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Stormadv
Stormadv
Inspiring
Oct 13, 2021 5:16 PM UTC
Answered

Problem with Apple prores 4444 with alpha channel

There is a big problem with Apple prores 4444 with alpha channel files, until 2 weeks ago everything was fine, now they are not displayed well, indeed very badly in the outlines and transparencies, on Windows 10 system with 2 Geforce 1080TI in SLI. If I activate "playback with CUDA" I have this problem, if I activate "Mercury playback engine" the problem is not evident.

How can I solve?

Stormadv
StormadvCorrect answer
Inspiring
Oct 14, 2021 4:14 PM UTC

[UPGRADE]

After the intervention of Adobe's technical support (remotely), it was concluded that the problem is in After Effect, when exporting a clip with Apple ProRes 4444 with alpha channel, momentarily it is necessary to use for this type of export the AME function, they will provide an update next month to fix the problem.

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20 replies

ryecooder
ryecooder
Participating Frequently
Sep 4, 2025 4:03 AM UTC

Same issue now in Sept 2025. Cannot export Quicktime/Apple Prores 4444 with RGB+A. Fails from both AE and AME. 

Macbook Pro M4.

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kanson1234
Participating Frequently
Dec 5, 2024 7:42 PM UTC

3 years later, I'm still having this issue in Premiere 2024. The only fix instead of rendering out as ProRes 444+ is to render it as quicktime animation, RGB+Alpha. Premiere still likes this file. But unfortunately on my 2020 Mac, it won't play in quicktime. 

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Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
Legend
Dec 17, 2024 8:14 PM UTC

Hi @kanson1234,

Have you tried exporting from AME instead of directly from Premiere Pro? I hope that works for you. It sounds like it could be a bug or something is up with QuickTime player on your system. Does it play in other player apps? Let the community know. I hope we can help you.

 

Thanks,
Kevin

 

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Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio
Tom25354063cn84
Participant
Jun 12, 2023 2:57 PM UTC

I have the same problem. My background layer is a blurred gradient + transparency. The background color flickers whenever I export as apple prores 4444 RGB+Alpha. It doesn't flicker when exported as RGB only.

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framelabor
Participant
Aug 28, 2023 10:25 PM UTC

Same issue in Aug 2023. Couldnt get  Apple ProRes 4444 XQ+ to play nicely moving animated wipes from AE into Premiere at 4k. Back to rendering from AE using Quicktime Animation RGBA like in the old days - still works a charm and tbh, can't really see a noticable difference in color sampling.

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Stormadv
StormadvAuthor
Inspiring
Jan 27, 2023 10:31 AM UTC

After unpgade at january 2023 the problem has not been solved. I keep exporting ProRes 4444 formats with alpha through Media Encoder.

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projectCHM
Participant
Feb 12, 2023 12:54 AM UTC

Hi I've bumped into this while exporting to .mov files.
Not sure if you had the same problem as I did nor do I know how you are exporting. 

My issue was using the Media Encoder. Someone said try using "Render Queue". (Don't know why there is a difference between them.)
I needed to save transparent animations. I did the following:
- Add to Render Queue
- Output Module Settings > Quicktime format -> Channels RGB + Alpha -> Format Options "Animation"


Note: Funny enough this doesn't work well for non-transparent background. Animation becomes buggy. The other way around (Apple Prores 4444) did 

 

 

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Stormadv
StormadvAuthor
Inspiring
Feb 13, 2023 9:39 AM UTC

Instead of decreasing, the problems increase, that's the truth. 

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Stormadv
StormadvAuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
Oct 14, 2021 4:14 PM UTC

[UPGRADE]

After the intervention of Adobe's technical support (remotely), it was concluded that the problem is in After Effect, when exporting a clip with Apple ProRes 4444 with alpha channel, momentarily it is necessary to use for this type of export the AME function, they will provide an update next month to fix the problem.

Translate
    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
    Legend
    Oct 14, 2021 4:38 PM UTC

    Hi Stormadv,

    Sorry, I wasn't aware of this bug. Let me circle up with the AE team. I was asking to try a different codec for a test. I wanted to see if there was something wrong with the codec. Sounds like assisted support helped you out. To understand your workaround, you used AME to export the ProRes 4444+ file instead of the Render Queue. Is that correct?

     

    Thanks,
    Kevin

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    Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio
    Stormadv
    StormadvAuthor
    Inspiring
    Oct 14, 2021 5:00 PM UTC

    Thanks for reply Kevin, yes i used AME to export Prores 4444+alpha correctly because the problem can be seen directly from AE.

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    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
    Kevin J. Monahan Jr.
    Legend
    Oct 13, 2021 5:45 PM UTC

    Stormadv,

    Sorry about this. Can you test with a different codec?

     

    Thanks,
    Kevin

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    Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio
    Stormadv
    StormadvAuthor
    Inspiring
    Oct 14, 2021 8:27 AM UTC

    Hi Kevin,

    a question, why should I try another codec? up to 2 weeks ago I have always worked like this and everything worked perfectly, also because using both Windows and Apple with ProRes 4444 I am fine with both, rather it is necessary to understand why Premiere works badly now.

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    Ann Bens
    Community Expert
    Ann BensCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 13, 2021 5:39 PM UTC

    Modify Interprete footage alpha channel or

    Resave file in AE with different alpha settings (matted).

    See how that goes.

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    Stormadv
    StormadvAuthor
    Inspiring
    Oct 14, 2021 8:28 AM UTC

    Hi Ann, a question, why should I try another codec? up to 2 weeks ago I have always worked like this and everything worked perfectly, also because using both Windows and Apple with ProRes 4444 I am fine with both, rather it is necessary to understand why Premiere works badly now.

    Translate
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