iPad Video with Transparency

Question

is it possible to have a QuickTime video with alpha layer (transparency) play on top of a static dynamic background UIView (i.e. a view that changes occasionall

Answer 1

You could have a normal video and reduce the alpha of the presenting view. This can be done using an AVPlayer and AVPlayerLayer by adding the AVPlayerLayer to a UIView and setting the alpha of the UIView. Something like:

self.player = [[AVPlayer alloc] initWithURL:url];
self.playerLayer = [AVPlayerLayer playerLayerWithPlayer:self.player];
self.playerLayer.frame = view.bounds;
...etc...
self.playerView.alpha = 0.3;
[self.playerView.layer addSublayer:self.playerLayer];

I haven't tried this with the alpha channel in the video itself, but AVPlayerLayer should work for that as well.