How to Export a Frame (.psd, .tif, .jpg, .png) from After Effects in Seconds

This tutorial is on how to export a still frame out of After Effects. In it you’ll learn how to take a frame in After Effects and export a JPEG (.jpg), PNG (.png), PSD (.psd), or TIFF (.tif). And you will learn how to export a still with or without an alpha channel as well.

Here’s a super quick recap:

With the comp open and frame selected, go to the Composition menu, navigate to Save Frame As then select File… Next in the Render Queue under the Output Module, click Photoshop. This brings up the Output Module Settings. Under the Format dropdown you’ll select the file you want to create. Photoshop Sequence will give you a .psd file. JPEG Sequence will give you a .jpg file. PNG Sequence will give you a .png file. And TIFF Sequence will give you a .tif file.

For PSDs, TIFFs, and PNGs you can export the file with an alpha channel, that transparent part of the composition. You cannot do with this a JPEG. Under the Channels dropdown you must select RGB + Alpha if you want to export a file with an alpha channel. If you don’t need this, change this to RGB. Click OK to close the Output Module Settings.

Next click the file name that’s next to Output To in the Render Queue. Name the file to what you want it to be and set the destination. Click Save. Lastly in the Render Queue click the Render button to export the frame. All done!

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Music used in this video, “San Juan Sunshine” by Mikey Geiger, was purchased and licensed through my friends at Soundstripe. For 10% off a subscription use the code "EVF" at checkout.

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Hi there! My name is Josh and I help video editors become faster, more competent and more confident in what they do. My business, Edit Video Faster, has helped thousands of editors over the past six years. If you ever want to talk video editing, have a question or just want to say hi you can send me a private message through the link below.

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[DaniFadli]

keep it up bro ive watched a lot of your vids and your one of those og legend editors

[nadejdagamurar]

Thank you! I found this tutorial by googling, watched it, exported the files I needed, and went here on YouTube to thank you with a like.

[marcmarod]

Short and to the point, with all relevant information included. Great Tutorial

[deltafeline]

This doesn't work for me. It only allows me to export the clip as a photoshop file. It doesn't even open the render queue.

[tsumiks]

the most worth it 3 mins of my life thank you sir

[ololo]

Anyone else experience that when you select the "Save Frame As" > "File..." that after clicking file it just immediately prompts you in a new window to save as a photoshop file? It does not send it to the Render Queue and does not offer any other options as a result.
EDIT: Update -- after I opened the Render Queue and then just randomly did a render export of the whole composition, then when I went back and tried the "Save Frame As" > "File..." option again, it suddenly sent it directly to the Render Queue, which solved the problem. So you can try that as well if you aren't given the option the first time to send it to the Render Queue.

[LionElAton]

Exactly what I needed. Thank you so much!

[Joker-suqy]

God. Your face looks similar to actor named as Jon Bernthal in Drama Punisher.

Thanks a lot for this video. I just save me!

[reynardvien]

your photoshop opens faster than my windows explorer

[joinjasmine]

Is it possible to keep the layer's structure in Photoshop the same as in AE? Thanks!

[RigzyEdits]

Mine for some reason saves 800 copies of the same photo?