EXPORT GUIDE
Choose the right kind of transparent.
Use GIF when broad compatibility matters. Use APNG when the destination supports it and soft transparency or color fidelity matters more.
Product documentation · Updated 2026-10-19
GIF
GIF uses indexed color, with a palette of up to 256 colors and one transparent entry. A soft edge must become either transparent or opaque at export. The alpha threshold determines that cutoff. Always inspect the exported edge against the destination background.
APNG
APNG supports full-color frames with alpha, so soft shadows and translucent edges can survive export. Files can be larger than GIFs, and some upload systems reject APNG or treat it as a still PNG.
Other exports
PNG, JPEG and WebP still exports represent a frame rather than an animated WebP sequence. PNG sequence ZIP exports preserve separate images. Sprite exports produce an atlas PNG and JSON manifest.
A useful decision
- Check the destination’s supported animation formats.
- Choose APNG for soft transparency when accepted, or GIF for a palette animation.
- Inspect light and dark previews, export, and reopen the result.
- Confirm the actual size and playback in the destination.