Problem with Apple prores 4444 with alpha channel

[Stormadv]

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?

[Ann Bens]

Modify Interprete footage alpha channel or

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

See how that goes.

[Stormadv]

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.

[Kevin-Monahan]

Stormadv,

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

Thanks,
Kevin

[Stormadv]

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.

[Stormadv · Accepted solution]

[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.

[Kevin-Monahan]

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

[Stormadv]

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

[florianbusch]

Fast forward to June 15th and the problem is still not fixed on M1 Max MacBook Pro 16". What a shame.

[Zach5EA8]

I'm still having the problem August 2022.   See the atached screenshot.  Blue glow around the alpha edges

[Johnny5F9F]

same here, problem....

[Pieter26501401gh8d]

Having related problems in Adobe Premiere 2022 on a similar machine to yours. Adobe products really hate ProRes 4444. 

[Stormadv]

I have done several tests and interventions with the Adobe technical support, but the problem remains, they close the question by saying to wait for software updates. But since I opened the post, a precise year has passed and in many updates the problem has not been solved.

[Stormadv]

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

[projectCHM]

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 

[Stormadv]

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

[Tom25354063cn84]

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.

[framelabor]

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.

[kanson1234]

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. 

[Kevin-Monahan]

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

[ryecooder]

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

Macbook Pro M4.