Imaginate Alpha Background? How to Export?

[Mav2u]

I've viewed the Imaginate software on a friends computer. He doesn't use it to the depth I would like to so he's not much help.

I spoke with the sales team at Canopus at the gentleman was kind enough to direct me to the forums here to ask my questions. He said you folks would know the limits of this product really well. So here is my question.

I would like to make my clip with Imaginate, then export or save that file to a format that would allow me to import it into Premiere with a alpha background instead of a colored background. Is this possible? I want to use my Jump Back motion videos with the Imaginate clip. If this is possible I will buy this product and skip making it in Premiere and After Effects.

Imaginate looks like a great product. Any help or info would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[shueardm]

You can export uncompressed RGBA.

But... Imaginate is not for sale anymore- you might find a few still left if you hunt around.

[antonsvideo]

You can export uncompressed RGBA.

But... Imaginate is not for sale anymore- you might find a few still left if you hunt around.

You can't export uncompressed RGBA if the project is 16:9 (known bug)

4:3 is fine but

[Claire]

You can't export uncompressed RGBA if the project is 16:9 (known bug)

4:3 is fine but

Hmm... works for me Anton, I visited a friend with Imaginate and we rendered out some stuff into PAL SD 16:9 and also to PAL 1080 HDV.

He doesn't have Edius so we put the files into After Effects with a solid on the lower layer and the Imaginate files showed perfect transparency. (the photos were scaled smaller than the canvas area while in Imaginate).

I was seriously thinking about buying Imaginate myself, but now I am messing with a trial copy of ProShow Producer. Unlike Imaginate PSP can export HDV using more sensible alpha aware codecs which don't consume tens of GB (and time) to produce short HDV renders. eg: it can render out in QuickTime Animation, 100% lossless without stupid file sizes.

I am also forming the opinion that using PSP3 in conjunction with Edius is even easier and more powerful.

[RonnieMartin]

I don't understand why this super program has been dropped by Grass Valley.

I use it all the time and would like to see it developed further.

Thanks

Ronnie

[Zorro]

I don't understand why this super program has been dropped by Grass Valley.

Afaik the programmer(s) left the company.

[Jerry]

You can't export uncompressed RGBA if the project is 16:9 (known bug)

The bug wasn't known to me or my machine. Been doing it for quite a while.

[Claire]

I was seriously thinking about buying Imaginate myself, but now I am messing with a trial copy of ProShow Producer. Unlike Imaginate PSP can export HDV using more sensible alpha aware codecs which don't consume tens of GB (and time) to produce short HDV renders. eg: it can render out in QuickTime Animation, 100% lossless without stupid file sizes.

Forget this, found ProShow doesn't export with alpha, even though it can use codecs that can do it. Hey, sounds like Edius :)

[Jerry]

You might want to look at Stage Tools. It will export to any codec that you have on board with alpha. I use Imaginate if I have a lot of photos on which I need to apply motion.
When you say 'export HDV' are you talking .m2t files or HQ?
Personally, I output to 1920x1080 square pixel uncompressed anyway so file size is not an issue with me.

[antonsvideo]

You can't export uncompressed RGBA if the project is 16:9 (known bug)

The bug wasn't known to me or my machine. Been doing it for quite a while.

it does export as 16:9 but look at the resulting file in Edius! It starts way out in the black area (works fine if using IVT direct in timeline)

movement start position in Imaginate

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/edius4/IM2-movement-start.gif

movement start position in Edius after uncompressed export, there is black all around (am I crazy or what?)

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/edius4/IM2-uncomp-export.gif

IVT direct on Edius timeline is showing perfect

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/edius4/IM2-IVT-Edius.gif

I reported that donkeys years ago and it was confirmed by Canopus Australia and several users on the old forum

[Jerry]

it does export as 16:9 but look at the resulting file in Edius! It starts way out in the black area (works fine if using IVT direct in timeline)

movement start position in Imaginate

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/edius4/IM2-movement-start.gif

movement start position in Edius after uncompressed export, there is black all around (am I crazy or what?)

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/edius4/IM2-uncomp-export.gif

IVT direct on Edius timeline is showing perfect

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/edius4/IM2-IVT-Edius.gif

I reported that donkeys years ago and it was confirmed by Canopus Australia and several users on the old forum

Anton,
Under Properties, Project Properties
You have to check Alpha Project and I also pick 16:9, 1.0,1080 for settings.

When you open up your panel you will have the black on the working screen and alpha on the display panel.
Here is a link to a PAL file I did for you. The original file was 1920x1080
rgba, I then converted it in Edius to HQ.
Throw it on a HD timeline and put a picture behind it. Alpha will show through.
Right click and save as target for the file.
http://sixgilldv.com/www/gallery/pal%20rgbahq.avi

Let me know how this works for you.

[antonsvideo]

I always have alpha ticked and I always set 16:9

however, I work in standard def 720x576 Pal 16:9, that maybe why you don't see the obvious problem, maybe HD is fine

[antonsvideo]

lets forget about alpha at this stage

please do a test as seen in my screenshot and export as uncompressed 16:9 or lossless 16:9 and then place the file on Edius timeline

movement start position in Imaginate

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/edius4/IM2-movement-start.gif

end position, zoom right into word Canopus

movement start position in Edius after uncompressed export, there is black all around (am I crazy or what?)

http://www.videoproductions.com.au/edius4/IM2-uncomp-export.gif

If exporting to 16:9 DV, then all is well
the problem is Uncompressed, Lossless and Canopus HQ

I will eat a broom if you don't see the big bug

[Jerry]

I will eat a broom if you don't see the big bug

Well, You don't have to eat a broom. I see what you were talking about.
No matter what setting you put into it for aspect ratio, fields or what ever,
it still comes out 4x3 lower field . Yes, in DV it works fine.
Don't feel bad though, it does the same on the NTSC side as well.
So, if you really need hi quality photo movement, I guess 1920x1080 uncompressed converted to HQ thrown onto a dv timeline.
Try the file I posted on a DV timeline and see how it looks.
The photos will look better.

[antonsvideo]

thank you for confirming that I am not crazy yet