Motion 5 and PNG Image Sequences

The only way I've been able to get around the loss of transparency in PNG image sequences is to convert my PNG sequence to a PSD image sequence – this seems to load with transparency in Motion 5. Not a great workaround but good enough for now. You might try any other format that supports transparency too and see if you have any luck.

Did you check the Alpha for the image sequence in the Media tab? Make sure it's not set to None/Ignore.

I got the problem that .PNG files, when i crop them to a smaller size, they lose the quality. Seems weird to me. Is there any option to keep the quality of the big .PNG file and make it smaller??

It also seems to be happening with other formats, like .jpg .tiff...

In Preferences > Project, at the very bottom there is a setting for Large Stills -- set it to Do Nothing. Scale the image in Motion yourself.

You didn't mention what app created the image sequence.

If it was photoshop, you need to export > Render Video; select Quicktime Export > Image Sequence.

For Settings > PNG

For the Options > Millions of Colors + (that plus means alpha - without it you just get RGB) [I usually set Filter to None.] Whatever app you used to build the sequence needs to have this option for export.

The pain in the a** about this is that you have to manually number all the files (you need at least a 3-digit sequence, e.g.: file_000, file_001, etc.) That's not Motion's fault -- it's PS's fault.

32 bits is the NORM for RGBA (8 bits per channel). Motion can handle 32-bit transparent PNG files (and sequences). It also handles partial opacities flawlessly.

Fox, thanks for the reply.

I made a screenimage so you can see what i see. But i didn't figured it out yet.

You say: "If it was photoshop, you need to export > Render Video; select Quicktime Export > Image Sequence." So witch one do i need to select? Quicktime Export or Image sequence?

Thanks in advance

Here's the screen.

Select Quicktime Export. I'm sorry if that wasn't clear.

With the quicktime export option, you get to choose the millions of colors + option for the type of PNG to export.

Ok - wait a minute --

With the settings that you have in that image -- look down at the bottom of the dialog for the Alpha Channel. Set the drop down to Straight Unmatted and see if that works for you before switching to Quicktime export. The automatic numbering of files works better with Image Sequence.

So, either way will work, you just have to make sure that Alpha is set up for the export. In Quicktime Export, you need to set millions of colors +; with the Image Sequence option, you need to make sure the Alpha is set up at the bottom of the dialog.

-- it was really late when I answered last night... 😝

Why Straight - Unmatted?

When you premultiply an alpha channel, whatever the background color you choose (usually black or white) the semi transparent pixels are mixed with the chosen background color which will affect how those pixels appear on OTHER background colors! Around masked areas, you can usually detect a dark or light outline around the subject -- usually not what is wanted. Straight will save the semi-transparent pixels with a straight alpha that will mix with whatever background they are placed over. Make sense?

Haha, doesn't matter it was late 🙂 I am glad someone has the experience to help me here.

I am a newbee at Motion and so i need to learn a lot. But sometimes it doesn't work out for me. And my PS is in Dutch, so maybe things aren't the same as in english.

Look, so the first thing i run up to is that when i check the Quicktime export, i don't see the million...+.

Here the screen:

So when i miss this step, i can't continue with the rest of your walktrough 🙂

Would you be so kind to reply me again.... Will make me happy!

Tx

Ok, update. I have found the alpha channel. You can only change it if you are in Image sequence. And when i hit render it maked like 299 frames of .PNG files 🙂 Bad news, it didn't make any difference in Motion 😟

The quicktime export option:

Pick PNG from the Format menu and click the options button; select millions of colors + from the dropdown

You can use the Image Sequence alternative:

Just make sure that the Alpha Channel is set to Straight or one of the Premultiply options.

You can also designate a frame rate with Render Options.

This method will actually work better if you have more than a few frames since the Quicktime Export option does not name the sequenced files properly for Motion.

Thanks Fox. This works better for me. Always better with images. Going to try this tomorrow.

Many thanks!