apple technote on Final Cut Pro, the same would apply to after effects:

Maximum memory usage in Final Cut Pro HD is 2.5 GB

though it seems like we get 512 Mb more 😉

When 10.5 Leopard is here (and if Adobe catches up) we’ll be rid of that problem.

[Filip Vandueren]

depends on how quictime interprets it; you will hear a flattened sound, possibly all 4 mixed to center (mono) or panned left and right. You can’t access the 4 individual.

You can create a pan/volume mix in Quicktime Pro if you say, don’t need track 3/4.

[Filip Vandueren]

Wow, long time since I’ve used 5.5… maybe it was a move-tool versus pen-tool feature… not sure though.

You don’t have a black layer that’s screened or added that intercepts your clicks ?

[Filip Vandueren]

Could be a longshot, but does the QT have audio ?
Test with different fonts on the text-la

[Filip Vandueren]

Set a keyframe for opacity = 0 at the start of the new layer, go a second later and set a keyframe for 100%

Make sure ‘hold keyframes’ aren’t toggled on by accident, and ypu should have a smooth fade-in of the new BG

[Filip Vandueren]

precompose your keyed figure.

If you look at your blue channel this has probably the highest contrast of suit vs. skintones.

You should try to get a luma key out of that to put the fleshtones on a new ( duplicated) layer.

then just tint, colorama, multiply, colour correct, or by whatever means you want to colourize your white to your new suit-colours.

Good luck ! Can’t garantuee you’ll get perfect results though…

You could also try to auto generate some masks by using autotrace based on a threshold of the blue channel. (see Aharon’s video podcast tutorial on supertight garbage mattes)

[Filip Vandueren]

The extract filter ha a bit more finesse than the threshold, offering both high and low ‘cut’ with variable slope, and it immediately results in an alpha channel (it’s in essence a double luma key)

[Filip Vandueren]

IN after effects, you can use the tint-effect or the colorama effect for this: especially colorama would be perfect, because it let’s you set as many colours for as many shades of grey as you want.

[Filip Vandueren]

You could pre-compose multiple images in a very wide new composition, so you have your entire ‘banner’ ready.
Then use that composition as a layer in a new comp and set two position key-frames to move it from right to left.

[Filip Vandueren]

Just add a new video-, still- or solid-layer on top of what was the background, drag it so it’s in-point is where you want the fade to occur.
Now set two keyframes for opacity 0-100% and it will fade over your previous background.
You can ‘trim’ the layer below it so it doesn’t extend after the 100% mark.

In after effects, every element has it’s own new layer, so you can’t put something else into the background layer and do a crossfade like in a video editor if you’re wondering.