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Julian_Rupp
Participating Frequently
May 1, 2013
Answered

Importing image sequence: option greyed out

  • May 1, 2013
  • 27 replies
  • 137662 views

I'm trying to import a sequence of numbered images as a video clip into Premiere Pro CS6, but it won't take the files:

I've got 9480 JPEG image files named like BlahXXXX.jpg where XXXX goes from 0000 to 9479.

Now when I go to File > Import... and select all those files, the checkbox in the bottom of the file choosing window (image sequence) gets greyed out. If I just select a single image, I can check it, but when clicking "Import" then, Premiere will only import that single still frame.

What am I doing wrong?

Correct answer Kevin-Monahan

All of my PNG images were consecutively numbered. Like I said before the process worked flawlessly in AE CS6, just not in Premiere Pro CS6. Only a single PNG image was allowed to be sequenced with the Image Sequence Checked. If over one was selected the Image Sequence was grayed out and not selectable. If one was selected and imported only one image was sequenced.


Hi Digihill1,

This works as expected for me. Try this:

  1. Choose File > Import (not the Media Browser)
  2. Navigate to the folder with your image sequence in it
  3. Click the first image in the image sequence (only select the first image, not all the images in the folder)
  4. Click the Image Sequence check box at the bottom of the Import dialog box
  5. Click the Import button
  6. Your image sequence is imported as a clip

Thanks,

Kevin

27 replies

maureenmleem
Participating Frequently
May 23, 2017

Same problem. And now I've wasted so much time searching through this thread for an answer. Ugh. So effing* annoying.

*this only makes it more annoying

Participant
August 9, 2017

This is indeed ridiculous, why should we have to rename the files in order for it to work... Please fix this! @adobe !

Participating Frequently
August 24, 2017

I agree. Took me months of agonizing and ignoring PP before I finally figured out on my own that renaming the files (specifically with no characters after the numbers) made everything go smoothly. I've never had that issue with any other software, so it never occurred to me to try that. I now rename every single time lapse project with ViewNX 2 before ingesting into Premiere (1- xxxx).

So for anyone joining in, the long story short:

Rename your files! For me, I start with 1 and go on from there. Others use 0001 and go from there. Bottom line: rename rename rename!

jokeyjon
Participant
April 11, 2016

I have a similar problem.  I have the latest (as of April 2016) versions of Lightroom and Premiere.  I shoot RAW on a Canon 5d Mk III and on import Lightroom converts the RAW files into Adobe DNG.  When I try to import a timeless series in premiere I select the first of a sequentially named series and the 'image series' option is greyed out.  If i try to import the first of these images, I get a message saying "unsupported format or damaged file".  Really surprised by the incompatibility given that it is between two Adobe files.  I can export from lightroom as a series of JPGs and it works, but it introduces and unnecessary step....

Participant
March 28, 2016

I am using CC 2015.0.1 and the "Image Sequence" option is grayed out. I have used it in previous versions with no issue. I am trying to import files that are named 0000tl.jpg - 0948tl.jpg and they will not import no matter which menu location you choose for importing. AME sees the image sequence and imports them into AME perfectly. Everything I am seeing indicates that something is broke. AE also imports the same set of files with no issue.

Ann Bens
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 28, 2016

Change the the name to just the numbers (lose the tl), see if that will work.

Participant
March 28, 2016

If I change the name of the file's to 0000.jpg - 0948.jpg Premiere allows me to import them as a image sequence. I still will state that the image sequence import code in AME and AE is the desired result. I would rather not be forced to change the file names. When using a GoPro for example the file names are already created sequentially. I know had imported the same image sequence in a prior version of CC 2015.

Participating Frequently
February 15, 2016

Do the image names have anything to do with this working or not working? My sequence starts at 0004, but is indeed sequential from 0004 to 9999. Still no joy. Or does the sequence number have to be at the end of the filename? Eg. XXXXX-XXXXX_0004.jpeg etc. (I am doing a time-lapse that was captured over the course of 10 months. This is the first segment I am working on.

Ann Bens
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 15, 2016

No file names should be a simple as possible: 0004.jpg, 0005.jpg etc.

February 14, 2016

i had the same problem. thats what solve it to me:

1. i renamed the files: something0001 (no dash)

2. opened a project not as timeline but "frames"

3. on the source i imported as all mentioned

that worked

good luck

eytan

cool_john
Participant
January 17, 2016

I had the same problem today. My fix was when I exported from Lightroom, I used the Custom Name- Sequence option under the File Naming tab.  I was then able to select the Image Sequence check box  Good luck!

Josebaum217
Participant
January 2, 2016

Yup. I'm having the same problem as everyone else. I edited the photos in Lightroom CC and exported them using the same settings and in chronological order. I exported them into a folder titled "Timelapse" on my hard drive. From there I go into Premiere Pro where I already have my projected created. I double-click in the Project window and then click Import. I then find my "Timelapse" folder, click on it so the only thing I see is the contents of the "Timelapse" folder. I click on the first image and check the Image Sequence box on the bottom and then press Import to find that the only thing that was imported was the first image .jpeg of the folder. I then go into the folder again to try to import and when I click on the first image to try again, the Image Sequence box is already checked. I then retry importing but am met with the same issue. I also tried selecting the last photo in the folder first to see if that did anything and the image already had the Image Sequence box check from my past attempts! I of course attempt to import it this way and am met with the same results. This is driving me crazy. Please someone from Adobe help!

joshbcarter
Participant
December 17, 2015

So, I had this problem as well. Finally found a work around.

If you open the files in the Media Browser it sees them as a video clip instead of the list of images. Right Click on the file and select import and it will come in as a video file. Not sure why it doesn't work through the project window, but this way worked for me.

lion_s_den_creatives
Participant
March 20, 2017

Thanks, worked for me

Participant
December 6, 2015

Just Uncheck the duplicate check option

Participating Frequently
December 13, 2015

Thanks h holding

where is the duplicate check option please

Participating Frequently
November 7, 2015

So Sony is all fine and good but I pay for Adobe and have done for many years so I'd like it to work, so I persist. I uninstalled, rebooted, reinstalled and no change. How can it just stop working one day