Making a background transparent?

[Dee Dee Warren]

Okay I may be diving in way too deep.

But let's say I rip out a portion of a DVD sequence.... like let's just say the opening sequence of the tv show "24" that has the logo flashing around....

If I wanted to make the black background of the clip transparent but leave in the yellow numerical moving logo, is there a way I could do that?

I am using version 2.

[jackfalbey]

I think if you put the clip from "24" on track 2 and add a color matte set to black it should let whatever is on track 1 show through and leave the logo. However, I am using PE3 and it may be a little different...

[Dee Dee Warren]

Jack, I am semi-retarded when it comes to Premiere at this point. I understood putting it on track two. I don't understand what you mean about the color matte. The background is already black...

(I tried making it into an animated transparent .gif file in Animation Shop but Premiere didn't recognize the transparency)

[Paul LS]

As Jack says, but use the Chroma Key, use the eyedropper to select the black background and the video below will show through. If the logo does not jump around you can use the Garbage Matte to eliminate most of the black background and use the Chroma Key to clear the remaining black background around the logo. Note you can use multiple Chroma Keys to eliminate different shades of black background.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Paul, remember I am semi-retarded with Premiere. I understood nothing of what you just said.

[Chuck Engels]

The Chroma Key is an effect that removes any color and replaces it with tranparency. In the list of effects you will find the Chroma Key, drag it to your title and in the effect properties you will be able to use the eyedropper to select the color you want to be transparent. There are also a couple of adjustments that can be made on how close the color match is.

You can also just create the title in Photoshop Elements, remove the background to get the tranparency and then send that psd file to your project, instant transparency

[Paul LS]

As Jack said have your new background video on track 1 and the video with the background you want to get rid of on track 2. Over in the Video Effects, in Keying, select the Chroma Key and drag it to the video on track 2. Then in the clip properties panel expand the Chroma Key effect and you will see an eyedropper. Use this to select the black background... when selected, the black areas that match the color selected with the eyedropper will become transparent. You can adust teh controls to eliminate as much of the background as possible.
If some background is missed you can drag another Chroma Key to the clip and select the remaining black background area to try to eliminate this as well.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Okay I will try this stuff and post any additional questions. I am still very much a novice.

I like making my own music videos to shows I like, thus my current 24 project. I have made two Xena vids but they are very basic, fun anyhows.

[jackfalbey]

My bad, wrong terminology. That's why Paul is a Moderator and I'm a newbie. Like Chuck said, Chroma Key removes a given color and lets what's beneath show through. Same way they do the weather on the evening news. Find it under "Video Effects" and drag it on to the clip from "24". Then go to the "Properties" panel and where you can select the color to Key, click the eyedropper tool, then click on the black background in the monitor window. That way you can be sure to get the exact shade of black because you're sampling it from the original.

Edit: Paul is a much faster typist than I am.

[Jayell]

Paul, remember I am semi-retarded with Premiere. I understood nothing of what you just said.

Thanks so much for persisting on this, Dee Dee. I've never understood this concept either, and figured I wasn't smart enough to be using this program . I've just tried it out using Jack, Paul, and Chuck's help. Now I get it!! There are so many wonderful tools in this program that really take a lot of trial and error to understand. If only there were about 10 more hours in each day

[Chuck Engels]

Or maybe 10 more tutorials

Chroma Key is on the list for tutorials, among other things. There are more coming soon, Steve finished a Garbage Matte 2 parter that will be up this week and I will have another 2 parter up next week.

[Jayell]

That sounds, great, Chuck!

.. but then we still need those 10 extra hours to play with what we learn from the tutorials

[Chuck Engels]

But the tutorials get you there so much quicker

[momoffduty]

Can't wait to see the Garbage Matte tutorial! I am with you jayell, still learning all of the functions available with PE3. Seems the possibilities are endless and I could use that extra 10 hrs. too. And thanks Dee Dee for posting your question.

[Chuck Engels]

Dee Dee, How goes the transparency battle? Are you getting anywhere or would a little more instruction help?