In any projects at some point you will need to create a simple video clip or a motion graphics animation with a transparent background so I figured it would be useful to share with a tutorial my best tips on How do I make the background transparent in after effects.
First in order to make a transparent background on your After Effects project or any video you need to have an alpha channel.
How to render an After Effects composition with an alpha channel and transparent background?
Exporting ,rendering a video with an alpha channel is actually very straight forward just follow these simple steps below.
Step 1 – Make sure your After Effects Composition has a transparent background
At the bottom of your composition panel on the left of active camera there is a little icon checker box icon 
 (Toggle Transparency Grid), click on and off to switch between the checker background or the black background. If you see the checkers board background correctly it means that your composition has a transparent background and you can export your video with the alpha channel.
Step 2 – Add your composition to the Render Queue Window
Make sure the composition is open or selected on the project window
Click on Composition > Add to Render Queue
Shortcut: Control+Command+MÂ (MAC) or Ctrl+MÂ (PC)
Step 3 – Edit the Output Module Options
Located on the bottom left of you render queue window
– Click on LossLess
– Next to Format click on the drop down and select Quicktime
Video Output
– First click Format Options
– “Video Codec:” drop down should be Animation
– Click OK
– Next to “Channels:” on the drop down Select RGB+ALPHA
– Click OK
Step 4 – Rendering
Click the button Render
Step 5 –Â Verify your After Effects transparent background video
Once your video is rendered, import the video in After Effects or Premiere and add something behind the video to make sure the background is transparent and therefore has the alpha channel included.
Now you can also watch this video below that explain well on how to get a transparent background in after effects.
Which format/extension support and include an alpha channel?
Base on my research I found a couple of video and image format that include an alpha channel, I organized it in 2 categories
– Video Format (One single File)
– Image Files Sequence (Multiple Images that make a video)
| Video File Format / Codec | OS | Max Alpha Channel Bits |
|---|---|---|
| Quicktime Animation MOV | MAC/PC | 32 Bits |
| AVI | PC | 32 Bits |
| Quicktime GoPro CineForm | MAC/PC | 12 Bits |
| Apple Animation | MAC | 8 Bits |
| Apple ProRes 4444 XQ | MAC | 16 Bits |
| Apple ProRes 4444 | MAC | 12 Bits |
| Avid Meridien Compressed | MAC/PC | 8 Bits |
| Avid Meridien Uncompressed | MAC/PC | 8 Bits |
| Avid DNxHD | MAC/PC | 10 Bits |
| Avid DNxHR | MAC/PC | 12 Bits |
| Cineon | MAC/PC | 16 Bits |
| Image File Format | OS | Max Alpha Channel Bits |
|---|---|---|
| DPX | MAC/PC | 16 Bits |
| Maya IFF | MAC/PC | 32 Bits |
| OpenEXR | MAC/PC | 32 Bits |
| PNG | MAC/PC | 32 Bits |
| RLA | MAC/PC | 32 Bits |
| RPF | MAC/PC | 32 Bits |
| SGI | MAC/PC | 16 Bits |
| SGI RAW | MAC/PC | 16 Bits |
| Targa (TGA) | MAC/PC | 8 Bits |
| TIFF | MAC/PC | 32 Bits |
You know other method to get a transparent background and export an alpha channel in After Effects? Please share it on the comment area below.
this didn’t work for me… I rendered out a png sequence instead.
How to reduce the size of .mov after rendering?
Go to Adobe Media Encoder and convert the mov file to mp4. The only issue is mp4 do not retain alpha channel. Thanks!
Is there a way to reduce the size of the .MOV while still retaining the alpha channel? Trying to make them small enough to overlay onto a photo from my phone. Thanks!
Hi Breanna,
Maybe reduce the FPS (frame per second) and see how it looks. You can also try to reduce your video size and see if it works.
Thanks
Unfortunately, that did not work for me. Are you available to consult if I email you a file to see if you’re able to help?
Apologies for the delay actually quite busy at the moment, did you try to check youtube to see if you can find a tutorial?
No worries, I completely understand. Yes, I did & I feel like I’ve tried everything so far but I’ll keep on working at it Thank you!
You can render the GIF as a transparent instead of .MOV
should include WebM codec as well, has alpha and is rather lightweight, good for OBS logos and such
Thank you!!
You can use convertio or something similar to convert to WebM which will retain the quality of the initial video at a much smaller file size.
also my background isn’t coming out as transparent too! I’ve followed the intructions to the T. I can’t understand why, could it be because I have a solid background in the actual compositon?
Ah thank you this worked. After trying so many times. I didn’t select the composition on the project menu before exporting so it kept showing the black background.
Awesome! thanks for sharing the issue you had. All my best!
I’m having trouble with the same issue, it’s exporting with a black background. Can you elaborate on ‘selecting the composition on the project menu’?
Hi Kelsey, Please check the step 2 in the tutorial above, select your composition then add to render queue. Make sure you also turn on RGB + Alpha Channel. Thank you!