Hi,
I use MSP7 and have now a sequence of TGA files with alpha channel info on them, just perfect for overlaying them on my video.
The problem is that the TGA images are a secuence of about 5 seconds, and they were rendered in 25 fps, so I'm not willing to go through every single one of them and set the overlay options to "alpha-channel".
So, my questions to the experts:
- Is it possible in MSP7 to change overlay options for more than one file at once? Something like selecting them all and right-clicking does not work, but maybe there's a trick I don't know.
- Since I imagine that the last option will not work, can I convert my TGA sequence into a 32bit AVI or a quicktime with alpha channel info in it?
- If not, does anyone know of a video SW which can do that?
Alpha channel and video^with MSP7
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Terry Stetler
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:34 pm
- Location: Westland, Michigan USA
Easy.
For animators this is one of MSPro's strongest features; the ability to use image sequences as if they were any other video clip while preserving the alpha channel. Works in VideoStudeo too.
This is done using a custom Ulead filetype: *.uis = Ulead Image Sequence.
The images should have been saved to their own folder with sequentially numbered filenames;
file00001.tga, file00002.tga, file00003.tga etc.
If not then rename them. The number of zeros doesn't matter as long as there are enough, MSPro/VideoStudio will figure that out. Freeware image viewers like IrfanView can do this in batch mode. That out of the way;
Defining Ulead Image Sequences:
Start by opening the "Insert Video File" dialog. When the dialog opens change the filetype to "Ulead Image Sequence files (*.uis)" and click the "Options" button. The "Define Image Sequence" dialog will open.
Just for training purposes check the filetypes list for compatible formats. *.tga, *.png, *.psd, *.gif etc. come in with their alpha channels. I leave it set to "All files".
Click "Select", browse to the folder holding the images and single-click the first image you want to use in this particular *.uis. This does not have to be the first saved image (ex: file0000.tga) .... you can start in the middle if you want.
After selecting the first image in this seqence also set the number of consecutive frames you want to collect. You don't have to use all of the rest, just what you need.
NOTE:You can define several *.uis's from a single set of numbered images.
Once the first image and number of frames to collect have been defined click "Open" and you'll go back to the "Define Image Sequence" dialog.
Now set the frame rate (1-30 fps), the *.uis's filename and where you want it stored (I keep 'em with the source images) and fill in any annotations you want to use. Click "OK" to go back out to the main "Insert Video File" dialog.
The *.uis takes almost no time at all to be created....it's just a placeholder that defines what images to use, the frame rate and stores the annotations.
Now insert the *.uis file to the timeline as if it were any other video clip and go to town. The alpha channel will be automatically applied when used as an overlay. On most any decent system they will also preview in realtime, presuming they don't have to be scaled too much.
Told you it was easy
BTW1: MSPro/VideoStudio will also import 32 bit *.avi's with their alpha channel intact.
BTW2: serially named masks can also be used as image sequences and applied as a video matte in the Overlay Options.
For animators this is one of MSPro's strongest features; the ability to use image sequences as if they were any other video clip while preserving the alpha channel. Works in VideoStudeo too.
This is done using a custom Ulead filetype: *.uis = Ulead Image Sequence.
The images should have been saved to their own folder with sequentially numbered filenames;
file00001.tga, file00002.tga, file00003.tga etc.
If not then rename them. The number of zeros doesn't matter as long as there are enough, MSPro/VideoStudio will figure that out. Freeware image viewers like IrfanView can do this in batch mode. That out of the way;
Defining Ulead Image Sequences:
Start by opening the "Insert Video File" dialog. When the dialog opens change the filetype to "Ulead Image Sequence files (*.uis)" and click the "Options" button. The "Define Image Sequence" dialog will open.
Just for training purposes check the filetypes list for compatible formats. *.tga, *.png, *.psd, *.gif etc. come in with their alpha channels. I leave it set to "All files".
Click "Select", browse to the folder holding the images and single-click the first image you want to use in this particular *.uis. This does not have to be the first saved image (ex: file0000.tga) .... you can start in the middle if you want.
After selecting the first image in this seqence also set the number of consecutive frames you want to collect. You don't have to use all of the rest, just what you need.
NOTE:You can define several *.uis's from a single set of numbered images.
Once the first image and number of frames to collect have been defined click "Open" and you'll go back to the "Define Image Sequence" dialog.
Now set the frame rate (1-30 fps), the *.uis's filename and where you want it stored (I keep 'em with the source images) and fill in any annotations you want to use. Click "OK" to go back out to the main "Insert Video File" dialog.
The *.uis takes almost no time at all to be created....it's just a placeholder that defines what images to use, the frame rate and stores the annotations.
Now insert the *.uis file to the timeline as if it were any other video clip and go to town. The alpha channel will be automatically applied when used as an overlay. On most any decent system they will also preview in realtime, presuming they don't have to be scaled too much.
Told you it was easy
BTW1: MSPro/VideoStudio will also import 32 bit *.avi's with their alpha channel intact.
BTW2: serially named masks can also be used as image sequences and applied as a video matte in the Overlay Options.
Terry Stetler
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paicolman
