test quicktime w/alpha channel needed

[Tim]

I have an upcoming project, where I'm going to be given a video of a person speaking, green screened and given to me done with an alpha channel. I have to use the new flash 8 flv w/alpha channel support.

I'm looking around for a vid that was green screened with alpha channel to use as a test, a standin. Anyone have one, or know where I can get one? I've looked everywhere. It needs to be quicktime.
Thx.

[Ottawaman]

sent you 2

[Ottawaman]

http://www.dvcreators.net/discuss/showthread.php?t=10963
http://www.dvcreators.net/discuss/showpost.php?p=42259&postcount=10

[Ottawaman]

http://www.dvcreators.net/discuss/showthread.php?t=15486&page=2&highlight=green+screen+alpha+channel


How are you importing your video? To make sure you are doing it exactly the way I am, follow these steps...

Create a new Flash project and try this:

1. On layer 1, click the blank keyframe at frame 1 to highlight it.
2. Click "File", "import", then "Import Video"
3. Make sure you are browsing to the file on your computer (not on a server).
4. Choose "Progressive download from a web server" (even though we are running the video locally, this is the option you want).
5. Choose "Flash 8 High Quality", then press the button for "Show Advanced Settings"
6. Click the box for "encode alpha channel".
7. Choose any player controller and click Finish to encode the video.

Then save your project and export to a .swf file.

If this still isn't working, it might be a problem with Flash (meaning you should perhaps uninstall and reinstall or check adobe.com for updates).

Another thought just occurred to me... make sure that your Flash player is up to date, and that in your Flash project (publish) properties your version is set to Flash 8 (not a previous version that may not support alpha channels).

I had a problem once where people using an older Flash player could not see alpha channel flv video in my project, so that might be an issue. Go to adobe.com and download the latest.

Let me know if this works.


You might want to try exporting using the method I described earlier. In particular, don't use the "Quicktime Conversion" export, just use the uncompressed Quicktime export.

Also - make sure you don't have anything (like a color matte) on another layer that may be causing problems.

Then, (as I think you did before), to make sure FCP is really removing the background and keeping that info during the export, try importing the .mov file back into an empty FCP project and see if the background is still transparent.

Let me know how you make out.


Thank you so much! I tried that, and it totally works now. I'm so excited!

[Ottawaman]

Other way to import Flash Video
Hi again,
For importing the video file into Flash, instead of using the separate Flash 8 Video encoder, you can just click File>Import>Video from within Flash.

But make sure that when you get to the video settings page, open up the panel for advanced video options. In there, make sure to select the On2 VP6 video codec, and click the box for "preserve transparency" or "alpha".

- Kent
http://dvcreators.net/discuss/showthread.php?t=14981

[Ottawaman]

http://www.communitymx.com/content/article.cfm?page=1&cid=8F805

http://www.communitymx.com/download.cfm?cid=8F805 support files

[Ottawaman]

http://www.wheway.com/alpha_channel_video/proof_of_concept/


http://movielibrary.lynda.com/html/modPage.asp?ID=182

[Tim]

thx OM. I have the flash part of it all good, but I'm an IDIOT in final cut.

Thx for the links

I have to show a client a test with the interface with a QT with an alpha channel happening. But learning to key a green screened video late sat night is hurting. :)

[Ottawaman]

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/talking_head_video.html

This tutorial shows you how to create a "talking-head" video in Macromedia Flash 8 that uses my own talking head (see Figure 2). The talking-head video will be created in Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 and then run through the FLV Wizard and the Flash 8 Video Encoder, which converts the video from a QuickTime movie into an FLV file that you can place on a web page.

Note: If you know how to use Apple Final Cut Pro or another nonlinear editor that has keying filters, you can follow along the discussion.

[Ottawaman]

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/chroma_key_fcp_hd_monahan.html

Chroma Keying in Final Cut Pro HD

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/effects.html
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/chroma_key_part_1.html

[Tim]

will that work in express? :)

it'll be interesting I suppose.
I'm downloading the green screen from mx now, that looks like the best green screen.

I won't actually have anything to do with keying the video on the project, the video people are just handing me a qt w/ alpha channel.

[Ottawaman]

what format is it being shot on?
DV sucks for chroma

[Ottawaman]

http://www.reflecmedia.com/content.aspx?Content=ultimattedv.htm
nice

also if doing alot of chroma keys
FCP is not the best app

[Tim]

yea I'm seeing. I'm glad I'll have nothing to do with that part.

FCE is all I have, I do still have premier 6. I could reinstall that if it's better.

gah. video anything for me is painful.

