At least with solid layers, I can understand that you would be having a huge problem, because (anyone correct me) the alpha channel will be the entire frame because of the solid. This is like trying to get just a lens flare effect to render out with alpha but in wants to have a layer to render onto. It does not generate its own alpha channel. I’m curious how you just seem to be getting the solid to show only at the edges of your effect and not the rest of the frame. If the effect has an alpha channel, what is the purpose of the solid?