Embedded Alpha Channel Extraction - a how to

[mike_mck]

Folks,

It is a real shame that Producer does not support movie files with embedded alpha channels. As I have quite a library of DJ and Digital Hotcakes animations (As well as Hollywood FX among others), I was looking for a way to use these in producer. I have found a way to make it work, but it does require another piece of software to pull it off.

Firstly, I use Adobe Premeire Elements to accomplish this task and here is the step by step to do it.

1) Open Premeire and drag the file you are interested in to the timeline
2) Open the "Effects and Transitions" Palette (It looks like a box with a diagonal line and a star)
3) Select Video Effects
4) Select Keying
5) Drag the Alpha Adjust item to the Clip Properties box on the right
6) Open the Alpha Adjust item in the Clip Properties and check the box "Mask Only"
7) Do this step ONLY if you have sound in the clip
7a) Right click on the clip in the time line and select "Delete Audio"
You do not need the audio twice in a clip. It causes some interesting effects!
Select FILE->EXPORT->MOVIE and save the file with a name that indicates it is a Mask. For example, If the Clip is named PopcornWipe.mov, I would save the alpha channel as PopcornWipe_a.mov.

Congratulations!!! You are done with Premeire!

Now you can use the tutorial I had posted earlier on making use of alpha channel masks in producer (included so you do not need to search for it!)


Go into Proshow Producer and drag both of these files into a slide. Open the slide option window (be sure you are on the "Layers" tab) and do the following

1) make sure the order of the files is the PopcornWipe_a.mov file is first and then the PopcornWipe.mov file follows directly. (Of course, you will want your background image or movie below these).
2) Highlight the PopcornWipe.mov file
3) In the box titled "Masking", click on the check box that says "this layer is a mask"
4) be sure that "Mask Depth" is set to one.

At this point, for wipes, you would use the Keyframing to have one slide appear and another disappear beneath the wipe. Here are a couple of examples....

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=2787448&alb=0
http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=2789939&alb=0

That should be it! It takes longer to type than it does to do....

Feel free to ask any questions!

Mike[/b]

[hardsoftware Profile Private message]

Thanks for posting this. I may have to try this as I have the Premier3/Elements5 combo.

Ben

[mike_mck]

I would love to see what you come up with!!!! To date, the majority of shows I have done have been the "how to" variety for various members here. I am working on a rather large one for my father and his various wood working projects.

[nannybear Profile Private messageWebsite]

Hi Mike,

I have Ulead Video Studio 10. Do you think your directions will clue me for that software as well.....thanks Jan

[mike_mck]

Hi Mike,

I have Ulead Video Studio 10. Do you think your directions will clue me for that software as well.....thanks Jan

Hmmm,

Don't really know as I am not familiar with that product. I see, though, that ulead has a free demo period on the product. I might have to take a look

Mike

[mike_mck]

I know that at times it can appear that I use nothing but DJ products. So, here is an example using this tutorial and the digital hotcakes home movie essentials volume 1.

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=2790784&alb=0

Mike

[nannybear Profile Private messageWebsite]

Thanks for sharing that. I hvae that volume as well. This week off is all about playing and learning!!! Cheers Jan

[wilddove Profile Private messageWebsiteICQ]

Mike,

I know it has been a while since you posted this - but I just received my box of goodies from DJ and found your "How-To" most helpful!

I see you are from Snellville, Georgia ..... I am from Georgia, too ..... Howdy Neighbor!

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge,

Deb

[mike_mck]

Hi there Deb and thanks for the response. I wish I could say we are still neighbors, but my work shipped me off to Hyderabad India about 7 weeks ago. So while my heart is still in Georgia, my body is 9,000 miles away!