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Exporting files - Quicktime movie

Quicktime movies are one of the most useful ways to export your files for transmission or storage. They use sound and video, and can be manipulated to change their file size drastically. Remember that when you are exporting your movie, you should consider that the smaller the filesize, the more likely someone will be to download your file.

Prepare your clip for export
Use the editing tools to get your clip ready. Once you've done that, choose the amount of the clip you'd like to export. If you want to use only part of it, adjust the "working area" (the blue bar above the clip) to cover the bit you want to use. Be sure and save your project.

Now, begin the export process by clicking the following sequence:

File     Export     Movie...

Set export configurations
After you choose a name for the movie you are going to export, click the "Settings" button to set the format of your output. Below is an explanation of the different options you will have. See our examples page to see how these settings can change the quality of your image.

    General Settings
  • File Type: Quicktime -- This is best if you are using high frame rates and sound
    Animated Gif -- Works well for silent clips -- smaller than Quicktime format, not proprietary
    Gif Sequence -- great for editing in other formats
    Film strip -- Kind of nifty
  • Range: Work Area (or) Entire Project -- if you are only using part of your clip, use the Work Area (blue area above the timeline). Otherwise, use the Entire Project option.
  • Export Video check box -- if you only want to make an audio file, de-select this box.
  • Export Audio check box -- if you don't care about the audio for your file, de-select this box. Leaving out the audio is a good way to decrease the file size.

    • Video Settings

  • Compressor: Animation -- unless you know that you should use another setting, you probably shouldn't change this.
  • Depth: 256 -- Using more than 256 colors will GREATLY increase file size. We don't recommend it.
  • Frame Size -- Depending on what your image is, you may be able to reduce your frame size without trouble. Doing so will help keep file size down.
  • Frame Rate -- Frame Rate is another key way to reduce your file size. The lower your frame rate, the lower your file size. Of course, lower frame rate means your animation will be more jumpy.
  • Quality -- Finally, quality will also raise or lower your image size exponentially.

While there are other settings you can change, the ones in this list are the most important. Feel free to fiddle with the others to see what difference they make.

Export your file
Once you've set your configurations and made your changes, all you need to do is click "OK" and your file will be exported and saved in your directory.

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