Clips w/ alpha channels-removing black background

wunderlong88 wrote on 5/10/2016, 1:30 PM
I have downloaded several clips from digital juice that have alpha channels that I should be able to put over another video clip and see through. For example I downloaded a lower third clip. It is 2 files in mov format. The background around the lower third is black and I have not been able to figure out how to make it transparent.

This is something I've never tried to do before and the instructions I found online set to set the properties to "straight (unmatted)" for the alpha channel. This didn't work. I tried other settings with no success.

Can someone tell me how or point me to instructions? TY!

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 5/10/2016, 3:10 PM
You must set "Source Alpha" for it to have any chance to work.

Alpha support for MOV in Windows is quite limited.
Post your complete source properties using MediaInfo, and we'll see if there is a workaround.
A sample clip wouldn't hurt, either.
wunderlong88 wrote on 5/10/2016, 3:25 PM
How do you "set Source Alpha"?

Is that what you want?
General
Name: 99175_goldenFiligree_HD1_DA_Wipe.mov
Folder: C:\Users\Linda\Documents\Graphics\Motion Loops\Transitions\99175_goldenFiligree_HD1_DA_Wipe\99175_goldenFiligree_HD1_DA_Wipe
Type: QuickTime
Size: 22.94 MB (23,486,997 bytes)
Created: Friday, February 04, 2011, 7:54:28 AM
Modified: Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 1:33:12 PM
Accessed: Friday, February 04, 2011, 7:54:28 AM
Attributes: Archive

Streams
Video: 00:00:02.400, 60.000 fps, 1920x1080x24, Photo - JPEG

Summary
[GUDE]: {7BB3FE15-954A-4E75-B5E1-45EE98F74990}

ACID information
ACID chunk: no
Stretch chunk: no
Stretch list: no
Stretch info2: no
Beat markers: no
Detected beats: no

Other metadata
Regions/markers: no
Command markers: no

Media manager
Media tags: no

Plug-In
Name: qt7plug.dll
Folder: C:\Program Files\Sony\Movie Studio Platinum 13.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\qt7plug
Format: QuickTime 7
Version: Version 13.0 (Build 943)
Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

How do I share a clip?
wunderlong88 wrote on 5/10/2016, 3:27 PM
This is for the second clip.

General
Name: 99175_goldenFiligree_HD1_Alpha.mov
Folder: C:\Users\Linda\Documents\Graphics\Motion Loops\Transitions\99175_goldenFiligree_HD1_DA_Wipe\99175_goldenFiligree_HD1_DA_Wipe
Type: QuickTime
Size: 5.55 MB (5,679,786 bytes)
Created: Friday, February 04, 2011, 7:54:28 AM
Modified: Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 1:33:12 PM
Accessed: Friday, February 04, 2011, 7:54:28 AM
Attributes: Archive

Streams
Video: 00:00:02.400, 60.000 fps, 1920x1080x40, Photo - JPEG

Summary
[GUDE]: {7BB3FE15-954A-4E75-B5E1-45EE98F74990}

ACID information
ACID chunk: no
Stretch chunk: no
Stretch list: no
Stretch info2: no
Beat markers: no
Detected beats: no

Other metadata
Regions/markers: no
Command markers: no

Media manager
Media tags: no

Plug-In
Name: qt7plug.dll
Folder: C:\Program Files\Sony\Movie Studio Platinum 13.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\qt7plug
Format: QuickTime 7
Version: Version 13.0 (Build 943)
Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

wunderlong88 wrote on 5/10/2016, 3:31 PM
Here are the files for a transition/wipe that I tried to use.
http://ge.tt/477ApSa2

Actually this one has 3 files for it. (Edit: 1 is for sound)

I tried a lower thirds and it only had 2.
musicvid10 wrote on 5/10/2016, 4:08 PM
1. You said you set "straight-unmatted." No, set 'source alpha' instead.
2. Vegas properties tell us nothing useful. We need to know if your files will decode alpha in Windows! Use MediaInfo instead. You download it from Sourceforge.

I'll look at your clips later when I'm home.
wunderlong88 wrote on 5/10/2016, 4:12 PM
Do I have to have Pro to set "source alpha"? I can't seem to find that as an option.
wunderlong88 wrote on 5/10/2016, 4:14 PM
Ok..I found it and it is set to "source alpha"

The videos play fine...just with a black background. I need transparency where the black is so another video will show through.

I really thought this should be easy. It will be tomorrow before I can download that program and post the media info. Have to leave soon.
musicvid10 wrote on 5/10/2016, 4:23 PM
I get a security warning on that site.
Use dropbox or mediafire instead.
wunderlong88 wrote on 5/10/2016, 4:57 PM
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2z6kyuk73cnyzlj/99175_goldenFiligree_HD1_Alpha.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ajorscwkwh90gu8/99175_goldenFiligree_HD1_DA_Wipe.mov?dl=0
musicvid10 wrote on 5/10/2016, 5:15 PM
It is JPEG compression in a MOV wrapper.
Best way is convert to DNxHD with Alpha in FCPX on a Mac.

You might try MPEG Streamclip in Windows, but that's a long shot to decode the alpha.
The Quicktime for Windows libs definitely will not do this.

wunderlong88 wrote on 5/10/2016, 5:24 PM
Ok, I went ahead and downloaded the MPEG streamclip.

What do I do with it?
wunderlong88 wrote on 5/10/2016, 5:27 PM
Also, if I purchased pro would it be able to use the mov files?
musicvid10 wrote on 5/10/2016, 5:52 PM
No, vegas pro uses the same decoders.

It is a limitation of Quicktime in Windows. Quicktime is an Apple library.
You need a friend with a Mac and FCPX.

You are on your own with Streamclip, also; no idea if it will do anything for your files.

Best.
Marco. wrote on 5/11/2016, 2:53 AM
From what I see from the files you offered for download there is no alpha channel embedded but the second clip is meant to composite for alpha. I'll do a quick check how Movie Studio does this. It usually takes a 3-track-composition combinded with mask fx.
Marco. wrote on 5/11/2016, 4:28 AM
Got it:

In your first track put your first Digital Juice video which is your fill.
In your second track put your second Digital Juice video which is your mask and your alpha.
In your third track put your background video.

In track # 1 change composite mode to "Multiply".
Then make your track # 2 to a compositing child track of track # 1.
Apply "Mask" fx onto track # 2.
Done.

I'll upload a sample project …
Marco. wrote on 5/11/2016, 4:32 AM
-> Download Sample Project

To do this on your own you needn't convert/transcode your Digital Juice footage (assumed you have Quicktime installed on your system, otherway you could not import that Digital Juice clips into Movie Studio at all). For this sample project I only did because I don't have Quicktime installed on this system and also to save bandwidth by using a highly compressed format instead for uploading.

You can just switch my MP4 media against your original footage in track # 1 and # 2.
Track # 3 is background, whatever you want to use there. Just ensure your project settings match your own media (this sample project is 720p25).

.
musicvid10 wrote on 5/11/2016, 11:08 AM
Thanks, Marco.
I assumed the sample had an alpha channel that was not being recognized.