.png animation files... how to import keeping alpha channel please!

Question

Level 1

15 points

.png animation files... how to import keeping alpha channel please!

My graphics man has buit me a animation on white swirly things on his system
and given me them as sequential files.

On gfx without alpha I open then in quicktime, open a sequential files then export to dv.

Now of course dv will not keep alpha channels so any help on how to take this animation alpha .png and get it into my fcp time line would be much appreciated,

regards

daz

Mac Pro2 x 3ghz quad 9gb Ram, Mac OS X (10.5), 3.5 Terabyte hard drives 4 x radeon HD 2600 xt 256 GDDR3

Posted on May 11, 2009 11:57 PM

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Answer 1

Rienk

Level 4

3,155 points

May 12, 2009 12:36 AM in response to daz4421

Do not export to DV, like you did.
Export to Animation-Codec with million+ colors.
The "+" means alpha channel...

Rienk

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Answer 2

Wherrito

Level 2

185 points

May 12, 2009 9:34 AM in response to daz4421

You should be able to import the png's as an image sequence, then make sure your alpha is turned on by going to:

Modify>Alpha>Straight

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Answer 3

daz4421 Author

Level 1

15 points

May 14, 2009 3:09 PM in response to Rienk

with my quicktime and export I do not see Animation-Codec with million+ colors.

any idea where i might find it?

regards

Daz

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Answer 4

daz4421 Author

Level 1

15 points

May 14, 2009 3:10 PM in response to Wherrito

import directly into to fcp or quickime?

regards

Daz

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Answer 5

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

May 14, 2009 3:26 PM in response to daz4421

Import the image sequence into QuickTime Player.
Go to File > Export > Movie to QuickTime Movie. Click the Options buttons: Settings > Compression Type. Choose the Animation codec. Set Compressor Depth to Millions of Colors +.

Set your frame rate etc.....

Import the result into FCP.

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Answer 6

Wherrito

Level 2

185 points

May 14, 2009 5:04 PM in response to Nick Holmes

Nick,

Are there issues that would arise out of using the png's directly, or is the Animation workflow just personal preference?

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Answer 7

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

May 15, 2009 6:26 AM in response to Wherrito

Apple Animation is a high quality video codec that can support an alpha channel.
While there are other formats that also support alpha channel, Apple Animation is the codec of choice on the Mac because it lets us transfer files between different software packages without any hassle.

For instance, you could export a 3D scene from Maya, manipulate it further in After Effects then drop it into the FCP Timeline, all without converting it to something else at each stage.

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