In the Timeline or Layers panel, select the video layer.
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Interpret alpha channels in video footage
Last updated on
Oct 10, 2026
Specify how Photoshop handles transparency in video layers to prevent unwanted halos or ghosting.
When you import video footage or image sequences that contain transparency, Photoshop uses alpha channel interpretation to determine how transparent and semi-transparent pixels are displayed. Choosing the correct interpretation method helps prevent unwanted halos, ghosting, or color fringing around objects when compositing video layers.
Video footage with alpha channels typically stores transparency in one of two ways:
- Straight alpha stores transparency separately from the color information.
- Premultiplied alpha blends color information with a specific background (matte) color before export.
If premultiplied footage is interpreted incorrectly, semi-transparent edges can display visible halos because Photoshop doesn't compensate for the original matte color.
Configure alpha channel interpretation
To change how Photoshop interprets the alpha channel for an existing video layer:
Select Layer > Video Layers > Interpret Footage.
In the Interpret Footage dialog box, choose the alpha channel option that matches how the source footage was created.
If you selected Premultiplied-Matte, specify the matte color that was used when the footage was exported.
Select OK.
The updated interpretation is applied immediately. If you selected the correct option, transparent and semi-transparent areas blend cleanly with other layers, without halos or ghosting.
Alpha channel interpretation options
The Interpret Footage dialog box provides the following alpha channel options:
|
Option |
Description |
Recommended use |
|
Ignore |
Discards all alpha channel information and treats every pixel as fully opaque. |
Use when transparency isn't required, or the alpha channel contains unwanted data. |
|
Straight-Unmatted |
Interprets the footage as straight alpha, where color and transparency are stored separately. |
Recommended for footage exported with straight alpha, including most modern video applications and Adobe After Effects exports. |
|
Premultiplied-Matte |
Interprets footage exported with a matte color. You must specify the same matte color used during export. |
Use when footage was created with premultiplied alpha. Common matte colors include black and white. |
Choosing the correct interpretation
Selecting the correct alpha channel option produces clean object edges and smooth blending with other layers. Using the wrong option can result in:
- Dark or light halos around semi-transparent objects.
- Color shifts along object edges.
- Visible ghosting when compositing footage over different backgrounds.
If you're unsure which interpretation method your footage uses, compare the available options and inspect semi-transparent edges at high magnification. The correct setting produces clean edges without color contamination or halos.
Related interpretation settings
In addition to alpha channel interpretation, the Interpret Footage dialog box lets you configure the following settings:
|
Setting |
Description |
|
Frame Rate |
Changes the playback speed by specifying the number of frames displayed per second. This changes playback timing only and doesn't add or remove frames. |
|
Color Profile |
Assigns a color profile to the video layer so that all frames are color managed consistently with the rest of the Photoshop document. |
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