Hi, I exported a QuickTime video with Alpha + RGB setting in after effect and when I Imported it to Storyline 3 (Lastest version) instead of transparent I got a black background. ( Using HTML5 output and chrome) I'm looking for a solution to this? Is Storyline capable of importing transparent videos or No It Just Can't? Thanks.

I think this should start being added to your high list of priorities Articulate. Besides, you don't want to be "that" authoring tool company that "says" you're doing versus actually doing something about it. Look at this data: 26 Total responses since 2 years ago 18 in the last year (69% of responses) 14 responses in the last 6 months (77% of responses within 6 months) 8 response in the last month (57% of responses within a month) [That doesn't include a post I made recently about the same issue before I found this one.] According to staffer, Ren Gomez, "We don’t have plans for this feature right now, but we'll continue to monitor requests for it and update this discussion if anything changes." I think the requests warrant Articulate actually doing something now. Besides, why would you offer this as a .flv solution back in the day but give up on it as an HTML5 solution? Is it that you can't make it work OR you don't want to? Most of the solutions that the user community presents are created workarounds by the community. Is there a published list of bug fixes that the community can see? Based on street estimates, Articulate has an estimated revenue of 75M, I certainly believe that you could take Justin Kliegman's advice and hire a programmer to complete this ASK for less than a 1/1000th percent. SO, to the community, I encourage everyone of us to create individual "enhancement/bug fixes/improvements/feature suggestions" and see if the company actually listens. The old adage "squeaky wheel gets the oil" should prevail here. Here is the link for your convenience https://articulate.com/support/contact/feature-request I've added mine just now... I want to be able to add transparent video with RGB+A into Storyline using HTML5. Currently, the video is converted by SL and it removes the transparent BG. Adobe is sun-setting Flash in two months and this feature should have already been on the list to complete. Good luck!

Hi Ady and Sue! I completely understand! Our Engineering team is looking into the details of this feature and how the future of Flash impacts it. When we hear of more information, we'll update everyone in this discussion. Thanks for checking back!

Hi there, Lee! We've still got our eye on this, and promise to let you know if there's any forward movement on this functionality. You'll be notified immediately since you're now subscribed to this discussion!

A few weeks ago I received an email with "news" from articulate, the updates were from last year. A well-designed application can be constantly updated and add new features, especially for a company as large as Articulate. https://articulate.com/support/article/Articulate-Storyline-360-Version-History Most of the new features are about things the community doesn't ask for, and they focus on fixing their own bugs.

Hi Sara, Correct, we support FLV files with alpha transparency in our Flash output and the Articulate Mobile player (all Storyline versions). The nature of those files doesn't allow for transparency to carry over to our HTML5 output. To make sure your courses will still play if you've included them we'll re-encode those files during publishing for HTML5 output to an MP4. Some users have asked about other file types with transparency: The MP4/H.264 file type does not support alpha channel (not specific to Articulate tools) A .webm video format is an option for transparency, but we don't support that based on their lack of browser support. Essentially if you were using that file, it wouldn't work in IE, Safari(mobile or desktop) and have less than awesome results in Firefox. Hope that helps clarify!

Transparent Background Video Support?!

64 Replies

ShielaMarieMarc
Community Member
7 years ago
Hi Sara,

Storyline 3 is capable of supporting Alpha Channel transparency in movies but it looks like it depends on the file format (.FLV and .SWF). Here is Articulate's support page which describes how videos are encoded in Storyline and another one which goes over the published output that support and don't support it (Flash and AMP).
SaraRee-e13f954
Community Member
7 years ago
Hi Shiela,

Thank you for your response... and...

Again and again and again... Limitations...!!!

Based on those links Articulate Storyline does not support Videos with alpha-channel transparency on HTML5.

If I still want alpha-channel transparency in HTML5, what then? I mean can I use web objects or something to suppress this deficiency?
AshleyT-Pollard
Staff
7 years ago
Hi Sara,

Correct, we support FLV files with alpha transparency in our Flash output and the Articulate Mobile player (all Storyline versions). The nature of those files doesn't allow for transparency to carry over to our HTML5 output. To make sure your courses will still play if you've included them we'll re-encode those files during publishing for HTML5 output to an MP4.

Some users have asked about other file types with transparency:

The MP4/H.264 file type does not support alpha channel (not specific to Articulate tools)

A .webm video format is an option for transparency, but we don't support that based on their lack of browser support. Essentially if you were using that file, it wouldn't work in IE, Safari(mobile or desktop) and have less than awesome results in Firefox.

Hope that helps clarify!
- SaraRee-e13f954
  Community Member
  7 years ago
  Hi,
  Thank you for your immediate support.
  Best Regards.
- OmarWilkinson
  Community Member
  7 years ago
  Hi...Just upgraded to Storyline 3 and attempted to use some video people cutouts from eLearning brothers that I had used in the past with Storyline 2. The background is no longer transparent. Why is that and how do I resolve it?
SaraRee-e13f954
Community Member
7 years ago
Thank you Ashley, I got my answer.
AshleyT-Pollard
Staff
7 years ago
Hi Omar,

Were you publishing for HTML5? Often the videos that have transparent backgrounds are FLV videos with alpha channel transparency. We support those in Storyline 3, but only the Flash output.
AdyHowes-bf19ef
Community Member
6 years ago
HI There.

Just searched for a solution to a forthcoming problem. I am wanting to add a presenter on top of slides on an eLearning module. A bit like how you would see a sign language presenter super-imposed on a news programme.

We need to use HTML 5.

From what I'm reading, this isn't going to be possible in Articulate Storyline 360. Have I got this right?

Ady
- SueRoberts
  Community Member
  6 years ago
  I am in the same boat as Ady. I do have a presenter using sign language filmed on a green screen. Flash is dying out and is no longer installed on our company computers, so what are my options. I really could use some help.
LaurenDuvall
Staff
6 years ago
Hi Ady and Sue!

I completely understand! Our Engineering team is looking into the details of this feature and how the future of Flash impacts it. When we hear of more information, we'll update everyone in this discussion.

Thanks for checking back!
- justinkliegman
  Community Member
  6 years ago
  Has your team figured this out yet. I think I've been waiting on this since 2014. We have 360 and need this function to create amazing training. Your character library will never match what we can make in Adobe. But your platform is king in this industry. With a simple notion you can starting fixing this for your users but you don't. And furthermore never actually take direct complaints, fixes or suggestions from your best users... and implement them. Just make the changes. or hire someone who can. please. from a super user at a huge huger huuuuge corporation, do right by us.
LeeChristoffers
Community Member
6 years ago
Hello!

Has this bug been fixed yet?
KatieRiggio
Staff
6 years ago
Hi there, Lee!

We've still got our eye on this, and promise to let you know if there's any forward movement on this functionality. You'll be notified immediately since you're now subscribed to this discussion!
DavidBeaulieu-8
Community Member
6 years ago
I would like to notified too since I am having the same issues.

Please note that ".mov" support the transparent background and is supported by many browsers.