How do you do transparent video in Vegas ? at DVinfo.net

Michael Ojjeh · October 10th, 2008, 06:43 PM

I am trying to render an HDV video clip that was shot with a blue screen and using chroma keyer plug-in in Vegas 8, to a transparent video with out any backround in it, just the person in the video !!!
Can that be done in Vegas or do I have to use other software like Serious Magic Ultra 2 ?

Thanks in advance

Seth Bloombaum · October 10th, 2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Ojjeh

I am trying to render an HDV video clip that was shot with a blue screen and using chroma keyer plug-in in Vegas 8, to a transparent video with out any backround in it, just the person in the video !!!
Can that be done in Vegas or do I have to use other software like Serious Magic Ultra 2 ?

Thanks in advance

Have a look at this thread, you'll find some links, and an incredibly brief description of chromakeying in vegas vs. Ultra. (I've done both).

Vegas has a good chromakey capability, arguably equal in quality to what Ultra can do. The substantial difference is that Ultra has all the key tricks built in. E.g., want spill supression? Just check the box and grab the slider in Ultra. In vegas, know the theory of spill suppression and design your own filter chain. Likewise other functions - as a dedicated keying environment, Ultra makes it easy.

But yes, Vegas will do your basic key just fine. Search is your friend on this forum, here's one and here's another tutorial from forum sponsor VASST.

PS. Serious Magic no longer owns Ultra 2 - they sold it to Adobe and it is currently only available as part of the CS3 production suite.

Michael Ojjeh · October 11th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Seth
Thank you for all the info, I know how to do the chroma key on Vegas, But what I am looking for is a transparent final render video with out any back round just the person alone.
Here is a link to see what I am trying to do on a web site for a client: Daily Access ? Presented by Diet Coke

Seth Bloombaum · October 11th, 2008, 05:27 PM

It looks like that page is using flash to composite the moving video with the graphic background. This is probably a pretty good choice, as I can't think of another distribution codec that supports transparency, and Flash does this kind of layering/compositing very well. And that's what you're looking for, right? - a distribution codec and a way to composite on the web.

If you follow the MSN/Coke example, you'll need to:
*Develop the flash background content.
*Render the greenscreen footage out of Vegas in an intermediate codec that supports transparency. (or, render out in a non-transparency codec with a new and uniform green background made with generated media...)
*Assemble everything in the Flash application, using either transparent or green video BG.

There may be a delivery codec that supports transparency that I'm forgetting about... and it's been a couple years since I did any transparent-background video in Flash. I think at that time I cut the key directly in Flash, meaning I gave it green-screen clips with a green background.

Kev O'Brien · October 11th, 2008, 06:05 PM

why cant you just drop your background into another track or use your greenscreen clip as a veg. in another project?

Michael Ojjeh · October 11th, 2008, 06:55 PM

I just want convert the video into a flash file that has no back-round and can be drooped into your webpage anywhere as a transparent video flash(FLV).
I have seen it more and more on web-site and it is very catchy !!!!

Jim Day · October 12th, 2008, 05:52 AM

Michael, you might look here: Transparent Video - Transparent Video Effect - Alpha Channel Video

Michael Ojjeh · October 12th, 2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Day

Michael, you might look here: Transparent Video - Transparent Video Effect - Alpha Channel Video

Jim,
Thanks for that link, that's what I am trying to do but I can't find a way to render my video in Vegas to a transparent back-round only,
In that link they use Serious Magic Ultra 2 to do that video effect. I was hoping to do that effect in Vegas with out buying any new software.

Edward Troxel · October 12th, 2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Ojjeh

that's what I am trying to do but I can't find a way to render my video in Vegas to a transparent back-round only

File - Render As - pick AVI as the file type and UNCOMPRESSED as the preset. Now go into the "Custom" settings and make sure the Alpha Setting box is checked. Now you'll have a (large) file with a transparent background. Some of the other formats allow transparency as well but I know uncompressed will work.

Michael Ojjeh · October 12th, 2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Troxel

File - Render As - pick AVI as the file type and UNCOMPRESSED as the preset. Now go into the "Custom" settings and make sure the Alpha Setting box is checked. Now you'll have a (large) file with a transparent background. Some of the other formats allow transparency as well but I know uncompressed will work.

Thanks Edward,
I tried what you told me and I did get a big file but still shows the full screen with black back-round not just the person in the video.

Don Bloom · October 12th, 2008, 09:03 PM

When there is nothing under a transparent piece it will show black in preview. Try putting THAT video on the TOP track and drop another piece on a track BELOW that.

Don

Michael Ojjeh · October 13th, 2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Bloom

When there is nothing under a transparent piece it will show black in preview. Try putting THAT video on the TOP track and drop another piece on a track BELOW that.

Don

I do that every time after I render the video,it is not transparent it blocks the track below it.

Hubert Duijzer · October 13th, 2008, 08:33 AM

Just to make sure.
You do right-click/properties/Alpha Channel/select Straight to the video that has to be transparant?
That should do the trick.

Jim Day · October 13th, 2008, 03:54 PM

I'm not sure, but reading some of the replies, I think there might be some confusion as to what the OP is trying to do. He is trying to have a transparent character/video appear on a webpage (I think). This does not work the same way as simply using transparent video in a video.

Michael Ojjeh · October 13th, 2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Day

I'm not sure, but reading some of the replies, I think there might be some confusion as to what the OP is trying to do. He is trying to have a transparent character/video appear on a webpage (I think). This does not work the same way as simply using transparent video in a video.

There are many more steps in Dreamweaver8 for embedding the transparent video on the web , but first you must have a transparent video before you do the next step.

October 10th, 2008, 06:43 PM	#1
Michael Ojjeh Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 338	How do you do transparent video in Vegas ? I am trying to render an HDV video clip that was shot with a blue screen and using chroma keyer plug-in in Vegas 8, to a transparent video with out any backround in it, just the person in the video !!! Can that be done in Vegas or do I have to use other software like Serious Magic Ultra 2 ? Thanks in advance

October 11th, 2008, 01:43 PM	#3
Michael Ojjeh Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 338	Seth Thank you for all the info, I know how to do the chroma key on Vegas, But what I am looking for is a transparent final render video with out any back round just the person alone. Here is a link to see what I am trying to do on a web site for a client: Daily Access ? Presented by Diet Coke

October 11th, 2008, 05:27 PM	#4
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	It looks like that page is using flash to composite the moving video with the graphic background. This is probably a pretty good choice, as I can't think of another distribution codec that supports transparency, and Flash does this kind of layering/compositing very well. And that's what you're looking for, right? - a distribution codec and a way to composite on the web. If you follow the MSN/Coke example, you'll need to: Develop the flash background content. Render the greenscreen footage out of Vegas in an intermediate codec that supports transparency. (or, render out in a non-transparency codec with a new and uniform green background made with generated media...) *Assemble everything in the Flash application, using either transparent or green video BG. There may be a delivery codec that supports transparency that I'm forgetting about... and it's been a couple years since I did any transparent-background video in Flash. I think at that time I cut the key directly in Flash, meaning I gave it green-screen clips with a green background.

October 11th, 2008, 06:05 PM	#5
Kev O'Brien Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Posts: 57	why cant you just drop your background into another track or use your greenscreen clip as a veg. in another project?

October 11th, 2008, 06:55 PM	#6
Michael Ojjeh Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 338	I just want convert the video into a flash file that has no back-round and can be drooped into your webpage anywhere as a transparent video flash(FLV). I have seen it more and more on web-site and it is very catchy !!!!

October 12th, 2008, 05:52 AM	#7
Jim Day Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: El Paso Posts: 35	Michael, you might look here: Transparent Video - Transparent Video Effect - Alpha Channel Video

October 12th, 2008, 09:03 PM	#11
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	When there is nothing under a transparent piece it will show black in preview. Try putting THAT video on the TOP track and drop another piece on a track BELOW that. Don

October 13th, 2008, 08:33 AM	#13
Hubert Duijzer Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 177	Just to make sure. You do right-click/properties/Alpha Channel/select Straight to the video that has to be transparant? That should do the trick.

October 13th, 2008, 03:54 PM	#14
Jim Day Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: El Paso Posts: 35	I'm not sure, but reading some of the replies, I think there might be some confusion as to what the OP is trying to do. He is trying to have a transparent character/video appear on a webpage (I think). This does not work the same way as simply using transparent video in a video.