Export MP4 to picture sequence from After Results, is absolutely a particularly straightforward course of, you possibly can accomplish with a couple of straightforward steps.
More often than not, once we export a video both from a compositing or modifying software program akin to After Results and Premiere Professional accordingly, we are likely to export them as a single video. Don’t give me incorrect, that is completely high-quality. However generally, underneath particular wants, we could need to export them as a picture sequence as an alternative of a single video.
On this article, we’re going to check out what’s a picture sequence, its codecs, some benefits, and eventually a sensible method to export an MP4 to a picture sequence.
A bonus content material yow will discover on the finish of this subject:
Why can we use picture sequence codecs as an alternative of video once we render from 3D software program.
Let’s get began.
Some beforehand cool articles you could discover fascinating:
What’s a picture sequence?
A picture sequence is a collection of nonetheless pictures which are supposed to be seen in a particular order, with the intention to give the phantasm of movement (video-animation).
If you concentrate on it. A video is a collection of nonetheless pictures that in case you play them in the proper order you’ve got the time period of a video.
What number of codecs are there exist for picture sequences?
The same old suspects is JPEG and PNG picture sequences codecs. After all, there are different picture sequences we are able to use, relying on the undertaking, akin to IFF, TIFF, TARGA, and BMP.
Every format has execs and cons. For instance, a few of them can have a transparency channel, some others may have a really huge file dimension, and a few others top quality. Which a kind of codecs you’ll use! It’s as much as your project-specific wants.
Exporting a video as a picture sequence has a number of benefits:
Compatibility: Relying on the applications your staff use, some softwares could not be capable of import sure video codecs. That isn’t the case once we use picture sequence footage as an alternative of video.
High quality: Should you select a TIFF or TARGA file format for picture sequence export, there are are typically extra top quality than in case you export them as a single video.
Backup: You’ll be able to export in each (video and picture sequences), and maintain the picture sequence for backup functions, in case the video file turns into corrupt.
How one can export MP4 to picture sequence from AE?
Let’s say now we have imported the next MP4 video in After Results:
![import MP4 video in After Effects](https://i0.wp.com/inspireme.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/import-MP4-video-in-After-Effects.jpg?resize=800%2C420&ssl=1)
With the intention to export this MP4 to picture sequence from After Results, we are able to go to Composition – Add to Render Queue (ctrl + M – shortcut).
Observe: If you’re not aware of Render Queue in After Results basically, be at liberty to have a look for more information on the official Adobe web site for that matter.
The render queue window seems, with a couple of choices to play with, akin to Render Settings, Output Module, and Output to:
![render queue window in After Effects](https://i0.wp.com/inspireme.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/render-queue-window-in-After-Effects.jpg?resize=748%2C166&ssl=1)
We’re curious about Output Module settings. That is the place to arrange the export technique to be in a picture sequence.
So click on on Lossless beside the Output Module, with the intention to open the settings for the Output Module.
![output module settings in After Effects](https://i0.wp.com/inspireme.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/output-module-settings-in-After-Effects.jpg?resize=443%2C521&ssl=1)
Within the Format part, we are able to specify the format of our MP4 video export. As you possibly can see there are many picture sequence codecs within the dropdown menu, you possibly can select from. After selecting the format you need, click on okay.
Now, click on the “Not but specified” beside the Output to, with the intention to choose a folder to save lots of all these pictures that After Results will export as a picture sequence.
![render queue window in After Effects, specified the folder to save](https://i0.wp.com/inspireme.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/render-queue-window-in-After-Effects-specified-the-folder-to-save.jpg?resize=731%2C163&ssl=1)
Lastly, press the render button in the proper nook of the Render Queue window, to ensure that the rendering-export of your picture sequence to start out:
![render the image sequence timeline](https://i0.wp.com/inspireme.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/render-the-image-sequence-timeline.jpg?resize=800%2C79&ssl=1)
When the render stops, go to your chosen folder, from the earlier step, and you’re going to see all these pictures (frames), now we have exported as a picture sequence.
![final export as image sequence from After Effects](https://i0.wp.com/inspireme.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/final-export-as-image-sequence-from-After-Effects.jpg?resize=800%2C437&ssl=1)
Bonus tip: Why can we use picture sequence codecs as an alternative of video once we render from 3D software program.
As a 3D Artist, when the whole lot is ready, akin to modeling, texturing, supplies, lighting, and animation, the ultimate step is named 3D rendering. Which is the method of pc producing the whole lot in our scene, to provide a video or sequence of pictures. The method of rendering is dependent upon the complexity of our scene and the renderer which we’ll use.
The rendering course of, more often than not is a particularly time-consumed course of. For one body, bear in mind, a second has no less than 24FPS with the intention to be plausible to human eye. It may take from a few seconds to too many hours with the intention to render-export one single body.
Think about for instance that you’ve got a mid-heave scene with a photorealistic renderer, akin to V-Ray and you’re within the strategy of rendering, and your machine has been rendering for hours. Abruptly your pc stops the method of rendering. Now the difficulty is the next:
Should you had set the rendering to be exported as a video:
and your pc stopped for any motive. The entire course of will probably be canceled and must be re-render as soon as once more. This implies all of the hours your computer systems have been working had been for nothing, and it’s a must to begin over.
Should you had set the rendering to be exported as picture sequence:
and your pc stopped for a motive, the method will cease. This implies the computer systems won’t produce every other pictures of your rendering. However the already-produced pictures will probably be obtainable to you. In that approach, you possibly can render your scene as soon as once more. However this time you possibly can set it as much as render from the final body (when your pc has stopped).
So inevitable, the trade of rendering chooses the sensible method to work (rendering as picture sequence).
Abstract:
Exporting a video akin to MP4 format, to a picture sequence from After Results as you’ve got seen is a straightforward course of. It can save you picture sequences from AE in varied codecs, akin to JPEG, PNG, IFF, TIFF, TARGA, and BMP, every with its personal execs and cons.
Exporting a video as a picture sequence has a number of benefits, together with compatibility with completely different software program applications, greater high quality, and the power to make use of the picture sequence as a backup in case the video file turns into corrupt.
One factor we didn’t cowl is that we are able to additionally export a picture sequence from Adobe Media Encoder and from Adobe Premiere Professional as nicely.