ProRes Export: The Ultimate Video Quality Hack

Updated on Dec 27,2023

ProRes Export: The Ultimate Video Quality Hack

Table of Contents:

  1. Introduction
  2. Why Export in ProRes
  3. New Workflow Inspired by Walter Murch
  4. What is ProRes 4.1 Definition of ProRes 4.2 Types of ProRes
  5. Benefits of ProRes 5.1 Quality of Video 5.2 File Size 5.3 Rendering Time
  6. Technique of Exporting as ProRes
  7. Importing ProRes File back into Premiere
  8. Making Changes in the ProRes File
  9. Exporting the Final Version in H.264
  10. Considerations when Working with ProRes 10.1 File Size 10.2 Loss of Quality
  11. Using the ProRes Workflow on YouTube
  12. Conclusion

Why Exporting in ProRes Can Benefit Your Workflow

In today's tutorial video, we will explore the advantages of exporting in ProRes. Over the years, I have experimented with different export settings, and I have found that using ProRes has significantly improved my editing workflow. This technique, inspired by the legendary Hollywood film editor Walter Murch, has allowed me to save time and minimize the frustrations of making last-minute changes in my projects. In this article, I will explain what ProRes is, its various types, how to use it in your workflow, and the benefits it offers. So, let's dive in and discover why exporting in ProRes could revolutionize your editing process.

Introduction

As an editor, efficiency and speed are essential when delivering high-quality content on time. In the past, I would often encounter issues when making changes to a finalized video exported as an h.264 file. Every time I found a small mistake or needed to adjust a specific section, I had to go back to the editing software, re-render the entire video, and wait for the rendering process to complete. This time-consuming process hindered my productivity, especially when working on projects with tight deadlines. However, since adopting the ProRes workflow, my editing process has become more streamlined and efficient. In this article, I will explain the reasons why exporting in ProRes has become an integral part of my editing workflow and how it can benefit You too.

Why Export in ProRes

ProRes, short for Professional Video Compression, is a codec developed by Apple specifically for video editing and post-production purposes. Unlike h.264, which is highly compressed, ProRes offers a minimally compressed video file with superior visual quality. When passing the footage between different editors or post-production houses, using ProRes as a digital intermediate ensures the preservation of high-quality video while keeping the file size manageable. ProRes comes in various types, such as ProRes HQ, which maintains a high-quality 4:2:2 10-bit color space preferred by many professional editors. This type of file is visually lossless and significantly reduces rendering time compared to an h.264 file.

New Workflow Inspired by Walter Murch

One of the most influential figures in the film editing industry, Walter Murch, has inspired my new exporting workflow. In an Adobe talk, Murch highlighted the benefits of exporting a QuickTime uncompressed file from the editing software. However, since most of my work ends up being uploaded to platforms like YouTube, I found it more beneficial to use ProRes instead. This inspired me to adopt a similar technique where I export my entire timeline as a ProRes file during the fine cut or when nearing project completion. By doing this, I Create a rough cut ProRes file that enables me to view any necessary changes quickly. Being minimally compressed, the ProRes file renders faster than an h.264 file, allowing me to make edits efficiently.

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