Massive transparent file size

[potataChipz]

I'm not sure if this can be a lower file size, but when I try and render with transparency, it works, but is like 600mb for a 8 second file, and this is really affecting me and my clients, as now it is taking me at least an hour longer than it should take uploading the video!

I use Quicktime with Animation, but sometimes I use AVI with Lossless Lagarith Video Codec,

Thanks!

[Rick Gerard]

Welcome to the world of video production. Large file sizes are normal with visually lossless formats. You can get a little smaller files if you use Cineware (GoPro) compression.

Also, when you render an alpha channel you get one more channel of information in the file so it is going to be about 1/3 bigger than rendering to the same format without an alpha channel.  There are several size calculators on the internet. Here's a fairly decent one. It's missing a few formats but it will at least give you an idea. Video File Size Calculator (by format)

[potataChipz]

In my quicktime format options there is no gopro cinewave, I only have cineform which is a massive file.

[Dave_LaRonde · Accepted solution]

Yup.  Transparency means big file sizes.  Better get used to 'em!  If you've got a lot of transparent area, the Animation codec file sizes can be comparatively small.

[Rick Gerard]

Cineform... Sorry, just washed my hands and I can't do a thing with them. Cineform is way better than Animation for a bunch of reasons.

[potataChipz]

Thanks both of you! I think from now on, most of the time I will do it like a green screen type of thing xD

[ScooterD76]

back in the day we would render out two sequences, one being the alpha channel on its own, to be composited later. this method would save on file size a little bit.

[Roland Kahlenberg]

Modern, high-quality CODECs apply either very little or no compression to the Alpha Channel. This off course results in larger-than expected file sizes. However the huge file size can be reduced with a simple ZIP-type compression. So, ZIP your renders before sending them over to your client.