EbSynth

What is EbSynth?

EbSynth is a video stylisation and retouching tool that changes a whole clip when you edit a single frame. You paint, retouch or colour one keyframe, and the software carries that change through the moving footage.

Propagation relies on example-based texture synthesis, which builds each new frame from your own clip and keyframes instead of a pretrained model. Coverage of the engine describes optical flow and patch matching that follow motion through the sequence. An optional Generate Image tool does use AI, and CG Channel reported at launch that it runs on Stability AI’s SDXL 1.0 model.

EbSynth comes from Secret Weapons, the studio of Šárka Sochorová and Ondřej Jamriška. EbSynth 2 arrived on 6 October 2025 as a browser app with a timeline, layers and brushes, replacing an older desktop beta that only accepted image sequences. It was still on sale in October 2026, with a Windows desktop app offered to studios.

Key Features

Single-frame propagation is the core of EbSynth: you edit one keyframe and the engine spreads that edit across the shot without manual tracking.

• Keyframe propagation: Changes painted on one frame spread across the shot and follow the motion of the footage. The official site advises starting with a single keyframe, then adding more by repairing broken areas in the synthesised frames.
• Real-time preview: EbSynth 2 shows results as you work rather than after a full render. CG Channel reported the new synthesis algorithm runs around ten times faster than the original, so problems surface before you export.
• Timeline, tracks and layers: Video tracks and keyframe layers sit on a timeline where keyframes can be blended, trimmed and faded. Separate tracks let you treat a foreground actor and the background differently within one shot.
• Built-in brushes: Brush tools let you retouch frames inside EbSynth instead of preparing masks and fixes elsewhere. Digital Production noted this saves a round trip to other software when motion blur or occlusion damages a frame.
• Generate Image: An optional AI tool drafts styled keyframes from a written prompt. At launch, Pro plans reportedly included 100 generated images a month, which helps artists who want a starting look before painting by hand.
• Exports and Studio app: Free accounts export 720p MP4, while Pro adds 1080p, 4K and PNG sequences with alpha. Studio subscribers get a Windows desktop app that processes footage offline for confidential work.

Pros

Your own artwork sets the look in EbSynth, so results follow a painted keyframe rather than a model’s guess and avoid the flicker of frame-by-frame generators.

• Usable free plan: The free tier covers the core editor with no time limit and exports 720p MP4. Students and hobbyists can learn the whole workflow before deciding whether 4K export is worth $20 a month.
• Artist control: Output follows the brushwork, colours and textures you paint yourself. Animators who want a hand-made look keep authorship of the style, which prompt-driven tools cannot promise.
• Stable style across frames: Because frames are rebuilt from your footage and keyframes, the painted style holds steady through the clip. This avoids the shimmer that appears when a generative model redraws each frame separately.
• No install for most users: The editor runs in a desktop browser, with Chrome recommended for large projects. Coverage reports GPU acceleration on Nvidia, AMD and Apple Silicon, so both Mac and Windows users can work at speed.
• Privacy options: EbSynth says uploaded video and keyframes are deleted as soon as renders are returned. Studios that cannot send footage off-site can choose the offline Windows app instead.

Cons

Fast motion is EbSynth’s weak spot, as turning heads, motion blur and objects passing in front of the subject can tear the painted effect.

• Footage sensitivity: Occlusion, reflections and quick movement still cause smearing or broken textures. You can reduce this by filming steady, evenly lit takes and adding keyframes wherever the angle changes.
• Keyframe prep: Good results usually need several painted keyframes rather than one. Each extra keyframe means more time in an image editor, so long or busy shots can be slow to finish.
• Free export cap: Free exports stop at 720p MP4, with no PNG sequences or transparency. Anyone delivering HD or 4K work, or compositing over other footage, has to pay for Pro.
• Expensive offline tier: Studio costs $200 per seat a month, ten times the Pro price. Small teams that need local processing for client confidentiality face a steep jump in cost.
• Desktop only: The web app does not support phones or tablets, and the site recommends a dedicated graphics card on laptops for large projects. Creators who edit mainly on mobile will need another tool.

Who is Using EbSynth?

Independent animators form EbSynth’s core audience, joined by VFX artists, music video directors and students who want painted looks without drawing every frame.

• Animators: They film live performances and paint over a few frames to produce hand-drawn style animation. This keeps natural acting timing while cutting the number of drawings needed.
• VFX and post-production artists: They use it for rotoscoping, digital makeup and colour fixes. An edit made on one frame follows the shot, which avoids tracking work in a compositing package.
• Music video makers: Directors add a painterly or illustrated look to performance footage on small budgets. The real-time preview helps them compare several styles before committing.
• Students and hobbyists: Learners try animation styles on the free plan without a time limit. It is a practical way to understand keyframes and motion before moving to larger tools.

Pricing

EbSynth is freemium, with a free 720p plan, Pro at $20 a month and Studio at $200 per seat a month (official prices, October 2026).

Some directories still describe EbSynth as entirely free or list Studio as custom priced, which reflects the old beta and launch-era pages.

Disclaimer: Export limits and AI image allowances may change between releases, so confirm the current plan details on the EbSynth site before subscribing.

What Makes EbSynth Unique?

Example-based synthesis is the real difference: EbSynth copies the texture of your painted keyframe onto the moving footage instead of asking a model to redraw each frame. Brushwork, line weight and colour therefore stay consistent, and there is no prompt to fight with.

The browser version also brings editing tools into the same window as the synthesis. Timeline, layers, brushes and a live preview mean you can spot a broken frame, paint a fix and see the result straight away, a loop that once needed several programs.

Compatibilities and Integrations

EbSynth works through file exchange rather than plug-ins, so footage goes in from any editor and finished frames come back out.

• Platforms: Desktop browsers, with Chrome recommended, plus a Windows app on the Studio plan.
• Input: Video files and keyframes painted in any image editor, such as Photoshop or Krita.
• Export: MP4 on every plan, with 1080p, 4K and PNG sequences with alpha on Pro.
• Hardware: GPU acceleration is reported for Nvidia, AMD and Apple Silicon.
• Workflow: Exports drop into After Effects, DaVinci Resolve or other editors for finishing.

EbSynth Tutorials

A short, steady test clip teaches the EbSynth workflow faster than a full project, because problems show up quickly in the preview.

1. Open the web app in Chrome and upload a short, evenly lit clip.
2. Pick a frame where the subject is clearly visible and export it as a still.
3. Paint or restyle that frame in your image editor.
4. Import the edited keyframe and place it on the timeline.
5. Watch the preview and use the brushes to repair any torn areas.
6. Add keyframes where the angle changes, then export the finished clip.

How We Rated It

EbSynth earns 3.9 out of 5 for faithful, artist-led results and a usable free plan, held back by thin support and an export-only workflow.

Summary

EbSynth suits animators, VFX artists and video creators who want a painted look that follows their own artwork rather than a prompt. The browser version adds a timeline, layers and live preview, which makes the old trial-and-error process far quicker. Its main limitation is sensitivity to fast motion and changing angles, which can tear the effect. The free plan is enough to learn on, while Pro is needed for HD delivery. Start with steady, well-lit footage and add a fresh keyframe whenever the subject turns.