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Project size for 4k material if export is 1080?
01 Feb 2016 17:30 #72822
by joema
Project size for 4k material if export is 1080? was created by joema
With Premiere if you use 4k material in a 1080p sequence (aka project) with "default scale to frame size" it is scaled down and the extra resolution lost. If you then zoom (ie scale) into the 1080p frame, you only have 1080p resolution to work with. For this reason the normal advice on Premiere is edit 4k material in a 4k project, even if your export is 1080p. This enables zooms, etc. on the original 4k resolution.
With FCPX if you use 4k material in a 1080p project, it also automatically scales to the 1080p frame, and the render files are 1080p, but it remembers the original resolution. You can zoom into a 1080p frame, export it, yet the original 4k resolution is still available. After exporting at 1080p it looks just like you zoomed into a 4k frame in a 4k project.
This raises the issue of what is the optimal FCPX project resolution for 4k material with 1080p delivery. From my tests it appears 4k in a 4k project exported at 1080 vs 4k in a 1080 project exported at 1080 both produce the same results. However 4k in a 1080 project has generally faster editing response and the render files are a lot smaller.
This also raises the question about 4k in a 4k project using proxies (which are 1080). Is there any functional or performance difference between that and using 4k material in a 1080p project, if both target 1080p delivery?
With FCPX if you use 4k material in a 1080p project, it also automatically scales to the 1080p frame, and the render files are 1080p, but it remembers the original resolution. You can zoom into a 1080p frame, export it, yet the original 4k resolution is still available. After exporting at 1080p it looks just like you zoomed into a 4k frame in a 4k project.
This raises the issue of what is the optimal FCPX project resolution for 4k material with 1080p delivery. From my tests it appears 4k in a 4k project exported at 1080 vs 4k in a 1080 project exported at 1080 both produce the same results. However 4k in a 1080 project has generally faster editing response and the render files are a lot smaller.
This also raises the question about 4k in a 4k project using proxies (which are 1080). Is there any functional or performance difference between that and using 4k material in a 1080p project, if both target 1080p delivery?
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01 Feb 2016 21:44 #72826
by PaulG
Replied by PaulG on topic Project size for 4k material if export is 1080?
If your output is 1080, then I don't see working in a 4K timeline as being beneficial. All you will end up doing is creating render files that are 4 times as large. If you ever need to up-res to a 4K output later on, assuming all of your source material is 4K, you can copy the 1080 timeline material into a 4K timeline and have FCP fit to fill. As you mentioned, FCPX will always give you all the resolution you have available from your source footage.
Working in a 1080 Proxy mode might yield faster results than your 4K material, but probably not enough to matter unless you're really on the low-end of disk speed/computer spec.
My advice: unless you're beach balling constantly or creeping along, I'd keep it simple and work with the 4K footage in the 1080 timeline.
Working in a 1080 Proxy mode might yield faster results than your 4K material, but probably not enough to matter unless you're really on the low-end of disk speed/computer spec.
My advice: unless you're beach balling constantly or creeping along, I'd keep it simple and work with the 4K footage in the 1080 timeline.
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