Guides
How to export and use alpha
Updated
Short answers grouped by job: still images, removing a video background, formats and browsers, editors and OBS, and conversion. The header menu lists the three most common questions.
Still image
How to Remove Background from an Image Online
Upload → remove background → download a true transparent PNG. 1 credit = 1 image.
How to Make a Transparent PNG (Alpha Channel Explained)
What transparent PNG means, why JPG cannot store alpha, and how to verify before you publish.
Product Photo Transparent PNG for Ecommerce
Ecommerce cutouts: lighting, shadows, white seamless vs busy tables, then transparent PNG.
How to Make a Photo Background White Online
Remove the old backdrop, then export Pure white (#FFFFFF). Same 1 credit = 1 image.
Free Online Background Remover — What Free Means Here
5 free credits; trial stills capped at 5; shared with video. Not unlimited free.
Remove and export
How do I remove a video background and keep it transparent?
Upload a clip, download VP9 WebM or ProRes 4444. No green screen. No HEVC, GIF, or public API.
What free tools can export a transparent WebM with alpha?
FFmpeg if the file already has alpha. AI removal is a separate step. Five free credits is up to five seconds.
What is an Unscreen alternative for true-alpha video?
Unscreen's standalone service has closed. ExportAlpha removes the background, then writes real WebM or ProRes alpha.
Why does AI video background removal flicker?
Frame-by-frame masks drift. Temporal video models keep edges stable across time.
Formats and browsers
How do I make one transparent video work in both Safari and Chrome?
WebM for Chrome. HEVC-with-alpha for Safari. ExportAlpha does not export HEVC-with-alpha.
Which Video Formats Support Transparency (Alpha Channel)?
WebM VP9 keeps alpha in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge (tested). HEVC-with-alpha for Safari (docs). ProRes 4444 for editors/OBS. Everyday H.264 MP4 has no alpha.
Why does my exported video lose transparency and turn black?
MP4 and the wrong ProRes profile bake in black. Safari WebM alpha is grey per WebKit bug 275908, not a second black.
Can I export MP4 with alpha?
Everyday H.264 MP4 has no true alpha—including files with black built in. Use WebM or ProRes 4444 instead.
Why is my transparent WebM black in Safari?
Safari plays WebM but does not composite alpha (WebKit: grey background). Chrome/Firefox/Edge keep alpha. Safari needs HEVC-with-alpha.
WebM transparent background — alpha channel export
Export VP9 WebM with yuva420p (fog/overlay-friendly), or encode locally with FFmpeg if you already have alpha.
How do I compress a video with an alpha channel?
Keep alpha while choosing a smaller delivery file. Compressing an opaque MP4 does not create transparency.
What is a video alpha channel?
The fourth channel that stores per-pixel transparency. Without it, transparent regions become black.
Editors and OBS
How do I make a transparent video overlay for OBS?
VP9 WebM as a Media Source. Loop repeats the file. Do not chroma-key alpha. ProRes 4444 is limited to 8 seconds.
How do I export a transparent video from After Effects?
Render QuickTime ProRes 4444 with RGB+Alpha, or import an ExportAlpha MOV and interpret Alpha. Everyday players often keep leftover green.
How do I export a transparent video from Premiere Pro?
Use QuickTime ProRes 4444 with alpha. Everyday H.264 MP4 will not keep transparency.
How do I use a transparent WebM as an OBS Stinger transition?
Attach VP9 WebM with alpha in Scene Transitions. This is a scene-change stinger, not a Media Source overlay.
Convert
How do I convert an MP4 with a solid background into a transparent WebM?
Key a flat color with FFmpeg, or remove a real background first. Commands tested on FFmpeg 6.1.1.
How do I convert a ProRes MOV with alpha to WebM in FFmpeg?
Encode existing ProRes alpha to VP9 yuva420p. FFmpeg cannot invent a matte from an opaque file.