Exporting ALPHA channels from Prospect 4K at DVinfo.net

Stephen Armour · March 17th, 2009, 08:56 AM

We are doing international, multi-language CFHD projects (in two languages with original audio, and also dubbed and sub-titled into many others).

We need to output the title/text/lowerthirds layers as separate ALPHA channels, for various reasons.

Question: Is there any other way to output video with alpha channels from Premiere CS3, other than huge uncompressed AVI's?

We have tried both 4:4:4 encoded CFHD AVI's, and MOVs, but nothing seems to output the video with the alpha channel intact.

We keep it synced with the music/AFX, so all we need is the alpha text/titles on the original video with the dubbed languages.

Suggestions?

David Newman · March 17th, 2009, 09:26 AM

We have 4:4:4:4 mode in Prospect 4K that support alpha channels, although I never generated alpha from Premiere -- it might work. In the compiler settings try turning on the alpha channel.

Stephen Armour · March 17th, 2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Newman

We have 4:4:4:4 mode in Prospect 4K that support alpha channels, although I never generated alpha from Premiere -- it might work. In the compiler settings try turning on the alpha channel.

Thanks for coming back to me, David. That's the whole problem though. For the life of me, I can't find any 4:4:4:4 setting for this last CS3 Prospect 4K version! I know you've mentioned it before and it's in the feature set, but no matter where I look, there is no seeming way to enable it.

What am I missing?

Addendum: The alpha channel is enabled by Premiere and it recognizes it and plays it on the timeline (though requiring a render to properly preview), but there are no apparent settings for outputting alpha material in the Cineform codec settings that I can find.

Stephen Armour · March 17th, 2009, 05:58 PM

David, do you have any further info on this... ?

We very much would love to have/use that feature, as this is quite a large project. It would save us a good bit of time.

Mike McCarthy · March 17th, 2009, 10:00 PM

Matrox also support alphas in their compressed AVIs, but their Premiere exporter does not. The only way to make them in Premiere is to choose the Matrox codec in a Video for Windows export. You could try to do the same thing with the Cineform codec. Instead of Cineform in the export options, choose Microsoft AVI, and then choose Cineform in the next Compression tab. Just an idea.

Stephen Armour · March 20th, 2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Newman

We have 4:4:4:4 mode in Prospect 4K that support alpha channels, although I never generated alpha from Premiere -- it might work. In the compiler settings try turning on the alpha channel.

Again I ask, how do you "turn on the alpha channel" in Premiere CS3? Anyone?

David Newman · March 20th, 2009, 11:55 AM

Only works with VfW codec at the moment (I think.)

March 17th, 2009, 08:56 AM	#1
Stephen Armour Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Natal, RN, Brasil Posts: 900	Exporting ALPHA channels from Prospect 4K We are doing international, multi-language CFHD projects (in two languages with original audio, and also dubbed and sub-titled into many others). We need to output the title/text/lowerthirds layers as separate ALPHA channels, for various reasons. Question: Is there any other way to output video with alpha channels from Premiere CS3, other than huge uncompressed AVI's? We have tried both 4:4:4 encoded CFHD AVI's, and MOVs, but nothing seems to output the video with the alpha channel intact. We keep it synced with the music/AFX, so all we need is the alpha text/titles on the original video with the dubbed languages. Suggestions? __________________ http://lightinaction.org "All in the view of the LION"

March 17th, 2009, 09:26 AM	#2
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	We have 4:4:4:4 mode in Prospect 4K that support alpha channels, although I never generated alpha from Premiere -- it might work. In the compiler settings try turning on the alpha channel. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

March 17th, 2009, 05:58 PM	#4
Stephen Armour Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Natal, RN, Brasil Posts: 900	Any update info on this? David, do you have any further info on this... ? We very much would love to have/use that feature, as this is quite a large project. It would save us a good bit of time. __________________ http://lightinaction.org "All in the view of the LION"

March 17th, 2009, 10:00 PM	#5
Mike McCarthy Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 517	Matrox also support alphas in their compressed AVIs, but their Premiere exporter does not. The only way to make them in Premiere is to choose the Matrox codec in a Video for Windows export. You could try to do the same thing with the Cineform codec. Instead of Cineform in the export options, choose Microsoft AVI, and then choose Cineform in the next Compression tab. Just an idea. __________________ For more information on these topics, check out my tech website at www.hd4pc.com

March 20th, 2009, 11:55 AM	#7
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	Only works with VfW codec at the moment (I think.) __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman