Exporting a video with a transparent alpha channel

[Roberto]

Hello,

one question: is it possible in VS X4 export a video together with a transparent alpha channel (as, for example, a result of a chroma key) ?

Thanks

Roberto

[teknisyan]

Are you referring to a video with a transparent background, then place another video or background using another program?

As soon as you rendered the video whatever the background you have on the project will be the one that you will see once the video file has been created. You can retain the transparency, by saving the it as a videostudio project file (.vsp) then you can still re-edit the file using video studio on a later time.

of course this is only the things that I know and not sure if others have a much better response than mine.

[BrianCee]

I'm not sure what you actually want to do with this video Roberto - but if you want a video to overlay another in an application other than the one that produced it - then could you not just make the video with a green or blue background and then use Chroma keying in the second application to provide transparency.

I can't think of any way to export a finished video with transparency in it.

[Roberto]

The idea was to remove the background (yes, with a chroma key), generate a video file with an alpha transparent channel, and then use it inside a 3D Animation software, so that only the non-transparent part remains visible.
Actually, I managed to create the video file with the transparent alpha channel with another NLE, and then, when imported back in the NLE, it effectively had a transparent background video.
But that was only a partial success...
...because later I discovered that the 3D Animation SW that I am using has probably some kind of proprietary alpha channel format and the alpha channel of the video that I generated with the NLE was not recognized
Vice verse, by using their conversion SW (I just downloaded the trial...), I could generate the correct transparent video and play it within the 3d Animation world.
Amazing that this SW can also generate the shadow of the non-trasparent part...
As a result, to do what I plan to do, I will have to buy their conversion SW (which, by the way, I have to say that works very well to remove a solid color background).

[stuart_f]

Hi Roberto

I want do the same thing - as Video Studio 4 doesn't seem to be able to do this can you give me a pointer as to the NLE/convertor you used please?

Thanks in hope

[Kingston]

With the Ultimate versions of X4 and X5, you get the Boris Graffiti plugin. Boris Graffiti can export uncompressed files with alpha channels. Some, but not all, NLE's will support the alpha channel in these uncompressed files. In some editors that support alpha channels, you have to tell the editor on a property page that the file has an alpha channel.

You proceed in VideoStudio to create a Boris Graffiti title. Whatever you create in Boris Graffiti can then be exported (File > Export) from within the Boris Graffiti interface. The export interface has provisions for various types of alpha channel modes when you select the AVI-VFW uncompressed format. You would probably just need "Straight."

[stuart_f]

Thanks Kingston - I'll give that a try