[Tim]

first few attempts failed. I will find some more tuts and try again.

doing it in flash is about as simple as checking the 'encode alpha channel' box.

If I can get there, I'll breathe easier.

[Ottawaman]

First, the key filters in FCP are not great, good, not great. The Keylight filter in After Effects/Shake is great, and much more useful that the FCP keyers.

You need to shoot your subject against a green or blue screen. The lighting needs to be EVEN. You need good lighting, shadows will screw up the key, or at least make it harder to pull. You will benefit from a large area, with the green screen covering the wall and floor. Pull your subject as far from the screen as you can, so that their shadows do not drop on the screen and so that the screen color does not spill on the subject.

Use a key filter to pull the key. if your shooting in a 4:2:0 color space (DV) you won't be able to get a good key considering you've never done it before. There will be green haloing around the edges of the subject. You need a matte choker to eliminate that, and you should make the edges of your subject "blume" to make it look natural. Also, some spill supression will help since likely you will be shooting in a small space and spill is inevetable.

Then you need to have a shot to composite the key against. The two shots should be shot at the same level and angle so it looks natural. Put the shots ontop of each other in the timeline and vola, a quick and dirty chroma key.

The more time and research you put into it the better it'll be.
Check creativecow.net, they have a good keying tutorial that helps if you're shooting on DV, although it's done in AE, not sure what program you're using.




(http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=244072&highlight=CHROMA+KEy)

from post #9 down is worth a read

http://ultimatte.com/UltimatteMain/AvE%20SS.html
http://www.reflecmedia.com/content.aspx?Content=mattenee.htm
http://www.dvgarage.com/prod/prod.php?prod=dvmattefcp

[Ottawaman]

Greenscreen and Bluescreen Checklist
http://generalspecialist.com/2006/10/greenscreen-and-bluescreen-checklist.asp

before editing

[Tim]

at this point, I may look at buying a QT from getty already done with an alpha channel for the testing. I haven't much time for tutorials this deadline is crushing. I had no idea keying was this difficult. I tried several times, and it didn't work at all.

I'll have to learn keying after this.

[Ottawaman]

http://www.dvgarage.com/prod/prod.php?prod=conduit15
this is supposed to rock

tut
http://69.36.12.13/samples/conduit15/Conduit_FCP_Keying.mov

[Tim]

many many thanks OM.

There was a QT with an alpha channel in the files in the communitymx tutorial. So I was able to run the test somewhat.

[Ottawaman]

I can send you some footage from my fcp advanced colour correction book after I get off of work today if you still need it.

[Tim]

hey OM, thx, anything with an alpha channel is welcome. I'll have to look at learning keying another time.

I may be investing in after effects very soon anyways it's being used by a lot of flash guys now.

[Ottawaman]

check your pm

[Ottawaman]

I didn't mention Garbage mattes - some elements cannot be chromakeyed out.
So garbage mattes help hide these unwanted elements.
If you need more info let me know
OM

[Tim]

thx OM, I saved the keying info for after the project. I had to have a working test early this morning done, so no time to learn to key. :) I used the QT from communitymx that was already keyed with an alpha channel for the test.

I won't be doing any of the keying on the final video.

[Ottawaman]

the communitymx tutorial footage looked ok when I found it last night- took a long time to download though.

[Tim]

yea it did, but I got a QT with an alpha channel. I would spent all day today frantically learning to key, which would have been real bad. Client flying out of country today and wanted a test beforehand.

[Ottawaman]

Sucks to be you ;)

[Tim]

oh it woulda if I missed this one. I put myself really out there on this one. My finger was over the buy button at getty.

I think I will definitely be investing in AE. There are many features I'll be using in future for flash.

[Ottawaman]

That was alot of typing -I hate typing- so make me a key dammit! ;)

[Tim]

I wish.

I tried to say I'm outta time. :)

but I've saved it all because I am going to learn to key anyways as soon as this project finishes in 2 weeks.

[Ottawaman]

Have fun

[Tim]

somehow it doesn't look like fun.

powerbook almost took flight at midnight last night.

[Ottawaman]

Deadlines suck

[Ottawaman]

Why didn't the video guys set you up with some support files?

[Tim]

just got the job the other day.

Things move waaay too fast. I think the video guys are being hired on monday. In the melee they asked if I can get a test up to confirm the effects. I said Oh yea!

gah.

yes deadlines suck. I thought I could find a QT already with an alpha channel somewhere on the web. Glad you pointed communitymx, it saved my ass.