Video to Sequence

Extract the frames of a video as an image sequence: every frame or a few per second, PNG, JPG or WebP, for a time range or the whole clip.

Video to Sequence tutorial

Functionality

Video to Sequence turns a video into single images: every frame, or a few per second, saved as PNG, JPG or WebP. Typical uses are stills from a clip, frames for training data, stop-motion edits and thumbnails.

The video is read by your browser's own video decoder, so every format your browser can play works, usually MP4 (H.264) and WebM, often also MOV. Nothing is uploaded; the frames are written straight into a ZIP or a folder while the video is read.

  • Frames per second: Under "Frames per second" choose 1, 5, 10, 15, 24, 25, 30 or 60. To get every frame, pick the frame rate of the video, usually 24, 25 or 30; lower values take fewer frames, e.g. one per second.
  • Time range: With "From" and "To" (seconds) you extract only part of the video. 0 in "To" means up to the end.
  • Size: "Size (long side)" keeps the original resolution or scales the frames down to 1920, 1280 or 640 pixels on the long side.
  • PNG, JPG or WebP: PNG is lossless, JPG and WebP are much smaller; "Quality" sets the compression for JPG and WebP.
  • Sorted file names: Each video gets its own folder with numbered frames such as clip/clip_000001.png, clip_000002.png …, which every program sorts correctly.
  • Preview and frame count: The preview plays the video and shows its resolution and length, and how many frames the current settings produce at which size.

How To Use The App

  1. Add a video: Click "Choose videos" or "Folder", or drop video files onto the page. Several videos can be processed in one run.
  2. Check the video: The preview plays the selected video. If the browser cannot play it, a message explains why; convert it to MP4 (H.264) first.
  3. Choose the frame rate: Pick a value under "Frames per second". The line under the preview shows how many frames this gives.
  4. Set range, size and format: Optionally enter "From" and "To", choose "Size (long side)", and in the "Save" tab the format under "Save frames as" and, for JPG or WebP, the "Quality".
  5. Choose where to save: Open the "Save" tab in the right sidebar. Under "Target", choose "ZIP download" or, in Chrome and Edge, "Choose output folder". A folder is best for long videos with many frames.
  6. Extract the frames: Click "Extract frames" (with several videos, "Extract frames from … videos"). The progress bar counts the frames; the summary shows how many files were saved.

Tips

  • A minute of video at 30 frames per second gives 1,800 images. Start with a short range or a lower frame rate to check the result.
  • Extracting is done frame by frame for exact timing, so it usually takes longer than the video lasts; the files are written while the video is read.
  • To turn the frames back into a video, use Sequence to Video.

Frequently asked questions

Why are some frames duplicated or missing?
Because "Frames per second" does not match the frame rate of the video. The tool takes one picture every 1/fps seconds by jumping to that exact time: a lower value skips frames evenly, a higher value repeats some. For 29.97 fps footage choose 30, which repeats one frame about every 33 seconds; phone videos with a variable frame rate can also show an occasional repeat.
Why can my browser not read my video?
The tool uses the video decoder built into your browser, so it reads only what the browser can play. MP4 with H.264 and WebM work everywhere; HEVC (H.265) videos, such as many iPhone clips, only where browser and system support it. ProRes, AVI and some MOV or MKV files do not open; convert them to MP4 with H.264 first.
Is there a limit to how many frames I can extract?
Yes. One video gives at most 100,000 frames, but the ZIP download usually ends first: it holds at most 65,535 files and 4 GB, which a long video at 30 fps can exceed. With "Choose output folder" in Chrome or Edge, every frame is written straight into the folder while the video is read, so apart from the 100,000 frames only the free disk space counts.
How do I save a single frame as an image?
Enter the same time in seconds in both "From" and "To": the tool then saves exactly one frame from that moment (for the very first frame, enter 0 and 0.01, because 0 in "To" means the end). Find the time with the player in the preview, choose PNG under "Save frames as" and keep "Size (long side)" on "Original" for a lossless still in the full resolution of the video.
Why are my frames saved as PNG although I chose WebP?
Because your browser cannot encode WebP images. It then hands back PNG, and the tool names the files .png so that the extension matches the content. If you need WebP frames, use Chrome or Edge; JPG gives small files in every browser.
Is my video sent to a server to extract the frames?
No. Your browser decodes the video itself, and the frames are written into the ZIP or the folder while it is read. The video never leaves your computer.

Related tools