___Arrrggghh! -My transparency is no longer recognized in AE....

[Hugh Betcha]

I had several TIFFs with transparency imported (to make a video sequence) - AE is no longer recognizing the transparency (it seemed to 'switch off') while I was working... any ideas? 

The files are still in the same spot/same name/same characteristics...

[Mike_Abbott]

Well - the image you've uploaded above is completely opaque : )  Technically speaking the image does have an alpha channel - but the alpha is 100% opaque. The gray and white checkerboard in this image is a screenshot of a gray and white checkerboard : )  I guess you, or someone else, did a screen shot and re-imported it...

You'll have to find the original, with a useful alpha, and import that - or you could mask this version out with the rectangle or pen tools.

[Hugh Betcha]

LOL- No I took the screenshot - the file I'm, working with does, in fact have transparency - just the one I uploaded here is a plain flat screenshot.

[Mike_Abbott]

LOL! OK.  If you create a new solid and drag it immediately underneath that image layer do so see the soild behind the 'boxes'?

[Hugh Betcha]

Yes, it has transparency - I don't want to bother sending the hi-res TIFF(s) I'm working with since the forum doesn't support it..

The issue is definitely with AE... I know Photoshop backwards and forwards, and have used transparency in images like this in AE several times before, sucessfully (including earlier today), however I am self taught with AE, and I'm worried that I clicked something by accident perhaps... I'd chalk it up to a crash/glitch, but I have rebooted twice.

[Mike_Abbott]

You've not by any chance double clicked on the layer and are looking at the Layer Window?  Look at the top left corner of the main editor window.

[Hugh Betcha]

Heres a video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C9wGUD8Gm8&feature=youtu.be

[Mike_Abbott]

If you can upload a full res screenshot of the timeline and bottom of the comp window 1 am sure we'll be able to help. Without that we can only guess.

[Mike_Abbott]

"Video Unavailable - This video is private"

[Hugh Betcha]

Sorry - this video should work - I'm having a rough day 🙂

https://youtu.be/9C9wGUD8Gm8

[Hugh Betcha]

Thanks for bearing with me Mike!

[Mike_Abbott]

I think you're exporting the files from Photoshop without transparency. Check your Photoshop export settings carefully. If you had transparency you'd get a dialog asking about the type of alpha channel when you brought the sequence into Ae.

You might find exporting from Photoshop as a PNG sequence with transparency easier.

[Hugh Betcha]

Thanks Mike, but like I said, I was able to save  a bunch of TIFFs with transparency and import them into AE and it was fine, but now its not... I guess I'll compose in Photoshop... but no idea why I'd need to all of the sudden.

[Mike_Abbott]

Import just one of those files. Drop it into a comp. Look for the icon at the bottom of the Comp window with the red, green and blue dots - it's a menu. Select the layer. Then select  'Alpha' from that menu. What do you see - a full screen of white?  If so, the file has no alpha.

[Hugh Betcha]

Ae Window

[Hugh Betcha]

To be honest, I don't see the word 'Alpha' in any menu... but anyway, I converted the TIFF files to PNG and they work fine. It's unknown to me why the TIFFs worked before... but anyway, thanks so much for your help Mike, I really appreciate it!

Hugh (aka Ryan)

[Mike_Abbott]

OK - glad you got it sorted : )