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4:4:4 QT codecs?
I have a requirement to deliver in the 4:4:4 colorspace, and internally we have been using the Apple ProRes 4444 codec in FCP, and everything is working fine.
However, when I have freelance After Effects work done, the artists do not always have that codec.
I always try to sell them on the idea, but sometimes it’s too much to ask someone to buy Final Cut Studio 3, just to get that codec.
My Question: in a pinch, when I can’t get people to deliver Apple ProRes 4444, is there an alternative codec that is readily available which would preserve full quality, and 4:4:4 colorspace? (I realize an alternative would not give me the nice small file sizes, but basically I just need another option that will not compromise the image quality at all).
At first I thought 10-Bit uncompressed would be the choice, but in After Effects, that is listed as 4:2:2.
Any advice?
Thank you,
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16 Replies
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Don
Whether the AE user has a PC or Mac, the latest version of QT SHOULD give you all those codecs.
If that doesnt work, a company called BitJazz has produced a series of codecs designed specifically to go between in and out of AE called Sheer
hope this helps
“I like video because its so fast!”
Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc. -
Isn’t Animation 4:4:4 RGB?
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[Bob Flood] “Whether the AE user has a PC or Mac, the latest version of QT SHOULD give you all those codecs. “
That’s decode only. You can’t encode to ProRes4444 without FCP installed.
I’d do as Dave suggests and go with image sequences.
Michael
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I’ll be working late. -
Thank you all for this great information. This is exactly what I needed.
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MJPEG w/the quality slider setup to Best/100% will give you 4:4:4 but no alpha channel.
-Andrew
3.2GHz 8-core, FCP 6.0.4, 10.5.5
Blackmagic Multibridge Eclipse (6.8.1) -
Is Animation 4.4.4 10bit though? If not then Dave’s image sequence file would be the better option
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When say 444 we must refer to YUV (YCbCr) codecs. By “nature” all the RGB codecs are 444.
You can not down-sample RGB as can be done with YUV.
In RGB every pixel have a value for R, G and B.
In YUV every pixel have a Y’ value, but no necessarily Cb and CR.
So the two only 444 codecs I know are the Proress and the Sheer, as have been mentioned here.
Animation, NONE, etc are RGB. It makes not sense call them 444 (although they are) because it doesn’t exist any kind of RGB 422 or 411.
Rafael -
[Alan Okey] “Isn’t Animation 4:4:4 RGB?”
Yes, but it’s 8 bits and there can be banding in gradients. ProRes 4:4:4:4 is 12 bits, no banding, but also no Windows, no Linux. 🙁
I’m fond of image sequences for these reasons. You can export a 16 bit tiff sequence with alpha from any platform that can be used in any platform. And no banding!
Arnie
Post production is not an afterthought!
https://www.arniepix.com/ -
[Arnie Schlissel] ” ProRes 4:4:4:4 is 12 bits”
Proress “Supports” 12b picture (and 16b Alpha). This doesn’t means that “is” 12b. That will depends on your workflow.
I guess that if you capture with an AJA or BM you will end up with 10b.
Same probably will happens when exporting from FC and I guess that exporting from AE (16/32b FP rendering) will be possible to keep that bit depth.
rafael
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Those AE guys. What a bunch of punks. Prob’ly runnin’ PCs
Tell ’em to get with the program. Kevin Monahan
60 Blu-ray Templates for Final Cut Studio 2009
http://www.fcpworld.com
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
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