Import video files and image sequences

Last updated on Oct 4, 2026

Learn how to import video files and image sequences into Adobe Photoshop on desktop as documents, layers, or Smart Objects.

Import video files and image sequences into Photoshop as a new document, an editable video layer, or a Smart Object, depending on your workflow.

Open a video file as a new document

Select File > Open.

In the File Open dialog box, select All Readable Documents or QuickTime Movie from the file type dropdown.

Select your video file and select Open.

The video appears as a video layer in a new document. Use the Timeline panel (Window > Timeline) to navigate frames and preview playback.

Import video into an existing document

Open the document where you want to add a video.

Select Layer > Video Layers > New Video Layer from File.

In the Add Video Layer dialog box, select the video, then Open.

The video appears as a new layer in your document. Position and blend it with other layers using standard layer controls.

Import an image sequence

Store the image sequence in a single folder. Make sure the files have sequential names (e.g., frame001.jpg, frame002.jpg, frame003.jpg) and identical dimensions.

To create a new document, select File > Open. To add the sequence to an existing document, select Layer > Video Layers > New Video Layer from File.

In the File Open dialog, navigate to the folder containing the image sequence.

Select one image in the sequence, then select the Image Sequence checkbox in the dialog box.

Select Open.

Enter the frame rate, then select OK.

Place the video as a Smart Object

Open the document where you want to place the video.

Select File > Place Embedded.

Select the video file or a single image from the image sequence.

In the Place Embedded dialog, select the Image Sequence checkbox, then Place.

Use the transform handles to scale, rotate, move, or warp the video as needed.

Press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS) or the Commit Transform button in the options bar.

Reload modified video footage

In the Timeline or Layers panel, select the video layer.

Select Layer > Video Layers > Reload Frame.

Photoshop automatically reloads updated source footage when you reopen the document. To refresh changes while the document is open, select Layer > Video Layers > Reload Frame.

Replace or relink video footage

In the Timeline or Layers panel, select the video layer with the alert icon.

Select Layer > Video Layers > Replace Footage.

Select the original source file or a replacement video or image sequence.

Select Open.

Use Replace Footage to relink a missing source file or replace it with a different video or image sequence.