NextPreviousHomeProblems Importing With Alpha Channel

jmarkt | 10 years ago | 8 comments | 2,531 views

I've created a video in Final Cut Pro, in which I made the background transparent (against a green screen). I've tried several options and/or codecs during the export, trying to get one that BT will accept. Bluff continually gives me an error window stating, "Could not render any source output pin." ??? I think I've been able to accomplish this previously, however, I've not been successful with this attempt.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!




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You must be missing a video codec. The video layer page of the user guide gives more info:

outerspace-software.com...

michiel, 10 years ago


And realize that transparent videos are still very rare. Not many video formats support transparency, I always use uncompressed AVI.

michiel, 10 years ago


Thanks, Michiel, for the input. MAC offers numerous codecs/formats; Animation NTSC Alpha, ProRes 422,MPEG-1, 2 and 4, etc. Just trying to find one that BT will accept??

Surprised background transparency is so difficult, as the weather forecasters have been using green screen technology for years? Creating the transparent movie is a piece of cake - doing so with one that plays well with BT is the challenge!

jmarkt, 10 years ago

I don't believe any of the formats you mention support transparency.

With the right codec BluffTitler can play them all.

If you don't want to install new codecs I would go for MPEG-1.

michiel, 10 years ago


MPEG-1 "sorta" worked. Green background was removed; however, it was simply replaced with black. Is there a BT slider somewhere, after inserting the video, that I'm overlooking?

K-Lite is, of course, for PC, and I'm originating video from an iMac trying to get it to XP thru Parallels 6 (I've been trying to convince BT's developer to provide an iMac version :>). I don't think those new codecs will do much for me, will they?

jmarkt, 10 years ago

You can use the greenscreen effect to make the green parts transparent:

outerspace-software.com...

michiel, 10 years ago


For anyone following this string, and perhaps using an iMAC, Final Cut Pro will export video, using Quicktime Conversion, and selecting AVI as the format.

Then, as Michiel points out, apply GreenScreen fx, and adjust with property sliders, although Tolerance slider had more affect than any others. Wasn't perfect, but neither was my greenscreen (green table cloth!)

Thanks for the pointers, Michiel!

jmarkt, 10 years ago

Yes, sometimes it can take a lot of time fine-tuning the properties.

But in the end I'm sure you'll have all the green removed!

michiel, 10 years ago


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