Export an MP4
Render your graphic to a frame-perfect MP4 entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded, and the file lands in your Downloads.
Exporting is the final step: it turns the graphic you've been previewing into a real MP4 file you can drop into any editor or upload straight to a platform. HeyMotion does this 100% in-browser (WebCodecs + a virtual-time clock). Nothing is uploaded to a server to export.
#Overview
When you click Export, HeyMotion renders your animation frame by frame in your own browser and saves the finished video to your computer. There's no cloud render queue and no waiting on a server — the work happens locally, which also means it's completely private.
The output is an MP4 (H.264 / AVC, VP9 fallback) file at 30 fps and 10 Mbps, sized to whatever canvas dimension you've chosen.
#Before You Begin
Export requires a Chromium-based browser — Google Chrome (desktop), Edge, Brave, or Arc. These support the WebCodecs video encoder HeyMotion uses. Safari and Firefox can preview graphics but may fail to export with the message "This browser cannot encode video (try Chrome)."
You do not need an account to export. Sign-in only adds saved presets and cloud brand sync.
#Step-by-Step Instructions
#1. Set your canvas dimension
Use the dimension menu above the preview to pick your aspect ratio — 16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for Shorts and Reels, and so on. This decides the export resolution. See Canvas Sizes and Aspect Ratios.
#2. Set the clip length
In the edit panel, set Clip length (seconds) to how long you want the exported clip (1–20 seconds). This controls the duration of the MP4.
#3. Click Export MP4
Click ⬇ Export MP4 below the preview. Rendering starts immediately.
#4. Watch the progress
A progress bar fills as HeyMotion renders each frame. A status line keeps you posted. Larger dimensions and longer clips take a little more time, but it's typically quick.
#5. Find the file in Downloads
When rendering finishes, the MP4 downloads automatically to your browser's Downloads folder. The filename is <template-id>-<timestamp>.mp4, so each export is uniquely named and easy to find.
#Options and Settings
| Setting | Where | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension | Menu above the preview | 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:5, or 4:3 |
| Clip length | Edit panel | 1–20 seconds |
| Frame rate | Fixed | 30 fps |
| Format | Fixed | MP4 (H.264 / AVC, VP9 fallback) |
| Bitrate | Fixed | 10 Mbps |
#How Rendering Works
HeyMotion freezes the real clock with a virtual-time clock and advances it one frame at a time. For each tick it captures the exact composition, encodes it with the browser's WebCodecs VideoEncoder, and muxes the frames into an MP4. Because the timeline is virtual rather than real-time, every frame lands precisely where it should — the export is frame-perfect, not a screen recording. It uses H.264 where available and falls back to VP9.
#Privacy
Nothing is uploaded to a server to export. The entire render happens in your browser, and the file is written directly to your Downloads. Your content never leaves your machine during export.
#Overlays Are Green-Screen
Overlay templates (like Lower-third tag, Subscribe bar, or Sticker slam) render on a solid green #00FF00 background. That's intentional — export the overlay, then chroma-key out the green in your editor to drop the overlay onto other footage.
#What's Not Available Yet
WebM, animated GIF, transparent-background (alpha) export, and 4K output are planned but not shipped. Today, export is MP4 (H.264 / AVC, VP9 fallback) at the resolutions listed in Canvas Sizes and Aspect Ratios.
#Common Mistakes
The number-one issue is exporting from the wrong browser — if you see the "cannot encode video" message, switch to Chrome. The other is forgetting to set the dimension first, so a graphic meant for Shorts exports at 16:9.
#Troubleshooting
- Export fails or reports the browser can't encode → Troubleshoot a Failed Export
- Preview is choppy before you export → Troubleshoot a Slow or Frozen Preview
#Related Articles
For platform-specific recipes, see Export for YouTube and Export for TikTok and Reels. To pick the right size, see Canvas Sizes and Aspect Ratios.