Cineform and alpha channel.

malew wrote on 7/10/2010, 3:44 AM
Hi.
I try to make avi with alpha channel. Of course I can use uncompressed avi but I would like to use Cineform codec. Theoretical it is RGBA codec and it should works. But it doesn't.
So... How render (Vegas Pro 9) Cineform-avi with alpha channel OR how convert uncompressed avi (or 32 bit TGA/PNG sequence) with alpha to Cineform avi (with alpha...)?

Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/10/2010, 2:30 PM
> Theoretical it is RGBA codec and it should works. But it doesn't.

That depends on which Cineform codec you are using. The $129 NeoScene codec and $499 NeoHD codec do not support an alpha channel. The $999 Neo4K codec does. Which do you have?

~jr
malew wrote on 7/11/2010, 8:47 AM
NeoScene. But if I render something using it and import to Vegas, I see in event properties an existing alpha channel (Alpha = Premultiplied) - but always it is full frame
JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/11/2010, 10:08 AM
> I see in event properties an existing alpha channel (Alpha = Premultiplied)

Every event has that. It doesn't mean that there is an alpha channel. It only tells Vegas how to interpret it if there is one.

~jr
rs170a wrote on 7/11/2010, 10:29 AM
...how convert uncompressed avi (or 32 bit TGA/PNG sequence) with alpha to Cineform avi (with alpha...)?

Make it a regular image sequence (with alpha) and drop it on your timeline.

Go to File > Import, browse to the correct folder, click on the first image in the sequence, click the "Open still image sequence" box at the bottom of the tab and click "Open".
Change any desired options in the box that comes up and you're done.
All the images have been combined into a single file sequence that can be dropped anywhere on your timeline.

Mike
malew wrote on 7/11/2010, 2:17 PM
I know this method, it is not a problem for me using png or tga sequnce, but I'd like to use (export) a single avi with alpha (is more comfortable using and storing one file, not f.e. 2000).
Lagarith, CorePng and hyuffy can use alpha, but I cannot export from Vegas in those format with alpha. I don't know, what is a reason, Vegas or codecs. IMO - Vegas.
JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/11/2010, 5:18 PM
I use the Quicktime Animation codec to export a single file with an alpha channel from Vegas. You can also use a Quicktime PNG which will make an even smaller file than the Animation codec will. Both will make one MOV file.

~jr