Select the video file in Finder.
Last updated on
Sep 2, 2026
Import videos with transparent backgrounds to layer overlays and effects, and confirm your file is ready first.
Adobe Express lets you import videos with transparent backgrounds so you can layer overlays, animated elements, and effects directly onto your designs, with no green screen or manual background removal. Whether transparency displays correctly depends on how the video was encoded and exported, and on the browser you're working in. Adobe Express currently reads transparency from videos encoded with the Apple ProRes 4444 codec. For the best experience with transparent video, we recommend using Chrome browser. We're actively expanding support to additional browsers, so check back if your browser isn't fully supported yet.
Confirm video uses ProRes 4444 on Mac (Finder)
Press Command + I to open Get Info, or right-click and choose Get Info.
Under Kind or More Info, confirm the codec reads Apple ProRes 4444.
Confirm video uses ProRes 4444 on Windows (Windows Media Player)
Play the file in Windows Media Player.
While it plays, right-click the file in the library and select Properties.
On the File tab, under Video codec, confirm it reads Apple ProRes 4444.
Tip
When exporting from After Effects, set Format to QuickTime and the codec to Apple ProRes 4444. Learn how to render and export from the Render Queue panel in After Effects.
Format considerations
File size
ProRes 4444 is a high-quality codec, so files can be significantly larger than those in standard distribution formats. Larger files can take longer to upload, import, and process.
Performance
Transparent videos with higher resolutions or larger file sizes may take longer to load or play, particularly on older devices or slower networks.
Note
If transparent areas look opaque, display incorrectly, or the file won't import, try switching to Chrome and make sure your browser is up to date. Support for other browsers is still expanding.
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