I'm still pretty new to time-lapse and video rendering, so please excuse any obvious ignorance...
I've beem shooting time-lapse clips with a Canon 5D Mk III and at times have up to 2,500 raw frames. I shoot in manual mode in raw format.
My current workflow:
1) transfer files to my pc working folders (i7-7820x 32GB ram with lots of hdd and ssd space)
2) Bridge/ACR for initial exposure, white balance, etc.
3) LRTimelapse Pro to manage overal smoothing/deflicker
4) Back to Bridge/ACR for final touch-up
5) Import sequence to After Effects
6) Create composition - target frame rate either 23.967 or 29.97 fps
Now to the question: best rendering approach for full frame video submission to Pond5? (render engine is AME)
From the Pond5 blog:
>Resolution and Frame Rate
>4K and above: Keep the file size below 5GB - my note: the clips are in this range due to the 5730 x 3840 frame
>Codecs
>We accept the following codecs (in order of preference):
- Unmodified camera-native codecs, including R3D (see below), AVCHD, H264, PRORES, DNxHD, DNxHR, M2TS, XDCam, MXF, HDV, DV, DVCProHD.
- Apple ProRes
- Avid native DNxHD
- H.264. (We accept H.264 when it’s the camera’s native codec or as a broadcast-quality intermediate. Camera-native files can be uploaded without modification. For intermediate H.264, make sure that it is set to the highest quality.)
In my case there is no "camera-native" video format as they begin as raw stills.
My goal: highest quality for the final customer/consumer - so I'm treating my work as an "intermediate" that will likely be edited again.
I don't have a problem using the h.264 codec, but is this appropriate for further work? (my reading indicates this codec is intended as a "viewing" codec)
I have also created various ProRes outputs, but, aside from long renders, it's easy to exceed the 5GB file size.
A "best practices" approach is my goal; I want to have a stabilized working practice.
Suggestions appreciated,
Bob