Level 1

4 points

HEVC - Preserve alpha not working

I just purchased Compressor for the sole reason that Media Encoder HEVC compression doesn't have the option to preserve alpha. After first solving the 'unable to submit to queue' issue, I finally have the export working. But, no matter what I do, the alpha channel doesn't carry through.

Tried different renders for the input file (prores 4444, uncompressed, etc), all with alpha channels (double checked after render). But to no avail. I have spend half a day now on what should be a 5 minute job and the frustration is pouring out of my ears. Please advice.

Settings in Compressor:

File output (alpha: none)

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.2

Posted on Mar 8, 2022 3:12 AM

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25 replies

StudioGaar Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 24, 2022 8:56 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks Luis.

I don't use FCP and am not planning on purchasing it. iMovie didn't cross my mind, does that still exist?

"Note: it should be obvious in Quicktime Player or in Quicklook in the Finder, if they worked just like Preview does for still images; but alas those don't work, as they show transparent parts as black."

Agreed. Hence my confusion. In my mind it does or did work with other codecs, but that might not be the case then and maybe I'm misremembering it.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Mar 8, 2022 3:17 AM in response to StudioGaar

The Compressor setting says QuickTime but the output says it’s MPEG.

StudioGaar Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 8, 2022 3:20 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yeah, that's strange by itself as well. Although that might be a Premiere glitch, because it also says it was created by Photoshop 🤔

Finder info shows

But After Effects info shows:

StudioGaar Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 8, 2022 5:00 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks for giving it a go. So it's not just me then...

StudioGaar Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 8, 2022 8:20 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

That sounds incredibly strange. Also, if I select 10bits, 'preserve transparency' ticks off. If I turn it back on, 10bits jumps back to 8bits. Very confused as to what's going on.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Mar 23, 2022 9:17 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

PR4444 came out ok, but HEVC didn’t. I’ll try it again with a different file.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Mar 23, 2022 9:25 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks Luis. Yes, it worked with a different file. Not sure what that was about. Surprised it has to be 8-bit, but it works.

StudioGaar Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 24, 2022 4:07 AM in response to StudioGaar

Just circling back on this one. Uninstalled Compressor. Updated OSX to 12.3. Reinstalled Compressor. Tried again. Same result. Will try on another machine I guess.

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Mar 24, 2022 5:09 AM in response to StudioGaar

Are you creating a custom QuickTime preset?

StudioGaar Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 24, 2022 5:46 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yes.

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HEVC - Preserve alpha not working