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Level 1

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final cut pro x alpha channel

I have a cartoon type animated Gif. I open and export from QT7Pro to a .mov.

Import the animated gif/.mov into Final Cut Pro X and for a split second when I drag it into the timeline it has a transparent background.....then it turns into a black bacground behind my animation (which I'm overlaying as a prop/joke in the top right hand corner of my video.

I've tried changing the composting blend mode to overlay, screen, etc. nothing works.

I've exported the gif as a .mov with 'blend' mode turned on, 'alpha' turned on....nothing.

How can I make my little gifs look as good as the original gif with a transparent background?

Thanks

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.2), 21" Lion and FCP X

Posted on May 17, 2012 12:30 PM

21 replies

Oct 15, 2012 12:02 AM in response to ProfLuna

All the previous suggestions assume that there is something wrong with your file. I think the file is fine.

Are you by any chance editing in proxy mode? Switch to original/optimized.

The ProRes Proxy codec does not support video alpha channel.

Oct 15, 2012 8:45 AM in response to ProfLuna

Here is an article about exporting Transparency in FCPX (and 7):

http://www.larryjordan.biz/fcp-export-transparency/

And also a link to an article about adding a transparant BG.

h2brown

Level 1

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Mar 28, 2013 10:39 AM in response to ProfLuna

I am dealing with the same issue. I am using presentermedia.com gifts in FCP. I am on a deadline crunch and need the fastest way possible to get the .gft animations from the website into FCPX. I have motion, but is that really the only way, because that seems like a lot of steps and will take me for ever. I have four animations that need in this video and it's due today!!! I'm not sure about the last two comments. Proxy codec?? Can someone explain?

these are the options I am given at presentermedia.com

when i click download it opens right away in QT and looks like this.

i then open it in FCP and it looks like this...

what am I doing wrong?? I need it to be just the guy with the copier on the gray background...no black!! Please help!

h2brown

Level 1

0 points

Mar 28, 2013 10:42 AM in response to h2brown

okay FCPX users....I figured it out! Just change the blend mode to Add and it works! Make sure when you imported it into FCP that you uncheck the bottom option where it says remove silent channels. If you don't uncheck this...it removes the alpha channel and the add option will not work. WOOOHOOO!! So excited because I really don't have the time to do a frame by frame option. 🙂

Mar 29, 2013 3:07 AM in response to h2brown

You solution works, but in the interest of truth, you should probably realize that almost certainly you are NOT using alpha channel at all.

What codec did you use when exporting to quicktime? Unless it was ProRes 4444, Animation or PNG (with "Millions+" colors) the mov has no alpha channel.

The add blend mode is "adding" your non-black pixels to the background, which works but is NOT alpha channel.

If the image had a real alpha channel the background would show through in NORMAL mode.

Aug 2, 2013 2:03 PM in response to ProfLuna

Ok One of the problems is also if you leave the create optimized media on import your alpha may start of ok but when it finishes trancoding they alpha is gonne ;-( as the media has been replaced by Optimised Media turn this off and Boom Alpha works as it should ;-)

Kirk QFX

final cut pro x alpha channel