Importing Still Images; Interpretation Methods; Preparing Still-Image Files For Importing - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 Manual

Choose File > Interpret Footage > Main.
2
In the Alpha section, select an interpretation method.
3
If you want to switch the opaque and transparent areas of the image, select Invert Alpha.
4
5 Click OK.
You can also change the default alpha channel interpretation by changing Import Preferences, in the Interpret
Unlabeled Alpha As menu. This is especially useful for importing footage from an application that consistently uses
one type of unlabeled alpha channel.
A footage file with a premultiplied alpha channel (left) appears with a black halo (center) when interpreted as Straight-Unmatted, or Premul-
tiplied-Matted with Color (white selected). When the footage file is interpreted as Premultiplied-Matted with Color (black selected) the halo
does not appear (right).
See also
"About straight and premultiplied channels" on page 242

Interpretation methods

Displays a dialog box containing interpretation options each time you import an unlabeled alpha channel.
Ask User
Attempts to determine the type of alpha channel used in the image. If After Effects cannot guess confidently,
Guess
it beeps.
Disregards all transparency data in the file.
Ignore Alpha
Interprets the alpha channel as straight alpha. If the application you used to create the footage
Straight (Unmatted)
does not premultiply the alpha channel, select this option.
Premultiplied (Matted With Black)
Premultiplied (Matted With White)
See also
"About straight and premultiplied channels" on page 242

Importing still images

Preparing still-image files for importing

You can import individual still images into After Effects or import a numbered sequence of still images as a sequence.
You can import still images from Adobe applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator, or import Adobe Stock
Photos from Adobe Bridge. For information about the still-image formats that After Effects imports, see "Supported
file formats for import" on page 69.
Interprets the alpha channel as premultiplied with black.
Interprets the alpha channel as premultiplied with white.
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User Guide