Alpha channel transparency issue with Premiere Pro CC 2018 v.12.1.2 (Build 69)

[colleenh14893333]

We are having issues with PNG and JPG files being transparent in Premiere Pro CC 2018 v12.1.2. We need a seamless cross-platform workflow using PNG or JPG images. 

We have begun production of an 2D animated episodic children's TV series.  We're using Storyboard Pro 6 to draw the storyboard panels/images, organize them into scenes/sequences on the timeline, and then export sequences using SBP's Conform FCP XML.  We are using Premiere Pro CC 2018 version 12.1.2 to edit storyboard animatics, and for both offline and online editing.  Storyboard Pro exports a conformation FCP XML that contains images and audio files.   When I import the FCP XML into Premiere Pro, the images are black--ie. transparent.  I tried exporting a Conform FCP XML with PNGs and then tried with JPGs, both had the same issue of not being visible when the XML is imported into PPro.  However, captions (text of script dialogue, action notes and scene numbers appear as a title banner at bottom of screen) layers are visible.  All of the Storyboard Pro panels are exported as nested clips containing the background layer, and 2 or 3 transparent layers for props and characters drawings.  Also note, red drawings or drawings other than black or white are visible.  Neither black or white are visible.

In Photoshop, I opened a PNG file, from within the XML export folder and found that it is black/not visible.  I opened the XML export folder containing PNGs  in Adobe Bridge to view all the panels at once.  All of the PNG files seem to be alpha layers (including the BG layer);

In Adobe Bridge, I opened another XML export folder containing JPG files, since JPG files do not contain alpha channel or chroma key information, I thought that they would be visible/not transparent, but they were not visible.

I found several posts on PPro forum regarding alpha channel png issues.  https://forums.adobe.com/message/10307067#10307067

It seems that this issue has not been fixed by Adobe, as the last entry in the forum states: "Sadly, the solution to this is converting your PNG's to TIFFs. Its a pain, but it solved my problems.  Just wish Adobe's Twitter support told me that. Versus the stock "a fix is coming" response. Thank god for these forums and you guys."

We are working with thousands of images in a single 22 minute storyboard. As such, a seamless cross-platform workflow is paramount. We'd like to use PPro, but if this issue cannot be resolved we may need to use Final Cut Pro in order to achieve the productive workflow that we need.

[R Neil Haugen]

The last entry in the thread was two or three releases ago, so ... note that there's no followup posts because the issue was fixed months back. It was limited to PrPro which hath no code shared with the stills apps of Bridge and Photoshop, which didn't have PrPRo's issue. And that was an issue quite different than the work that you're doing anyway. No relevance.

So ... you're creating the material on Storyboard 6 and exporting png/jpg files with alpha ... and none of the Adobe apps that work with alpha channels are seeing that alpha channel?

Neil

[colleenh14893333]

That's correct. We are using a cross-platform workflow.  I have posed this same question/issue with Storyboard Pro.  But I think the issue may rest with Adobe/PrPro since the issue ran across the other apps (Photoshop and Bridge).  I'm waiting to hear back from both Adobe Support and Storyboard Pro Support.  But thought that I'd pose the question on the forum in case others had experienced similar issues.

[R Neil Haugen]

I'm not clear ... did the alpha channel work correctly in Photoshop or not? And this is one of those fascinating things to try and puzzle out.

Neil

[Kevin-Monahan · Accepted solution]

Hi ColleenH,

Still having this issue? Have you tried updating Premiere Pro? Let us know.

Thanks,
Kevin

[colleenh14893333]

Hi Kevin,

I've just installed PPro CC 2019; this version seems to have addressed my issue.

Thanks,

Colleen