After being asked how to create TV art cards with an alpha mask for about the zillionth time, I figured it was time to bite the bullet and write down the process. So if you’re an Art Director or Designer who just got the client to sign off on your first big TV spot, or perhaps a budding film director, editor, or just someone who wants to learn how to use an AVID, this little how-to article is for you. Well, actually, it’s for me too because I could use the extra time working on other projects.
A couple quick things to point out before we begin.
The information listed below was written as a guide to quickly walk you through the process of creating broadcast title card graphics. It’s based on the premise that you have, at least, a fair amount of experience using Photoshop so it doesn’t cover every single action.
Creating TV art cards doesn’t require any fancy plug-ins, actions, or filters. Although I used Adobe Photoshop CS3 (on a Mac) to created the graphics displayed below, the process is pretty straight forward and uses some basic features that have been around since, at least PS 5 or 6.
The difference between creating standard title cards vs. those with an Alpha mask (or channel) is that the title cards with the Alpha mask will allow the masked graphic to overlay other images or footage. e.g. the client’s logo superimposed over a product. So if all you need is a standard art card, you can follow the same steps outlined below–but skipping steps four and five.
How To Create Broadcast Title Art Cards
Create a new Photoshop document
Select: File > New >
From the “Preset” drop-down menu, select “Film & Video”
From the “Size” drop-down menu, select “NTSC D1 Square Pixel” and then select “OK”. This will create a 720 x 540 document (with guides).
Place your .EPS or .AI Graphic into your new document
Select: File > Place
Scale Graphic as Required
TIP: It’s better to make your graphic a bit bigger than you need, rather than smaller, as you can always scale it down in AVID without image quality loss. After scaling the Placed graphic, add any other additional text or graphics required for shameless self promotion.After scaling the Placed graphic, add any other additional text or graphics required for shameless self promotion.
Load Selection/s
This next step is to select your graphics and/or text so we can create an alpha channel which is needed when you (or or editor) import the image into AVID.
The quickest way to do this is to hold down the “Command” key while to click on the layer your graphic is on. This will cause the graphic to be surrounded by the ever popular “marching ants”.
Another option is to make sure the graphic layer is selected and then Select: Select > Load Selection
If you have multiple layers to be selected (such as the graphic and text shown in the below sample), just (Shift + Command + click) on each layer.
Save Selection
Select: Select > Save Selection (This creates an Alpha channel)
The dialog box will prompt you to give the new Channel a name. I used “graphic” but you can name it anything you want. Select “OK”
SAVE AS
Select: File > Save As >
From the “Format” drop-down menu, select “PICT File”. Make sure the “Alpha Channels” box is checked.
Click: “Save”
From the subsequent “PICT File Options” dialog box (Resolution: 32 bits/pixel Compressions: None), select “OK”.
Import into AVID
Import with inverted alpha channel. This is a preset you can select for the import function
And there you have it, you’re good to go. You now have a crisp. clean graphic with a masked background to overlay over other graphics.
