Transparent Background help/advice

Xenofex2 wrote on 2/25/2022, 2:20 PM

Not sure where to look and would appreciate some advice.

After using a program to first animate a couple of still image(s), I then used Unscreen Pro to provide me with a transparent image. However, the result is that I have been given two files, an alpha mask video file, and, at the moment, it appears to me (but possibly not), the original video.

https://www.unscreen.com/

Whilst the program ‘Unscreen’ says that you can combine the two files in your video editing software for a final transparency-applied video layer. It provides some step-by-step instructions on how to achieve with ‘some of the most popular software for video background removal purposes’, but it does not include Magix Movie Edit Pro. If I can obtain a transparent background to my video file with (their website advice) Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects, and also DaVinci Resolve, I assume it can also be done with MEP.

I assume it may have something to do with greenscreen which I have never used … up to now.

Advice greatly appreciated or where I can checkout a tutorial.

George

Comments

Xenofex2 wrote on 2/25/2022, 2:36 PM

An Update - Extra Information

I have just looked again at the guide using these other programs. Greenscreen seemingly does not seemingly come into it?

Here for Adobe After Effects tyhe advice says, go to "Extensions". Select "Unscreen Pro" and press the "Import Unscreen Pro Bundle".

Upload the zip file you have previously downloaded from Unscreen Pro.

Once the zip file is uploaded to After Effects, your video background will be automatically transparent, so you can then add a background of your choice.

Voilá, the video now has a transparent background.

CubeAce wrote on 2/25/2022, 3:10 PM

@Xenofex2

There are videos on YouTube that show anyone how to separate a person from a video using Zoom and OBS studio. It could save you a lot in subscription fees.

johnebaker wrote on 2/26/2022, 5:24 AM

@Xenofex2

Hi George

. . . . I have been given two files, an alpha mask video file, and, at the moment, it appears to me (but possibly not), the original video . . . . Greenscreen seemingly does not seemingly come into it? . . .

The Alpha mask file should be a black and white video clip.

In Movie Edit Pro load the video and the alpha mask so the they are aligned one above the other. To the Alpha mask apply Chromakey Alpha if it is not applied automatically.

Depending on the order of the two clips and what else is above/below the Alpha clip use the direction arrow of the Alpha effect arrow to get what you require - see example image below- this are still images however the video should behave the same way.

You may have to experiment a bitwit the top/bottom order and the Alpha direction arrow - once you have them as required group the video and alpha clips together.

Green screen is one of several options of Chromakey and is, along with Blue screen, often mistakenly used to refer to Chromakey.

HTH

John EB

Xenofex2 wrote on 2/26/2022, 10:42 AM

Thankyou both but it was John’s answer in this instance that has given us the breakthrough. A totally new area for me so still learning. Thankyou.

Whilst I have now overcome this first hurdle, another has been presented and I am currently experimenting with different formats for export.

It seems at the moment that as the original short clips are 512 x 512, I cannot select this, or a square size for export so the face in the exported clip is somewhat squashed.

Plus the format. An attempt to export to Mpeg-4 seems to crash MEP and at the moment it appears that I have had more luck with the AVI format. Of course it could be due to slightly different settings selected so I will continue with my experiments but must note what settings are in each export so that I can arrive as to what is best.

George

Former user wrote on 2/26/2022, 10:52 AM

@Xenofex2 Hi, in the Movie settings there is a square 1:1 option in MPEG-4 Social media, you can type any size you want in the Width & Height, those sizes are then in the export window

CubeAce wrote on 2/26/2022, 10:52 AM

@Xenofex2

You can set custom ratios when you set a project up and again on export using the drop down menus or typing in the required sizes and frame rates etc. The problem could be getting the encoder settings correct as the they can produce 0 byte sized files if they go wrong. Personally I would look for the nearest neighboring set of specs and then just adjust the output to the required aspect ratio manually.

Ray.

CubeAce wrote on 2/26/2022, 10:53 AM

@Former user

Ha! Beaten by seconds! 👍

Former user wrote on 2/26/2022, 10:58 AM

@CubeAce 😁

Xenofex2 wrote on 2/26/2022, 3:46 PM

Many many thanks everyone.

I have finally got there.

George