How to export gif with transparent background after effects

Media Encoder only supports exporting animated GIFs on Windows[1], but it wouldn't help anyway...

GIF only supports indexed transparency (so every pixel is either completely transparent or not), which is why the edges look pixelated. If you know the background color you'll be placing the GIF on you can export your GIF with that color as a background matte.

In Photoshop's Save for Web:

This is the same image without then with a matte:

If you're placing it on a number of backgrounds that are relatively similar in color then a vaguely similar color may help a bit, you'll have to experiment and see what works, but this is just an inherent limitation of the format.

After Effects hasn't been able to directly export GIFs for some time now. There are plugins available that'll do it or you should be able to use the Media Encoder if you're on Windows (I don't use Windows so I'm just going on what the documentation says).

See How to export a GIF from After Effects?

Otherwise you'll have to export something that supports transparency from After Effects then import in to Photoshop and export as a GIF from there. I usually export a PNG sequence but you could export a lossless MOV too. Most of the following applies regardless of the output format..

From the render queue, choose the format from the Output Module Settings dialog and make sure the video output channels are set to "RGB + Alpha" (otherwise it will output without the transparency). Also make sure "Resize" isn't checked.

From the Render Settings dialog, make sure the resolution is set to "Full" (and the corresponding "size" is correct). You can change your frame rate here too (you generally don't want a GIF at ~30 fps or whatever your video is).

After outputting your PNG sequence, open them in Photoshop by selecting the first in the sequence in the file open dialog (clicking "Options" if needs be) and making sure "Image Sequence" is checked. Set the frame rate in the dialog that pops up next to the same as you set in the output from After Effects.

Use Photoshop's "Save For Web" to export the GIF. Make sure "Transparency" is checked (you'll see the transparency grid in the preview) and make sure your image size is set to 100%.

You should now have a transparent GIF at the correct size.

Quick Tip Tutorial: Rendering Transparency - Exporting Video Footage with a Transparent Background in After Effects

Whether you're working with a still or moving file, the reason for a transparent background is simple: flexibility.

In After Effects, specifically, exporting your footage with a transparent background allows you to place it above or below other footage, text or images in your video editing timeline.

In our latest Quick Tip Tutorial from Birmingham-based motion designer, director and SOM alum Jacob Richardson, we show you how to render and export your Adobe After Effects file with variable alpha layers, providing variability in opacity so you can adjust the layering effects in your project to achieve your desired result.

How to Export with a Transparent Background in After Effects: Quick Tip Tutorial Video

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How to Export with a Transparent Background in After Effects: Explained

Before beginning the process of rendering and exporting your footage with transparency in After Effects, you need to select your composition, either in the timeline or project panel.

Once you've selected the right composition, click the Composition menu at the top of the application window and select Add to Render Queue.

Your Render Queue window should open, with your composition in the queue.

Next, select your settings.

Move your cursor to the left side of your window, and click the dropdown menu next to Output Module. The Output Module settings window will pop up.

Click Format, and then select Quicktime, the industry standard.

Finally, still in the Output Module settings window, under Video Output, click Channels, select RGB + Alpha, and then click OK at the bottom of the window.

You're now ready to export with variable alpha channels!

How to Work Professionally in After Effects

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Can you export a GIF with transparency?