INTRODUCTION
Basically transparency in a Premiere Element Timeline image is represented by black looking area for the transparent portion of that image. The image directly below the Timeline image with transparency will display in the transparent area of the image above. Some examples of the Timeline image with transparency include classic titles*, title templates (lower 3rd, frame), an image with a color in it replaced by transparency using keys such as Green Screen or Chroma. In this regard, it is important to differentiate between black being used by the project to represent transparency in Timeline image versus the actual color black. Some background information from Adobe for Premiere Elements transparency can be found
Transparency and Superimposing
(Adobe dated December 20, 2017)
https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-elements/using/superimposing-transparency.html
ISSUE
Given the image with transparency on the Timeline and need to export that image with its transparency maintained, How To? That following export routes and conditions were found to do this.
SUMMARY FOR PREMIERE ELEMENTS 2018 EXPORT ROUTES AND CONDITIONS FOR MAINTAINING TIMELINE IMAGE TRANSPARENCY IN EXPORT
(Using Premiere Elements 2018 for demonstration purposes and source media including classic titles, title template lower 3rd, or an image with color in it replaced by transparency using Green Screen Key or Chroma Key)
.MOV File with Video Codec = Animation and Depth = 8-pbc + alpha
Export & Share
Devices
Custom
Export Settings
Format: QuickTime
Video Tab: Video Codec set at Animation
Render at Maximum Depth check mark and Depth selected as 8-bpc + alpha (from the choices of 8-bpc or 8-bpc + alpha).
(Critical to maintaining transparency in export was Depth = 8-bpc + alpha and not Render at Maximum Depth check mark.**)
.AVI File with Video Codec = None and Depth = 32 Bit
Export & Share
Devices
Custom
Export Settings
Format: AVI
Video Tab: Video Codec set at "None"
Render at Maximum Depth check mark and Depth selected as 32 bit (from the choices of 8, 16, 24, or 32 bit).
(Critical to maintaining transparency in export was Depth = 32 bit and not Render at Maximum Depth check mark.** In contrast, Export Settings/Format = AVI Uncompressed did not work to maintain transparency of the Timeline image in the export.)
COMMENTARY
In Premiere Elements 11 through 2018***, it was possible to export a .mov or .avi file with its transparency area maintained. Refer to above for Premiere Elements 2018 findings.
The following was noted in comparing the above 2018 findings with those from earlier versions
MOV
In Premiere Elements 11 through 2018, the Timeline image with transparency could be exported as an Animation.mov file with the transparency in the Timeline image maintained in the export; however, the Export Settings Depth field choices differed in comparing 2018 with 11 through 15. For 2018, the transparency was maintained when Depth choice was 8-bpc + alpha (from choices of 8-bpc or 8-bpc + alpha); for 11 through 15, the transparency was maintained when Depth choice was 32 bit (from choices of 8, 16, 24, or 32 bit).
AVI
In Premiere Elements 11 through 2018, the Timeline image with transparency could be exported as an "None" avi file with the transparency in the Timeline image maintained in the export. For 11 through 2018, the Export Settings Depth choice was 32 bit (from choices of 8, 16, 24, or 32 bit).
Note: Path to the given Export Settings differed going from Premiere Elements 11 to 2018.
For Premiere Elements 11, 12/12.1, and 13/13.1
Publish+Share
Computer
QuickTime or AVI
Advanced Button
Export Settings
For Premiere Elements 14/14.1, 15, and 20l8
Export & Share
Devices
Custom
Advanced Settings
Export Settings
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*Version 2018 Reminder: Classic titles created in the project's Titler can be exported with its transparency maintained by right clicking the thumbnail for that title in Project Assets, followed by the selection of Export Title option in the drop down menu. The end result is that title as a .prtl file saved to the computer hard drive for future use. This Export Title option does not apply to Motion titles. Some specifics for version to version details for exporting title created in project's Titler workspace can be found HERE.
**Adobe's in project description for Render at Maximum Depth option is
"Rendering at maximum bit depth improves the video's quality but increases how long encoding takes."
***For Premiere Elements versions earlier than 11, the routes and conditions for the export with transparency maintained in export were found to be
Premiere Elements 8.0/8.0.1, 9.0/9.0.1, and 10
Share
Computer (named Personal Computer in 8.0/8.0.1 and earlier)
QuickTime or AVI
Advanced button
Export Settings
For QuickTime: Video Tab: Video codec = Animation and Depth = 32 bit.
For AVI: Video Tab: Video codec = None, and Depth = 32 bit.
Premiere Elements 4 and 7
(In these versions, in addition to the File Menu route, there is a Share route for QuickTime, no AVI. But, the Share QuickTime route always ended in Error message of Invalid Argument.)
File Menu
Export
Movie
Settings tab in Export Movie dialog
Export Movie settings
For QuickTime...General Tab: File Type = QuickTime, and Video Tab: Compressor = Animation, and Color Depth = Millions+ of colors (from choices of 256 colors, Thousands of colors, Millions of colors, or Millions+ of colors).
For AVI...General Tab: File Type = Microsoft AVI, and Video Tab: Compressor = None, and Color Depth = Millions+ of colors (from choices of 256 colors, Thousands of colors, Millions of colors, or Millions+ of colors).
See the following related information for Premiere Elements 4 and 7.
"PE 12: Transfers from Project to Project"
(Section titled Transparency: Non Title Content With The Excerpt from a Premiere Elements 10 Daily Discoveries thread)
July 25, 2014
http://atr935.blogspot.com/2014/07/pe12-transfers-from-project-to-project.html
As always, work in progress for accuracy and content.
ATR
