Problem exporting Alpha channels from AE at DVinfo.net

Billy Snider · October 20th, 2009, 04:37 PM

Can anyone give an example of a workflow using PHD exporting alpha channels from AE.

I have imported green screen ftg. into after effects then use keylight,

render ...then export as Cineform AVI using cineform encoder.

Other settings are RGB+alpha,Millions of colors +,premultiplied.

When I import into ppro cs4 I get footage with black matte, no alpha

Mike Harrington · October 20th, 2009, 08:29 PM

got stung with that today...5 hours of rendering down the tubes

you have to click format options beside the video output options if you are using the cineform avi preset...there you will see a checkbox for enable alpha channel....which is disabled by default

Billy Snider · October 20th, 2009, 10:17 PM

I saw that but it's greyed out.Ended up just going with microsoft avi which defeats the purpose...but it was a time issue

John Rich · October 21st, 2009, 07:18 AM

When I make titles in AE, I've had to export from AE using Quicktime with mill of color + which does give an alpha channel. Using Prospect hd.

I''m using CS3 so if I'm using a Cineform preset and import the quick time title, it works on track two with appropriate transparancy. In order to get it to play back from the time line, I have to hit CNTL-spacebar (per Jake Sagraves).

Here's a thread about this. Check out posts 7,8, 9.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/cineform...-cineform.html

If you have a better way to do the alpha channel, please let me know.
John Rich

Graham Hickling · October 21st, 2009, 09:38 AM

Wait! What? ProspectHD supports alpha channel???

Billy Snider · October 21st, 2009, 01:04 PM

I am using Prospect HD. But in AE when I go to render... under the output...format options ...in the cineform box my alpha channel option is grey. I can export a mov or avi with alpha fine. But when I import from ppro cs4 timeline I want to send it back as cineform...same way it came in.

Cineform avi imported to ppro timeline ,export to AE from timeline and key greenscreen using keylight...then render and export as cineform avi is my goal.

Like I said my alpha option in the cineform box is greyed out. I think that's my problem

Graham Hickling · October 21st, 2009, 01:04 PM

Maybe I'm out to lunch on this, but I don't believe the CFHD codec that ships with ProspectHD had ever provided any alpha channel support.

Billy Snider · October 21st, 2009, 01:20 PM

I guess in AE, the output option under cineform controls for alpha, is greyed out for future use. Makes no sense to me. Unless the greyed out box is on my end

John Rich · October 21st, 2009, 02:25 PM

As the link I mentioned above, Dave Neuman says that Cineform doesn't support an alpha channel except in the high end products (not Prospect HD). That's why I have to export something out of AE that requires an alpha channel, as Quicktime. I can then reimport the quicktime clip back into premiere (CS3 in my case).

John Rich

Billy Snider · October 21st, 2009, 03:35 PM

I'm doing the same here. I did read the thread. Although I would think Prospect would be included in the "high end" versions of cineform...guess not.Thank you!

Mike Harrington · October 21st, 2009, 08:20 PM

it's not greyed out on my end....
Prospect4K though...

October 20th, 2009, 04:37 PM	#1
Billy Snider Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, USA Posts: 28	Problem exporting Alpha channels from AE Can anyone give an example of a workflow using PHD exporting alpha channels from AE. I have imported green screen ftg. into after effects then use keylight, render ...then export as Cineform AVI using cineform encoder. Other settings are RGB+alpha,Millions of colors +,premultiplied. When I import into ppro cs4 I get footage with black matte, no alpha

October 20th, 2009, 08:29 PM	#2
Mike Harrington Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 91	got stung with that today...5 hours of rendering down the tubes you have to click format options beside the video output options if you are using the cineform avi preset...there you will see a checkbox for enable alpha channel....which is disabled by default

October 20th, 2009, 10:17 PM	#3
Billy Snider Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, USA Posts: 28	I saw that but it's greyed out.Ended up just going with microsoft avi which defeats the purpose...but it was a time issue

October 21st, 2009, 07:18 AM	#4
John Rich Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 80	When I make titles in AE, I've had to export from AE using Quicktime with mill of color + which does give an alpha channel. Using Prospect hd. I''m using CS3 so if I'm using a Cineform preset and import the quick time title, it works on track two with appropriate transparancy. In order to get it to play back from the time line, I have to hit CNTL-spacebar (per Jake Sagraves). Here's a thread about this. Check out posts 7,8, 9. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/cineform...-cineform.html If you have a better way to do the alpha channel, please let me know. John Rich

October 21st, 2009, 09:38 AM	#5
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	Wait! What? ProspectHD supports alpha channel???

October 21st, 2009, 01:04 PM	#6
Billy Snider Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, USA Posts: 28	I am using Prospect HD. But in AE when I go to render... under the output...format options ...in the cineform box my alpha channel option is grey. I can export a mov or avi with alpha fine. But when I import from ppro cs4 timeline I want to send it back as cineform...same way it came in. Cineform avi imported to ppro timeline ,export to AE from timeline and key greenscreen using keylight...then render and export as cineform avi is my goal. Like I said my alpha option in the cineform box is greyed out. I think that's my problem

October 21st, 2009, 01:20 PM	#8
Billy Snider Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, USA Posts: 28	I guess in AE, the output option under cineform controls for alpha, is greyed out for future use. Makes no sense to me. Unless the greyed out box is on my end

October 21st, 2009, 02:25 PM	#9
John Rich Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 80	As the link I mentioned above, Dave Neuman says that Cineform doesn't support an alpha channel except in the high end products (not Prospect HD). That's why I have to export something out of AE that requires an alpha channel, as Quicktime. I can then reimport the quicktime clip back into premiere (CS3 in my case). John Rich

October 21st, 2009, 03:35 PM	#10
Billy Snider Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, USA Posts: 28	I'm doing the same here. I did read the thread. Although I would think Prospect would be included in the "high end" versions of cineform...guess not.Thank you!

October 21st, 2009, 08:20 PM	#11
Mike Harrington Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 91	it's not greyed out on my end.... Prospect4K though...