Reducing QTw/alpha channel file size

Question

Reducing QTw/alpha channel file size

I was just handed a 01:30min QuickTime file (with and Alpha Channel) that is 960 MB. The client wants the file size to be significantly (10mb/min) smaller, for internet/flash use. I figured out how to export it (thanks to the forums) without loosing the alpha channel, but even setting it to it lowest quality doesn't seem to be reducing it's size. Perhaps this request is impossible; I am unexperienced with using the Animation/Millions Colors + in QuickTime so maybe that size is normal because of the alpha channel?! I have no idea. So any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Let me know what my options are. Thank you so much.

Brittney

G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9) 1.6 Power PC 1.25 Memory

G5, Mac OS X (10.3.9), 1.6 Power PC 1.25 Memory

Posted on May 2, 2007 9:45 AM

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Answer 1

May 2, 2007 11:02 AM in response to Brittney Romney

Unless the client is importing and re-exporting the file from Flash, the alpha channel is useless on the web within a Quicktime.

If the client is importing and re-exporting the file from Flash, then the compression settings and file size will be determined by the Flash export settings.

The Animation codec is big and not web friendly. Try exporting a TGA or PNG sequence with Millions+.

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Answer 2

May 2, 2007 11:50 AM in response to Brittney Romney

Do you have the tools to make the FLV that they will need? If you do, then just below where you choose the video codec (which you would pick On2 VP6) there's a check box that says Encode Alpha Channel. Use that.

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Answer 3

May 3, 2007 11:45 AM in response to Andrew Kaytor

Yes the client will be importing/exporting into Flash. He's just looking to make the 900MB file smaller before importing it into Flash. I am not familiar with Flash and it's capabilites, but I'm assuming it can do the final compression for the web.
I did try the PNG and TGA codecs instead and they didn't seem to make the file signifiantly smaller (10MB differences), so it looks like I've hit a wall. Perhaps it's something beyond FCP's capablities.

Thank you for the suggestions

G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9) 1.6 Power PC 1.25 Memory

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Answer 4

May 3, 2007 12:23 PM in response to Brittney Romney

If you can get the file to him on any medium, say even a DVD-R, the import into Flash will reduce the size dramatically.

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Answer 5

May 3, 2007 12:26 PM in response to Brittney Romney

You can reduce the pixel dimensions of the clip to match the target size. that should do something to reduce the file size.

And yes, animation codec quicktimes are by their nature large files. You might try zipping or stuffing the file to see if it reduces the file size.

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