How to Use FFmpeg Tile Filter to Create Grid Collages

This guide explains how to use FFmpeg's native tile filter to assemble video frames and multiple video streams into custom grid collages. You will learn the core syntax of the filter, how to control dimensions, margins, and padding, and how to create both static contact sheets and dynamic multi-video video collages.

Understanding the tile Filter

The tile filter processes sequential frames from a single incoming video stream and arranges them into a single output frame laid out in a grid. By default, it operates on successive frames of one input, but it can also be combined with the interleave filter to assemble multiple distinct video files into a simultaneous grid.

Basic Syntax and Core Parameters

The base syntax inside the -vf or -filter_complex flag is:

tile=NxM
  • N represents the number of columns (horizontal).
  • M represents the number of rows (vertical).

Common parameters include:

  • layout: Grid dimensions specified as columns x rows (e.g., 3x2).
  • nb_frames: Number of frames to render per output tile. Defaults to 0 (fills the whole grid N x M).
  • margin: Outer border width in pixels.
  • padding: Space between individual tiles in pixels.
  • color: Background color used for margins, padding, or empty tiles (e.g., black, white, 0x00FF00).
  • init_padding: Number of empty frames before rendering the first frame.

Generating an Image Contact Sheet (Single Video)

To generate an image thumbnail grid representing moments across a single video, sample frames using the fps or select filter before passing them to tile.

ffmpeg -ss 00:00:10 -i input.mp4 -vf "select='not(mod(n\,100))',scale=320:180,tile=3x3" -frames:v 1 collage.png
  • select='not(mod(n\,100))': Picks every 100th frame.
  • scale=320:180: Resizes each frame so the final 3x3 output is manageable (960x540).
  • tile=3x3: Arranges 9 selected frames into a 3-column, 3-row grid.
  • -frames:v 1: Stops processing after one complete tiled output frame is written.

Adding Borders, Margins, and Padding

To create separation between images and add an outer border, use margin, padding, and color:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "fps=1/5,scale=320:180,tile=4x2:padding=10:margin=20:color=white" -frames:v 1 output_styled.png
  • fps=1/5: Samples one frame every 5 seconds.
  • tile=4x2: Places 8 frames in 4 columns and 2 rows.
  • padding=10: Inserts 10 pixels of white space between tiles.
  • margin=20: Inserts a 20-pixel white border around the entire collage.
  • color=white: Sets the fill color for borders and gaps.

Creating a Real-Time Multi-Video Grid

Because tile operates sequentially on a single stream, playing multiple separate video files simultaneously in a grid requires synchronizing and interleaving their frames into one stream before piping them into tile.

2x2 Simultaneous Video Collage

ffmpeg -i input1.mp4 -i input2.mp4 -i input3.mp4 -i input4.mp4 -filter_complex \
"[0:v]scale=640:360[v0]; \
 [1:v]scale=640:360[v1]; \
 [2:v]scale=640:360[v2]; \
 [3:v]scale=640:360[v3]; \
 [v0][v1][v2][v3]interleave=4,tile=2x2[outv]" \
-map "[outv]" -c:v libx264 -crf 23 output_grid.mp4
  1. scale=640:360: Normalizes all four inputs to identical resolutions (required for consistent grid alignment).
  2. interleave=4: Takes one frame cyclically from each of the 4 inputs (v0, v1, v2, v3) in order.
  3. tile=2x2: Consumes the 4 interleaved frames and stitches them into a single 1280x720 video frame.
  4. -map "[outv]": Directs the filtered video output into the destination file.