Unwanted black background after exporting transparent video file

jj78hc

When I use the 'Green Screen' effect to remove a video green screen, and create a video with a transparent background (eg shilhouette dancers), it is fine on time line & clip preview, but the program always subs a black background when viewing sequence preview or exporting the finished MP4 file. In the past I simply removed the green screen background with the green screen effect (chroma key) and exported the transparent file to my computer. Worked fine. Now it appears there is a default color background (black) added to any file exported. What's changed and how to correct this?

borate

What version of VP is being used? Look at the bottom-left corner of the window.

Try the latest.

Share your project and someone will take a look. The process is easy, quick and can be done privately. Just follow these steps...

Back up --- With your project on the timeline, click on MENU at the top-left. Click FILE|BACK UP PROJECT FILES TO FOLDER. Choose a folder and SELECT FOLDER.
Upload --- Use a free server - Google Drive, MS OneDrive, etc.* - to upload the saved, numbered FOLDER. Do NOT upload the individual VPJ or export file.
Get link --- Get a public link. Right-click the file and click SHARE. When using Google Drive, if necessary change "restricted" to "anyone with the link can view"
Share --- Click COPY LINK | DONE. Paste that link here, or click the folder at the top-right of this forum to message it privately to me. It won't be shared.

* Before uploading, right-click the folder, click PROPERTIES. Look at the File Size to confirm that it's not too big for the free space on the server.

jj78hc

Using Video Pad Pro Version 13.81

borate

Let's take a look. Share the project via the above steps. What are the PC's specs: CPU/GPU/RAM? "13.81" Using a Mac?

You might also try this...

Go to OPTIONS | ADVANCED. At the bottom, in the GPU area, click the caret and choose NONE (CPU only).

Click to enlarge

jj78hc

Windows 10
Processor   Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8565U CPU @ 1.80GHz 1.99 GHz
Installed RAM   16.0 GB (15.8 GB usable)
System type   64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

borate

Seeing no issue with CK here on Windows. The best way to track this down is to share. Otherwise, we cannot attempt to replicate what you report.

Check that version #. 13.81 appears to be for a Mac.

Install the latest, if you haven't already done so.

jj78hc

My bad it is actually Version 13.80

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ab_TTDq-SOyWQ_M4Gpt0kVntPb2F6Io1/view?usp=sharing

borate

No hint of the issue in 18.80 (64) here with a very similar PC. Try the NONE (CPU only) suggestion above. Share.

jj78hc

Already made the NONE (CPU only) change. I am not attempting to replace the green screen with another background. I only want to remove the green screen and save a transparent background copy of the video, which I use to drop on other backgrounds in another program. I have done that many times with video pad in the past with no problem. Common sense tells me Video Pad is automatically replacing the green screen with a black screen when I export the transparent file. Are you attempting to do what I am (remove green screen and create the same file with a transparent background?) Can this version of Video Pad still do that? If so list the steps one would use to do so.

borate

Now it's understood. Export your CK'd video as an .apng file, which will retain the transparent background.

jj78hc

No it will not!!! Exporting the video as a .apng file (which nothing will open, not even your PhotoStage program) is useless. It has to then be converted to a MP4 which is the same ole black background. This isn't rocket science removing a green screen and creating a video with a transparent background. But the money I spent to upgrade from free to the master pro program apparently has been wasted. If VideoPad can take a green screen video and remove the green screen then create the video into a video with a transparent background please list the steps to do so. Otherwise pretty sure I am going to try and get a refund on my investment.

borate

You uploaded just the VPJ file, which is of no use. Please follow the procedure above ... the VPJ and all source files will be part of the folder to be uploaded.

The .apng is indeed transparent when loaded into Videopad, assuming that's how you plan to use it. It also opens in MPC-BE, with a black background.

You mentioned that this once succeeded. Where? In Videopad? If yours is a still image, just 'grab' it with a right-click on the preview window.

Here's an .apng video for testing. Download it and give it a try. You should see that it works fine as an overlay in Videopad.

jj78hc

Yes in VideoPad. Actually VideoPad free before NCH got greedy and required a purchase of Pro upgrade. All we did was use the ChromaKey (green screen) effect to remove the green screen creating a video file with a transparent background. Then exported that file as MP4 file to my computer. Last time I did this less than a year ago. I do not want to have to use Videopad to overlay the video file onto another background. It can be done more efficiently, effectively and with better quality in other programs (SmartShow3D is just one example). Can the new version of VideoPad create MP4 videos with transparent backgrounds or not? If no say so and I with move on and get a refund on my $100 purchase price. If it can then what is the current steps to do so to not end up with a colored background forced on it by the program.

borate

Well, VP never forces a 'buy' but they do encourage.

Tested a half-dozen versions, all the way back to 8.45 and none output a transparent BG in the mp4 container. Also tested several encoders.

For more info see "mp4 transparency."

The .apng video files that VP exports are transparent. That they don't work with some other apps may be a limitation/configuration of those apps.

What version were you running when the transparent mp4 was successful?