Auto-Separate Image Elements into a Nested Layered Sequence

Summary

Add a tool to Premiere Pro and After Effects that detects the individual elements in any still image (people, body parts, held objects, props, background) and separates them into independent layers. These layers are placed in a nested sequence (Premiere) or pre-comp (After Effects) in the same spot as the original image.

The Problem

Editors often work with flat images, especially AI-generated ones, that contain several elements. To animate those elements separately (a character's arm, a floating object, the background), we have to leave Premiere or After Effects, open Photoshop or Illustrator, cut each element out manually, export the layers, and re-import everything. This breaks the workflow and wastes time.

Proposed Solution

Right-click any image on the timeline and choose "Separate Elements" (or "Break Down Image"). The tool would:

Detect and segment the objects and figures in the image.

Cut each one out as its own transparent layer, with the background filled in behind them.

Replace the original clip with a nested sequence (Premiere) or pre-comp (After Effects) that holds every element on its own track or layer.

Double-clicking the nested sequence opens it, and every element can be animated independently.

Processing

It should run as a local processing tool installed with the app, not a cloud-based generative AI feature. That keeps it fast, private, and usable offline, with no generative credits needed.

Benefits

Faster motion design with no round trip to Photoshop or Illustrator

Easy parallax, character animation, and object animation from a single image

Especially useful for AI-generated art and still-image-based video content

A natural complement to existing features like Object Mask and Media Intelligence

Use Cases

Social media content, explainer videos, documentary photo animation, 2.5D parallax effects, and meme or short-form editing.