Remove Background & Export PNG Sequence

A PNG sequence is a video exported as individual PNG image files - one file for each frame of your video. Instead of a single .mp4 or .mov file, you get hundreds or thousands of PNG images in a ZIP archive.

Technical specifications:

• Format: PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
• Delivery: ZIP archive containing individual frames
• Naming: frame_0001.png, frame_0002.png, frame_0003.png, etc.
• Alpha Channel: Full RGBA (8-bit alpha transparency)
• Compression: Lossless (no quality loss)
• Audio: Separate M4A file included

Example: A 10-second video at 30fps = 300 individual PNG files

This format gives you frame-by-frame access to your video with perfect transparency.

Choose PNG Sequence when you need:

• Highest possible quality - Zero compression artifacts
• Frame-by-frame editing - Modify individual frames in Photoshop
• After Effects workflows - Import as image sequence
• GIF creation - Use as source for high-quality GIFs
• Detailed compositing - Replace or fix specific frames
• Stop-motion effects - Manually adjust timing
• Maximum compatibility - PNG works everywhere

PNG Sequence vs other formats:

• vs MOV ProRes: Slightly larger files, but gives individual frame access
• vs WebM: Much larger files (5-10x), but perfect quality and frame control
• vs GIF: Full color (not 256), source material for GIF creation
• vs WebP: Lossless quality, better for editing than delivery

PNG Sequence is for production and editing, not final delivery. Convert to video format for distribution.

After Effects has excellent support for PNG sequences:

Import PNG Sequence:

1. Download and extract your PNG sequence ZIP file
2. In After Effects, go to File > Import > File
3. Navigate to the folder with your PNG frames
4. Select the first frame (frame_0001.png)
5. Check the box "PNG Sequence" in the import dialog
6. Click Import

After Effects will automatically:

• Detect all frames in sequence
• Import as a single video layer
• Preserve full transparency
• Set correct frame rate

Working with the sequence:

• Drag to timeline - works like any video
• Layer over other footage
• Apply effects while maintaining transparency
• Render with transparency by choosing ProRes 4444 or WebM

Pro tip: PNG sequences load slower than video files but give you maximum editing flexibility.

PNG sequences are the best source material for creating high-quality GIFs:

Method 1: Photoshop

1. Open Photoshop, go to File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack
2. Browse to your PNG sequence folder, select all frames
3. Click OK to load all frames as layers
4. Go to Window > Timeline to open Timeline panel
5. Click Create Frame Animation
6. Click menu icon → Make Frames from Layers
7. Set frame delay (0.03s for 30fps, 0.04s for 24fps)
8. Go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy)
9. Choose GIF, set colors (256 max), enable transparency
10. Click Save

Method 2: FFmpeg (Command Line)

ffmpeg -framerate 30 -i frame_%04d.png -vf "palettegen" palette.png
ffmpeg -framerate 30 -i frame_%04d.png -i palette.png -lavfi "paletteuse" output.gif

Pro tip: Keep GIFs under 10 seconds for best quality and file size.

Yes! That's one of the biggest advantages of PNG sequences. You can:

Edit in Photoshop:

1. Open any frame (e.g., frame_0042.png) in Photoshop
2. Make your edits (retouch, color correct, add elements)
3. Save the file (keep same filename)
4. The edited frame integrates seamlessly when reimported

Common frame-by-frame edits:

• Fix specific transparency issues
• Remove unwanted objects from certain frames
• Add watermarks or logos
• Color grade individual frames
• Composite additional elements
• Create stop-motion effects

Reimport to video: After editing frames, you can:

• Import back into After Effects as sequence
• Use FFmpeg to create video from frames
• Upload to our tool to re-export as video format

This level of control is impossible with video files (ProRes, WebM, etc.)

PNG sequences have large file sizes due to lossless compression:

Typical sizes (1080p):

• 10 seconds at 30fps: ~150-250 MB
• 30 seconds at 30fps: ~450-750 MB
• 1 minute at 30fps: ~900MB - 1.5 GB
• 1 minute at 4K: ~3-5 GB

Size depends on:

• Resolution: Higher resolution = larger files
• Frame rate: 60fps = 2x the frames of 30fps
• Complexity: Detailed images compress less than simple ones
• Transparency: More transparent pixels = smaller files

Comparison to video formats:

• PNG Sequence: ~30-50 MB/sec (lossless)
• ProRes 4444: ~40-60 MB/sec (visually lossless)
• WebM VP9: ~2-5 MB/sec (compressed)

Storage tips:

• Use external SSD for working with PNG sequences
• Compress with ZIP when archiving (30-50% smaller)
• Convert to ProRes or WebM for final delivery (10-20x smaller)

The large size is the trade-off for perfect quality and frame-level control.