How To Create Transparent Videos For The Web – WVU #73
If you’ve ever landed on a web site where a video plays and it appears that the person in the video is magically floating on top of the page, that’s a transparent video. And in this video, I show you how to do it.
Resources
Transparent commands used in embed code:
Placed in the object tag of the embed code <param name=”wmode” value=”transparent”>
Placed in the embed tag of the embed code wmode=”transparent”
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I’ve been wondering how to do that for at least a year. You mentioned this can only be done with higher end flash rendering software. Do you have a list? It’s a tool I’d definitely like to be able to provide my clients. Thanks for another great video!
@Ben Roberts – Ty’s list is correct…along with Flix Pro.
Thanks Ty and Dave…. Dave, I just signed up for WVU and I’ve already learned more in about half an hour than months of snooping around on the web! Seriously.
That’s great, Dave. Exactly what I’m looking for. By the way, are you using Dreamweaver player? If you are, I can’t get it to work when I host my video on S3 amazon. Is there a magic trick to make it work?
@Rainer – Yes, that’s a player from Dreamweaver.
Hi Dave,
Do you do this for clients or can you recommend a student of yours?
I would provide the video with the proper background.
Or should I go to elance and use you instruction video as the parameters for my project?
Thanks,
@Brian Jones – I provide the service as part of my package at http://www.webvideouniversity.com
Your stuff is always so useful! Thanks for all the great tutorials!
@rainer, it looks like Dave used JW Player – http://bit.ly/d3ivK5
@ben, the Flash Video Encoder (from Adobe) will encode the alpha channel. Sorenson Squeeze will also do it (http://bit.ly/9tvCzK).
Doing the same transparent video is done with a green screen studio.
You can use almost every player that have a transparent mode (wmode=transparent).
I’m using the http://bit.ly/transparentplayer that have much more features in it.
There are many features and flexibility that you have with this player, you are welcome to check their website.
Btw: a different topic to consider is the compress ratio – it wasn’t mentioned in the video.
There are tools such as Sorenson Squeeze and Episode for great compression ratio.
Specially those with 2 VBR Pass – meaning going through the file twice, analyze it and then compress it, gets better results.
Thanks Dave. I love your teaching style. You are quick, to the point and very informative. I am learning a lot and I am very grateful to have found you. BTW, I love your recent Brand Re-vitalization. Your emails and video pages are finally aligning with your level of professionalism. Well done.
Hi Dave,
I just subscribed to your video tutorials and I’d like to thanks you for such quality training, mind you it has had an effect on my already lack of sleep lol…. too much to do and so little time
Anyway I have produced my first video using Vegas Pro 9, well 2 versions actually (like you suggested) one flash and one mpg. The flash one I uploaded to my website http://www.melbourne-internet-marketing.com and the mpg is hosted on youtube, the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxi_gN-lYDc
I also took your advise about tubemogul, took some time to set up but as with everything you teach…. it’s very handy relevant stuff.
Thank you.
Hi Dave,
I have Sony Vegas Pro 8 can I still shot green screen. If so, Which button would I press to get rid of the green screen. This is all knew to me! Thank you for your videos, as well as your time.
Michael
@Michael – Keying out green screens isn’t a one-click process (unfortunately). I teach how to properly do it in my paid training at http://www.webvideouniversity.com
Nice… Often wondered how that was done! Transparent effects are really eye catching… I like them.
Brilliant! I love this videos and I love the fact you’re so prepared before shooting the video so that you speak fast, clear, without un-necessary pauses, really is refreshing cause most people i’ve been watching who do tutorials speak SO DAMN SLOW! makes me want to pull my hair out! hehe (not literally)
Anyways, have you had any kind of professional training for voice-overs or speaking? or maybe toast masters? how can I improve my voice to be fast, efficient, clear and easy to understand, but also focused?
Thanks
@Marc – It’s really just a matter of practice, i.e. doing vs. studying. But if you want to study, here’s a resource:
http://www.videowebguy.com
Thanks for your great tutorial. Is Adobe media converter sold as a stand alone product? I cannot seem to find it on their website.
Do you know of another inexpensive software to convert the video to flash with the alpha channel enabled?
Thanks Dave
Steve
Can we download flash video encorder for free or do we have to buy it?..im trying to find a link for that on adobe.
@Mark – Adobe Media Encoder is only available in Adobe’s Creative Suite line of products.
I do learn from watching but not as much as I’d like to. I’m Deaf and wish training videos were captioned or subtitled. Especially How To Create Transparent Videos For The Web – WVU #73
Regardless, a question if I may. Can these transparent videos be used in PowerPoint presentations?
@Jason – Yes if they are transcoded with an alpha-channel in a format PowerPoint accepts.
Jason: to play those movie you will need a flv format.
In Power Point 2007 you can’t play flv format where you have the tranparent mode.
You will need to check in Power Point 2010 if they have flv format.
I used an add-on to power point 2007 called Articulate where I could run a flash movies with the transparent mode.
Dave, thanks for the great tutorial. Do you know if there are any good free transparent players out there? Almost all the ones I have seen are around $100. It seems like something that maybe Adobe or others would be packaging with their products.
Thanks