Make a video with a transparent background

If you've ever dipped your toes in making videos with alpha channels for transparency, you know it can get hairy.

Good news: With Rotato, it's as simple as any other video. Let's do it, here's what we'll cover today:

But first, make sure you check out our complete guide to transparency in videos, including how to use them on the web (which is a little tricky, but unlike what some people think, not at all impossible)

How to make the background transparent

1. Click the checkered background color in the Looks side bar
2. Click the Render Movie button and choose a destination
3. Click Render

That's it. You just made transparency happen!

Exporting your movie as a PNG sequence

If you want the flexibility of each and every frame rendered as a PNG image with transparent background, choose PNG Sequence in the render dialog.

Double-checking your work: Is it transparent?

It always makes sense to to be sure. But, if you open the video in Quicktime or most other players, the transparency will look like a black background - even if it does indeed have an alpha channel.

Using the Transparency Tester tool

The simplest way to check is to drag your video into Rotato's free, online Transparency Tester. It works on both Mac and Windows, and does not involve uploading your videos.

Using iMovie, Final Cut, Safari or Chrome

You can also check out our guide for 4 more ways to test your video alpha channels.

Choosing a codec

You may have noticed that there were a couple of options when you were getting ready to render your movie. Let's take a look at what they mean. For a deeper look at codecs, check our guide here.

• HEVC with alpha is when you don't need to edit your video after rendering
• ProRes is when do need to edit your, e.g. in Final Cut Pro

What about GIF?

As you may know, GIFs are going away, kind of, at least. They're big, the quality is bad. But sometimes, a GIF is all you can use. We get that. So is there a way you can make GIFs with transparency with Rotato?

Sure. Here's how:

1. Export your video like described above
2. Get your hands on the free GIF maker Gifski
3. Open your video in Gifski and create your GIF.

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Using transparent videos on the web

Despite what many think, transparent videos do work on the web, and in all browsers. Take a look at our guide on publishing transparent videos on the web or go straight to Rotato Converter to get your Chrome-friendly WebM file.