After Effects: Export with Transparent Background (Alpha Channel)

After Effects CC 2021: Export with Transparency (No Background or with Alpha Channel)

This tutorial will show you how to render or export Compositions in Adobe After Effects CC 2021 with the alpha channel or with transparency (no background).

⭕️⭕️Updated Tutorial For AE 2023⭕️⭕️

Alpha Channel = Transparency (No background)

This allows you to overlay your exported composition onto images or other video footage.

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To try or buy Adobe After Effects CC 2020:

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How To Use Render Compositions with Alpha Channel (w/Transparency) in Adobe After Effects:

1. Open Composition
2. Drag footage to Comp with no background layers (shapes, solids, et)
3. Toggle on/off transparency below comp window
4. Go to Composition Menu at the top
5. Click on ‘Add to Render Queue’
6. Click on ‘Lossless’
7. Format: Quicktime
8. Channels: RGB + Alpha
9. Format Options: Change to Apple ProRes 4444
10. Click ‘OK’
11. Click ‘OK’ again
12. In Render Queue, click next to ‘Output To’
13. Type in File Name and choose Destination to save
14. Click on Save
15. Click on ‘Render’ in the top-right corner of Render Queue
16. Wait for chime to signal the export has finished
17. Check animation and it should have no background
18. Done!

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➜ SOCIAL MEDIA:

[ToddDolce]

FINALLY!!! A tutorial that gets right down to business and is clear and concise with great articulation. THANK YOU MIKE!!!

[cameronkillian]

I am not exaggerating when I say this: this saved my life and my job. Thank you for your service.

[dannyellis]

Oh my good, I’ve been trying to figure this out for 3 hours and it’s this simple! Thank you 🎉

[jbennison]

You're an absolute legend. Saw a video before but it didn't explain the key step of adding to render queue.

[OGRyzzer]

You're a life saver for mentioning the Apple ProRes part. Thank you!

[danielmead]

SUPER HELPFUL! Thank you! The Mac format tip was exactly what I needed. :)

[jbbouleau]

At 1:30, before clicking on "OK, " set the "Color" to "Straight (unmatted)" (and not to "Premultiplied (matted)"). It will solve the problem of the "fringe" aka the "background color that shows through the border of the image when the image has a gradient of transparency on the edge".

[adampaulhinton]

Just what I needed, to the point and worked first time. The Mac Format tip was a huge bonus bit of information too, thanks!

[totomoll]

thank you from Bulgaria. all day i look tutorials and nothing. finaly i found this.

[lenarenee]

thank you omg every other video just wasn't working for me this works

[ilariacasadibari]

OMG!!! Thank you so much, I've seen many videos to solve the problem that I had with the apple visualization of QuickTime, now solved thanks to you. Have a great life!

[HopeRichardson-pn]

The most helpful video I've seen on this topic!! Thank you!

[Dreamsingah]

MIKE MURPHY is When I decided that my video needs a proper AE clean alpha, this is where it's at! This video just keeps on giving! YEARS! I've been coming to this video! Still rendering but omgaaah, Thanks again, Mike MurphY!!!!

[davidlevinson]

Thanks for your help! Explained very clearly and easy enough for even me to understand :)!

[carefirstpadukka]

Excellent Tutorial... Keep up the good work

[nooraniali]

Thanks! You saved me! My AE was graying out the RGB+Alpha on Mac and I was helpless.

[AnggieHarygustia]

FINALLY OH MY GOD
A tutorial nice short and clear for newbie mac user like me
thanks, mate
you save my career

[sheaorourke]

thank you ser, the only vid i saw which mentioned the apple pro res 4444 which solved my issue

[thesimmerian]

Thank you so much! Best explanation on YT!

[RoeJogan]

thank you for that!....subscribed.. likes and all that good stuff!