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Runway Aleph 2.0 generates compositing mattes to eliminate manual rotoscoping

Runway added a text-to-video matte generation workflow to its Aleph 2.0 model, creating high-contrast silhouettes for video compositing. This update to Aleph 2.0 enables the model to interpret prompts for a "white silhouette on black" to isolate subjects. The system produces clean luma mattes—grayscale images defining transparency—ready for external editing suites.
Model
Aleph 2.0
Primary Workflow
Text-to-matte generation
Target Prompt
White silhouette on black
Output Type
Luma matte
Interface
Edit Studio

This feature targets a major bottleneck in professional video production: rotoscoping. Traditionally, isolating a moving subject requires tedious frame-by-frame masking, but this approach generates usable mattes in seconds. As Higgsfield integrates generative tools into professional timelines, Runway is focusing on outputting industry-standard assets that fit into existing VFX pipelines.

Editors can upload footage to the Runway web interface, prompt for a silhouette, and export the clip as a luma matte. This allows for localized color correction or background replacement without manual masking. The feature is available now through the Aleph 2.0 interface in the Edit Studio on the web.

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Runway
Runway
@runwayml
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Create compositing mattes in seconds with Aleph 2.0 Mattes let you isolate a subject from its background so you can composite, color or apply effects to just one part of your shot. 1. Upload your video 2. Prompt for a white silhouette on black 3. Review your preview 4. Hit generate 5. Set your matte clip as a luma matte in your editor Clean mattes, ready for compositing. No rotoscoping required.

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Still wondering? A few quick answers below.

Aleph 2.0 is an AI video editing model from Runway designed to perform precise modifications on existing footage. Unlike standard generative models that create new clips, Aleph 2.0 focuses on tasks like retexturing, object removal, and now, generating high-contrast compositing mattes to isolate subjects for professional post-production workflows.

To create a matte, upload your video to the Runway Edit Studio and prompt the model for a "white silhouette on black." After reviewing the preview, you can generate the full clip. The resulting high-contrast video can then be exported and used as a luma matte in external editing software.

A luma matte is a grayscale image or video used by editing software to define transparency levels based on brightness. In the Aleph 2.0 workflow, the white areas of the generated silhouette represent the visible subject, while the black areas represent the background, allowing for precise subject isolation.

No, the primary benefit of this update is the elimination of manual rotoscoping. Traditionally, editors must draw and adjust masks frame-by-frame to isolate a moving subject. Aleph 2.0 automates this process by using text prompts to generate the mask, significantly reducing the time required for complex compositing tasks.

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