[sschwar2]

Greetings,

I am working in FCP3, and I have several nested sequences that utilize a blue screen. I want to export these clips w/ the transparency, and then import the files into another project in order to increase speed (rather than using sequences from a different project).

How can I export a sequence from one project which is transparent, and then reimport the file keeping the transparency? I can not figure out how to get rid of the black background on exported FCP3 movies, once they are reimported into another project.

Thanks for your help!

[direktor]

You need to export the footage in a codec that supports alpha channel (otherwise known as transparency).

Usually if you're doing compositing, you'd want to just export to no codec at all (aka "uncompressed"). Artifacts left by codecs can screw your compositing efforts later in the chain (making for crusty mattes, etc).

If not uncompressed (for disk space reasons), then a lot of people use the Animation codec.

Either way, I believe there's a checkbox in the export dialogs to "preserve alpha" that you'd need to make sure is checked. I've done this all before, but only maybe twice, so my memory is foggy.

Good luck.

[sschwar2]

Is there an uncompressed option? I don't recall seeing that, I'll have to check it out.

Thanks for your response!

[direktor]

It's called "none", under most codec menus.

Effectively, that is uncompressed.

[sschwar2]

I can't get the alpha channels to work. Exporting as FCP3 movie (this should support alpha channels)- self contained. When I import, the alpha channel appear black. I can change it to straight, black, white, in the item properties and it does not effect the clip. I have it on the second layer, with a static image on the first level.

I can change the composite type -- this will allow me to see the background (ie: add/subtract/multiply) -- but then the top layer does not look like it should.

If I turn the alpha channel to reverse, it completely disappears.

I thought it might have been related to the clips I was working with, but I imported a static image, chagned the size so that it was only half the size of the canvas (I could see checker board behind it) and then exported to FCP3 movie self contained. I then opened a new project, put a static image in the background, and tried to import the new sequence. The image was half the size as the canvas - but where it was supposed to be transparent - it was black. I tried changing the alpha channel in the properties, but this did not effect the transparency. I have tried changing the properties before I bring it to the timeline, and after I bring it to the timeline. Neither seems to be working.

Any ideas?

[nitram_again]

http://www.2-pop.com are a bunch of smart FCP people. They may be able to help if no-one here can.