Alpha Rendering

Alpha Rendering

I've also did some research on rendering since I'll have to import my 3D animation to Adobe After Effects for further editing. I took quite some time and discuss with one of my classmate who are also doing 3D using 3Ds Max - Carmen. We tried several method on exporting such as using .avi and also .mov. However, our tutor doesn't recommend us to use movie clips for editing in After Effect due to bigger file size and also hard to manipulate the alpha channel of the background. Therefore, we tried using .png and also .targa file. .targa file is the most recommended file to be imported to After Effect because they will be imported as image sequence which the file size is smaller.

Here's an example of the tutorial on helping me to understand the concept of using .targa file in After Effect:

I've also met some problem on the viewport reference image in 3Ds Max sticks as a background when I render it. To edit the 3D animation in After Effect, it is better to have an alpha background which is easier to import a background video or image. I spend quite some time to figure out how to remove the background on the viewport and finally I found a way which enables me to remove the background reference and able to render as an alpha environment.

To remove the file on the view port, go to Views -> Viewport Background -> Configure Viewport -> then remove the file on the use files tab.

Even after you remove the background from the viewport configuration, you will still have to go to Rendering -> Environment and uncheck the use map to render the animation without the image reference on the viewport.