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Exporting for web + Alpha channel

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
January 24, 2019
3 replies
9465 views

hello, I am trying to export for web. My final product needs an alpha channel because it is used as a border for live feed. Every time I export I get file sizes anywhere from 200mb+. My intention is to get 50mb and below. I know it can be done because I have files that are less than 20mb and have the same animations. The person I got the files from will not share their wisdom. I am using Adobe After Effects, usually with the saber plugin. What can be done to achieve the goal of 50mb or less with alpha channel?

Correct answer Everdraed

naw he's correct to think it's possible and Plan A is fine, Dave.

OBS supports alpha'd webm, which both AME 2019 + 2018 (anything CS6 or later) can export to if you install the open source plugin for it from http://www.fnordware.com/WebM/ . Make sure to 'Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue' instead of 'Add to Render Queue' in AE and also check 'Include Alpha Channel' in 'Codec settings' on export. It's extremely solid compression and offers some quality options as well.

Worked perfectly for me in a similar type of OBS overlay project where I animated donation reward visuals that appeared dynamically based on donation amounts in OBS:

http://everdraed.com/wat/fangTophat.webm (3.98MB)

http://everdraed.com/wat/fang14karat.webm (889KB)

http://everdraed.com/wat/fangHeadXplode.webm (3.37MB)

I think these are with default compression quality, they aren't particularly complex or long but 50MB for sub 20 seconds should be no problem.

Also duder you should thank Dave for this, only reason I responded is 'cause I can't stand smug wrongness haha.

EverdraedCorrect answer

Participant

naw he's correct to think it's possible and Plan A is fine, Dave.

OBS supports alpha'd webm, which both AME 2019 + 2018 (anything CS6 or later) can export to if you install the open source plugin for it from http://www.fnordware.com/WebM/ . Make sure to 'Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue' instead of 'Add to Render Queue' in AE and also check 'Include Alpha Channel' in 'Codec settings' on export. It's extremely solid compression and offers some quality options as well.

Worked perfectly for me in a similar type of OBS overlay project where I animated donation reward visuals that appeared dynamically based on donation amounts in OBS:

http://everdraed.com/wat/fangTophat.webm (3.98MB)

http://everdraed.com/wat/fang14karat.webm (889KB)

http://everdraed.com/wat/fangHeadXplode.webm (3.37MB)

I think these are with default compression quality, they aren't particularly complex or long but 50MB for sub 20 seconds should be no problem.

Also duder you should thank Dave for this, only reason I responded is 'cause I can't stand smug wrongness haha.

C

CRobertson1392Author

Participating Frequently

Dudette* But thank you so much! I knew there had to be something! I do have the webm plugin but I couldn’t find the alpha channel setting so I assumed it didn’t have one.

ill Test it once I’m home and mark as correct if it works for me!

jasontcox

Inspiring

Well, Dave was a bit dramatic but not entirely wrong either. It is VERY hard to get super small files with alpha channels but not impossible. BUT you didn't tell us ANYTHING about the important details of your project, such as resolution and length. Is it 5 seconds long or 5 mins long? Is it SD, HD, or 4K? If the video is SUPER short and/or not super high-res, then it's theoretically possible. But if you're trying to get 60 seconds of 4K video with an alpha down to 50 MB, it aint gonna happen lol.

C

CRobertson1392Author

Participating Frequently

Sorry, guess I’ve just been so run down looking for a solution that’s kind of a catch all I forgot about this.

None of my projects are over 20 seconds long. Hd is max resolution, I’m not interested in 4K. 30fps is What I use for all animations.

Im wondering if I’m missing some crucial information that can help you guys help me. I KNOW it can be done. I have files to prove it. Im just at a loss of how to get it done.

C

CRobertson1392Author

Participating Frequently

Now that legacy Quicktime is depreciated there are only a few options to export video from After Effects that includes alpha, and all of them are going to result in big files because they assume you want very high data rates.

Cineform (quality 4+)

Quicktime ProRes 4444 or 4444HQ

Quicktime "Animation"

DNxHD/DNxHR

Make sure that Channels says "RGB+Alpha" in every case.

The other option is to export an image sequence (PNG or TIFF). Often that's simpler, provided your other software can read it.

If the png sequence were in GIF format it would work but since I am exporting flowing animations png sequence will not work. Also the program will not accept it.

Dave_LaRonde

Inspiring

CRobertson1392 wrote
What can be done to achieve the goal of 50mb or less with alpha channel?

You're not going to like this: NOTHING. Codecs supporting alpha channels do not create such compact files.

I'd get together with the person who will use this border and discuss:

1) what the actual delivery requirements are or

2) a Plan B to get this to work.

C

CRobertson1392Author

Participating Frequently

I do not believe this to be true. As stated above I have a .mov file that is 19mb and has the same animation I work with. I am looking for a solution for all of my customers, not just a single one. There must be something else that can be done to achieve such a small file. Wether it be a different program or something else. I know it can be done.

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