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633Final Cut Pro User Guide
Use alpha channels in Final Cut Pro
Alpha channels provide an easy way to composite one image over another. You can create
still images and video clips that have alpha channels using an app such as Motion, an
Apple app designed to work with Final Cut Pro. Alpha channels can be thought of as having
a built-in keyer—when you use the key effects, you’re creating a mask that’s used in the
same way that a clip with an alpha channel is used for compositing.
Below is an example of a clip with an alpha channel, showing the image that fills the alpha
channel.
Below is the alpha channel image—the white areas define the video areas that are
composited over the background. Any gray areas would define parts of the image that are
partially transparent.