After Effects help needed at DVinfo.net

Brad Carrier · October 1st, 2003, 05:26 AM

I need some help form you After Effects pros out there. What I'm trying to do is take some text I made in FCP and export them to AE where I can add the Trapcode "Shine" effect.

Well, when I render it it always leaves me with a black background instead of transparent so I can't layer it on anything once I get it back to FCP.

I tried keying it but it looks crappy.

How do I get the background to render transparent in AE?

Peter Wiley · October 1st, 2003, 05:40 PM

Why are you doing the text in FCP? Why not just do it all in AE and export?

Brad Carrier · October 1st, 2003, 07:32 PM

Since I use FCP 99.99% of the time I'm more comfortable with creating text there. You're right, it probably would be easier to create it in AE then export - for someone familiar with AE. Even if I did it in AE wouldn't I still need to know how to export with a transparent background? Someone told me today to export it as a quicktime animation which sort of works but looks about as bad to me as exporting with a black background and keying it in FCP.

Ken Tanaka · October 1st, 2003, 08:50 PM

Brad,
You really need to start the composite from AE to get good results, if I understand what you're trying to accomplish.

AE is still the king of text on video in my opinion. So it's a good time for you to become more familiar with it.

Denis Murphy · October 6th, 2003, 03:53 PM

It's your render settings...

Assuming you are starting out with an alpha channel from FCP then importing into AE, you still need to tell AE that you have an alpha (use the interpret footage dialogue in AE).

When you apply trapcode shine and render out, make sure you select "RGB plus alpha" and "millions of colors+" under video output in the output module of your render settings.

Good luck! ANd by the way, AE's text settings are easy to master. Just create a comp, add a solid, an apply effects>text to the solid. Much better than in FCP.

Zac Stein · October 12th, 2003, 04:38 AM

Just lay the rendered out file from after effects back into fcp, in a layer above the video footage, and change it's overlay mode to add or multiply, which ever gives you the best results.

Zac

October 1st, 2003, 05:26 AM	#1
Brad Carrier Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Greenville, TX Posts: 69	After Effects help needed I need some help form you After Effects pros out there. What I'm trying to do is take some text I made in FCP and export them to AE where I can add the Trapcode "Shine" effect. Well, when I render it it always leaves me with a black background instead of transparent so I can't layer it on anything once I get it back to FCP. I tried keying it but it looks crappy. How do I get the background to render transparent in AE?

October 1st, 2003, 08:50 PM	#4
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Brad, You really need to start the composite from AE to get good results, if I understand what you're trying to accomplish. AE is still the king of text on video in my opinion. So it's a good time for you to become more familiar with it. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

October 6th, 2003, 03:53 PM	#5
Denis Murphy Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47	need to render in RGB + alpha, millions of colours + It's your render settings... Assuming you are starting out with an alpha channel from FCP then importing into AE, you still need to tell AE that you have an alpha (use the interpret footage dialogue in AE). When you apply trapcode shine and render out, make sure you select "RGB plus alpha" and "millions of colors+" under video output in the output module of your render settings. Good luck! ANd by the way, AE's text settings are easy to master. Just create a comp, add a solid, an apply effects>text to the solid. Much better than in FCP.

October 1st, 2003, 05:40 PM	#2
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	Why are you doing the text in FCP? Why not just do it all in AE and export?

October 1st, 2003, 07:32 PM	#3
Brad Carrier Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Greenville, TX Posts: 69	Since I use FCP 99.99% of the time I'm more comfortable with creating text there. You're right, it probably would be easier to create it in AE then export - for someone familiar with AE. Even if I did it in AE wouldn't I still need to know how to export with a transparent background? Someone told me today to export it as a quicktime animation which sort of works but looks about as bad to me as exporting with a black background and keying it in FCP.

October 12th, 2003, 04:38 AM	#6
Zac Stein Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 730	Just lay the rendered out file from after effects back into fcp, in a layer above the video footage, and change it's overlay mode to add or multiply, which ever gives you the best results. Zac