Time Overlay guide
How to add a transparent countdown timer in Premiere Pro
To add a transparent countdown timer in Premiere Pro, import the numbered Time Overlay PNG frames as one image-sequence clip and place that clip above your footage. PNG is the documented, reliability-first path: every frame is lossless and carries an explicit alpha channel. If the project requires one master file, convert the same frames to ProRes 4444 before import rather than assuming that a WebM file will decode natively.
Recommended Time Overlay export: PNG sequence for direct import. ProRes 4444 when the project requires one master clip.
- By
- yansoul
- Published
- Reviewed
Workflow map
Use the lossless handoff Premiere documents
Node 01
Export PNG
Node 02
Import sequence
Node 03
Composite on V2
What was verified for this guide
The PNG-sequence workflow was checked against Adobe's current import instructions. Premiere was not installed on the review machine, so the recommendation is limited to Adobe-documented formats and does not claim a hands-on WebM import test.
- Adobe's 2026 guide says numbered still files can be imported as one image-sequence clip by selecting the first frame and Image Sequence.
- The generated Time Overlay package uses consistent numbered frames and retains transparent PNG pixels.
- WebM is not presented as a native Premiere path because Adobe's current supported-format guidance does not establish that claim.
Step 01
Generate the overlay
In Time Overlay, set the duration to match your edit beat, pick a style preset that fits your project tone, and pick your export format based on the quality you need.
Step 02
Import into Premiere
Choose File -> Import, select only the first numbered PNG frame, enable 'Image Sequence', and confirm. Premiere then interprets the numbered stills as one video clip.
Step 03
Place above the base footage
Drop the clip on V2 or higher above your main footage on V1. The countdown composites with the alpha intact and you can scale or reposition with Motion controls.
Step 04
Adjust scale and position
Use the Effect Controls panel to scale and position the overlay. Apply a small drop shadow if the timer needs more separation from busy backgrounds.
Premiere troubleshooting
Case 01
Symptom
Premiere imports hundreds of separate stills
Resolution
Remove the loose imports, choose File > Import again, select only the first numbered frame, and enable Image Sequence before confirming.
Case 02
Symptom
The timer runs too fast or too slowly
Resolution
Set the Indeterminate Media Timebase to the frame rate used for the Time Overlay export, or interpret the imported clip at the intended frame rate before editing.
Case 03
Symptom
The alpha edge looks dark
Resolution
Check the footage interpretation and sequence color settings, then compare against an original PNG frame. Do not add a color key to a file that already has alpha.
First-party references
Adobe's current import documentation is the authority for the sequence workflow. The FFmpeg reference covers the optional ProRes conversion.
Time Overlay tips
If a folder of frames is inconvenient on a long timeline, convert the PNG sequence to ProRes 4444 with the bundled `convert-to-prores` script and use that master clip instead. Keep the PNG source until the final composite has been checked.
Not sure which export format to pick? Compare every transparent overlay format by editor and browser support.
Continue with a related workflow
Related guide
How to convert a PNG sequence to ProRes 4444 with alpha (ffmpeg)
Convert a Time Overlay PNG sequence to Apple ProRes 4444 with the alpha channel intact using the bundled script or a one-line ffmpeg command.
Related guide
How to add a transparent countdown timer in DaVinci Resolve
Add a transparent countdown timer to DaVinci Resolve with a Time Overlay PNG sequence and stack the alpha clip above your base footage.