Which file type to use for an imported animated superimposed graphic?

jason-t wrote on 1/13/2017, 3:35 PM

Hi,

My client wants me to use an animated superimposed graphic for an interview I'm filming with him on Monday (a lower third of my client's name and title). He has an animator who will create it, so which file type should I be asking for to incorporate into the project? The animator previously supplied me with .ai files, which I can't use in Vegas. I'm using the Vegas 12 version.

Thanks in advance,

Jason

Sydney, Australia

Comments

Rainer wrote on 1/13/2017, 4:35 PM

I wish people wouldn't do that. If the animator clicks the "photoshop compatibility" button in AI, I think you can just change the .ai to .psd, see how that works in Vegas, or, safer, open in Photoshop (or graphics program that properly understands .psd) and export as an image sequence. Or, safer still, ask for a common image sequence (bmp, jpg, png, tiff) and import sequence into Vegas.

Red Prince wrote on 1/13/2017, 6:43 PM

I’d ask for PNG with alpha. Vegas is very good at importing a PNG sequence.

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TheHappyFriar wrote on 1/13/2017, 8:07 PM

Agree with PNG + Alpha. my 2nd choice is QT PNG with Alpha. Exact same thing, takes up same amount of space, but it's a single file vs image sequence.

xberk wrote on 1/13/2017, 9:24 PM

My knowledge of compositing is weak .. I researched this topic and them I just tried this.

I used a NewBlueFX lower third as the animated sequence for superimposition. I rendered out the title as a QuickTime PNG that preserves the Alpha channel. I also rendered it as an uncompressed AVI preserving the Alpha channel. But to use either of these files as a lower third, you still need to set the properties of the files Alpha channel to "straight (unmatted)." or one of the other alpha settings . Otherwise the background is black -- it works -- but I don't know why it works.

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Former user wrote on 1/13/2017, 9:42 PM

I have had good luck with QT Animation codec.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 1/14/2017, 11:58 AM

I have had good luck with QT Animation codec.

Yea, the QuickTime Animation codec is designed specifically to keep animations crisp because they usually have solid colors and don't fair very well with compression that assumes color and detail loss is acceptable to the eye. QuickTime PNG is also very good for this. Both will retain the Alpha Channel if generated in 32-bit so make sure they provide a 32-bit file.

~jr

jason-t wrote on 1/15/2017, 4:42 AM

Thanks all for your suggestions. I've now asked the animator to provide me with a QuickTime Animation codec MOV file and a QuickTime PNG codec MOV file. Will let you know how I go!

jason-t wrote on 1/16/2017, 3:38 PM

So the result is that both the QuickTime Animation codec MOV file and the QuickTime PNG codec MOV file worked great, though the PNG file probably had a little less clarity (at least to my eye).

Thanks to all for your suggestions, much appreciated!