Graphics

I am trying to cut-down the amount of time dedicated currently to putting replay moves and transitions onto the expression for show use.

Currently:
A client sends an element tape that has the fill and mattes of all the transitions for show use
We encode the tape to disk.
We take the encoded file and drop it into after effects and line up (fill / matte), then export each transition as a (h264 - 29.97 with alpha .mov)
Finally we use the Ross video encoder and encode each to the usable (.avi) format


Desired ability would be:
A client sends an element tape that has the fill and mattes of all the transitions for show use
Encode the tape to disk.
Use the Ross video encoder and encode each to the usable (.avi) format (the full rip)


Here is where I need HELP PLEASE:
I am assuming I would need the full rip on two different layers within the expression (one for the fill and one for the matte)
I know how to trim the in/out points of the clip and can figure out how to align the matte and fill for each transition
***** I am unsure of where to place them in order to make the matte cut the hole so the fill will key ****
IE - One on Background on on layer or both on layers

Lastly:
Can you copy & paste the 'trimmed' in/out point clip and place it onto another layer so I can speedily do what I am trying to do

If there is an easier way to the workflow or if anyone has any helpful tips I would great appreciate your thoughts

I'd suggest that you politely explain to the client that transporting the elements to you on tape makes extra work for you and them---and likely reduces quality. Ask for the files with alpha in whatever format they like that supports alpha. Render those as Xpression codec .AVIs in AfterEffects with no audio (Ross Video Tech Support can get you the Xpression Codec) then render the audio as a separate .WAV (so you can adjust the audio level if necessary within Xpression. If you absolutely must work with the fill and matte video files, render them from the same AfterEffects composition so they are exactly the same length---again with audio rendered separately. In Xpression, add a Layer Object to your scene, add two quads and make the quads children of the Layer Object. Make a video material of the fill and a mask video material of the matte videos, and apply the fill to the first quad and the matte to the second. Depending upon whether the matte is white on black or black on white, you may need to modify the Alpha Blending of the matte video material. WITH THAT SAID...this approach will involve two pieces of full screen video which has great potential to tax your system resources. One video with alpha is far easier once you get it to Xpression and probably easier in AfterEffects.
#XPression