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Producer storyteller
Inspiring
June 25, 2026
Question

When I import a file with an alpha channel into Premiere it artifacts.

  • June 25, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 14 views

So hoping someone can help me out. I use a program to create golf tracers called Shot Tracer Pro. It's for Mac and PC. The PC version does not export the tracer as an alpha channel but the Mac version does. In the past I've exported a clip from Premiere on my PC and then imported it into my Macbook Pro into Shot Tracer Pro, the up and then exported the tracer as an alpha channel that I can bring into Premiere on my PC. I simply place it on top of the golf shot and I have a tracer. It all worked well until I updated to the latest version of Windows 11. (25H2) Now I seem to get artifacting in the alpha channel clip. Please see the attached photo.

Those black lines on the tracer to the left shouldn't be there. When I put these on a timeline on the Mac in Premiere, which I have on my Macbook Pro, it doesn't happen. The photo without the black lines is from the Mac. I know most people won't know the program shot Tracer Pro but I thought somebody might have an idea of what's going on. Again this used to work fine until the update. I am running on the latest version of Windows, My and graphics card have all been updated and I even uninstalled and reinstalled premier. 

One more thing. When I actually play the clip on the timeline you don't see the artifacting, It's when I stop the playhead you'll see it BUT it also appears in the final export.

If anybody has an idea of what is going on I’d love some help. 

Thanks guys.

2 replies

Community Expert
June 26, 2026

Can you tell us a bit more about the files? How are you exporting the alpha channel out of your Mac? Is the alpha channel embedded in the file you export, or just a black and white video that you apply as an alpha channel with an effect (like Track Matte Key) when you bring it into your PC?

Producer storyteller
Inspiring
June 26, 2026

I'm exporting out of the program called Shot Tracer Pro and it's simply a preset that I can't adjust.  It simply says “.mov (transparent ProRes).” I have no control over the settings. The original footage was filmed as a .mov file

Community Expert
June 25, 2026

This could be an Alpha Premultiplication mismatch. Select the clip and choose Clip > Modify > Interpret Footage. In the Alpha Channel section, try switching between these options:

  • Use Alpha Premultiplication from File
  • Conform Alpha Premultiplication to, with Premultiplied Alpha selected
Producer storyteller
Inspiring
June 26, 2026

Thanks Paul. Tried but no luck. It’s still there.

Community Manager
June 26, 2026

Hi Producer storyteller,

Welcome to the community, and sorry to hear you're experiencing this issue. Would you mind sharing a download link to the sample media you're experiencing this issue with? It will help us diagnose the problem more accurately.

Thanks,
Sumeet