Compressed Codec with Alpha

Re: Hap Alpha - just noting that the Hap Codec isn't natively supported anymore, you have to buy a license for AfterCodecs:

https://aescripts.com/aftercodecs/

Seems to work great, though I have some questions about bitrate and will post the results here.

I recommend the AME license because it will allow you to export from either AE, PR, or AME. Native AfterCodecs support in AE and PR is 2x more licenses. Would speed up rendering a hair... but another $95 x 2? Nah. I'm good.

Re: HEVC (the most unfortunately named codec) - You're right. There's some convolution between WebM + VP9 + H265. WebM does support alpha channels using fnordware's WebM codec for Adobe: https://www.fnordware.com/WebM/ but WebM hangs up on the conversion during the last 5% in the latest version of the codec. The file is retained to the hang up point but has issues running in AE.

For those trying to loose weight, my control file is 2048x2048, APR 4444+A, 2.93 GBs

Same file using HAP+A and AfterCodecs, 1.1 GBs (fast conversion, file size about 33% of control file)

Same file using WebM+A and Fnordware (there is a bug here, see above), 413 MBs (very slow conversion, file size about 3% of control file)

Same file using OpenEXR+A, 5.5 GBs (fast conversion, files size about 200% of control file)

Image sequences are going to be huge, but convert quickly, I do this all the time so not going to run a test

As far as USING those files in AE:

HAP+A works great

Image sequences work great

APR 4444+A works great