Open Paraplex

Export troubleshooting

Paraplex makes every export in your browser, frame by frame, with the browser's own video encoder. Most problems come from what a browser can encode, or from how much work a piece asks for. Here's what to look for.

Which browser to use

Export in a current Chrome or Edge on a Mac or Windows computer. They have the newest video encoders (WebCodecs), which make MP4 and WebM with sound, and transparent WebM. Other browsers export too, with what they support.

An export is slow

Every frame is rendered on its own, at full quality, so the time grows with:

  • Length × frame rate. A 30-second piece at 60 fps is 1,800 frames. Try 30 fps. See Exporting video.
  • Size. At Export resolution scale 2×, each frame has four times the pixels of 1×.
  • Studio render. Every frame is path-traced at its Samples: a video at Final · 1024 can take a long time. Use Good · 128 or Draft · 32 while you check, and the higher setting for the last export.
  • A transparent video in a browser without the newest encoders records in real time instead.

Keep the tab open until the file downloads. A single export can't be cancelled; a batch can, from its panel.

The video came out smaller than I asked

Some browsers can't encode very large MP4s, such as 4K H.264. Paraplex then steps the size down until it encodes, and says what it did, such as "This browser can't encode 3840 × 2160 MP4, so it was exported at 2880 × 1620 (1.5×). Choose WebM for 3840 × 2160." Choose WebM for the full size, or export in another browser.

A picture is at most 16,384 pixels on a side; past that it's made as big as it can be.

I asked for MP4 and got WebM (or the other way)

If the browser can't write the chosen format at all, Paraplex uses the other and tells you. Export in Chrome or Edge to get the format you chose.

There's no sound

  • GIF and PNG sequences never have sound. Use MP4 or WebM.
  • The browser needs an audio encoder. Without one, the video is silent. Export in Chrome or Edge.
  • Check the clip's volume and that its audio layer isn't hidden. See Audio.
  • Export for › App Store needs an AAC sound track, and says so if the browser can't write one.

The background isn't see-through

  • Turn off Include in the Scene's Background section.
  • Use PNG, WebM or PNG sequence. MP4, JPG and GIF always have a background.
  • Use the Export Video button at the foot of the panel. Menu › Export video always keeps the background.

See Transparent video.

A plans window opened instead of an export

On the Free plan, videos larger than 1920 × 1080 or faster than 30 fps, transparent video, PNG sequences, exporting every format or variant at once, and Studio render are part of Pro. For size and frame rate, the window offers Export at 1080p, 30 fps instead. See Plans and credits.

Nothing downloaded

  • Check your browser's downloads, and whether it's blocking downloads from Paraplex. A batch downloads one file at a time, so allow several downloads if the browser asks.
  • If an export fails partway, try a smaller size or a lower frame rate, close other heavy tabs, and export again.