Best quality, smallest file size

I have a 3.5 minute motion project which includes the opening credits to a video I am working on - how do I go about getting this into Final Cut Pro with the highest quality possible? I am very new to Final Cut Studio, so some input would really be appreciated. The video is already an hour long, and this needs to fit on a 120 minute DVD, so file size is crucial - unless it will be taken care of when the entire DVD is compressed. Thanks!

What is your current timeline format in FCP? Either bring the .motn file directly into FCP (it'll be treated as a QuickTime file) or export with the same codec/dimensions as your timeline.
Then export your timeline from FCP using Export Quicktime Movie... as a self contained or non-self contained and bring it into DVDSP...
Patrick

Similar Messages

Whcih codec/settings for best quality, smallest file size?

Hi,
This is probably a really frequently asked question, and I apologise for that.
I've been searching for an answer and the only information I can hastily find is at last a year old, some stuff dating from 2008
Forgive me - even though I'm studying media, I have no idea about codecs or the best ratio to use or anything.
Basically, I need some advice over which settings to use on my video. The work needs to be a really high quality, as it will be displayed on a projection screen for an exhibition, but I'm sending it over the internet, so I need a compromise between file size and quality.
One of my tutors has told me that I should always be using the ProRes 422 codec, but when I use that, and export the video in 1080p, it comes out at 3.5GB which is just ridiculous.
It has to be sent off ASAP, as the exhibition is on the 21st.
If anyone has any advice to me, that would be amazing.
Thank you in advance.

Hi, thank you so much for your reply.
It's a college project, and the person we were working with is a Doctor in sound. We had to record environmental sounds and create soundscapes for them. As media students though, we were told to make animations, or videos to accompany them. My video is just some of my photography, with some titles, and an AIF music file. Sound is his thing - he wouldn't know what settings I should use.
The project is in 1080p 25 frame. I asked my one of my tutors, and he told me I was right in exporting it as ProRes 422. I used the Adobe Media Encoder and the youtube setting, which has taken a copy of the file down to 177.5MB and I'm burning a copy of the 3.5GB one on to disk in hopes I can get it there somehow.
It's all a bit vague to be honest. My friend's project is 1080p. I'm pretty sure it's the standard size we use for all our projects. The projectors should be set up to handle it.

Export Settings for best quality, smaller file size?

I have a one hour movie I made of a concert and exported it using Share --> Media Browser --> 720p. It came out great quality but it's 4.4gb's.
I need to figure out how to get that down to about 1GB while keeping 720p. HD movies in iTunes are two plus hours and only 3gb's from what I've seen. How can I use the same compression settings? There has to be a way to compress it a little more, while staying in 720p right?
What am I missing? TIA!

Compression quality really depends on the type of video that you are trying to compress. If the video is full of motion and noise, it will be very hard to reduce the file size through compression without massive loss. Compression is a trade-off. If you reduce the fame size to 480p, you may increase the quality of the video while reducing the file size versus trying to do the same thing at 720p.

When bouncing- what's best method for smallest file size/highest quality?

I am in the process of embedding 3 mp3's into a PDF to submit as a portfolio. The PDF also has text, and two scores included, and with the 3 embedded mp3's it can't be more than 10mb.
So my question is: When bouncing a project out of Logic, what is the best method for getting the smallest file size, but retaining the best audio quality? And once it's out of Logic and it is an mp3 or other type of audio file, is there a best format for compressing it further, and still maintaining the relative quality?
I bounced out the three projects into wav's. Now I am using Switch for Mac to compress them down to smaller Mp3's. I basically need them to be about 3 mb each. Two of the recordings sound OK at that size, but they are just MIDI(one project is piano and string quartet, the other is just piano- all software instruments. The recording that combines MIDI and Audio and has more tracks (three audio tracks and 10 Midi/software instrument tracks)and sounds completely horrible if I get it under 5 mb as an mp3. The problem is that I need all three to equal around 9mb, but still sound good enough to submit as a portfolio for consideration into a Master's program.
If anyone can help I would really appreciate it. Please be detailed in your response, because I am new to logic and I really need the step by step.
Thank you...

MUYconfundido wrote:
I am in the process of embedding 3 mp3's into a PDF to submit as a portfolio. The PDF also has text, and two scores included, and with the 3 embedded mp3's it can't be more than 10mb.
So my question is: When bouncing a project out of Logic, what is the best method for getting the smallest file size, but retaining the best audio quality?
The highest bitrate that falls within your limits. You'll have to calculate how big your MP3's can be, then choose the bitrate that keeps the size within your limit. The formula is simple: bitrate is the number of kilobits per second, so a 46 second stereo file at 96 kbps would be 96 x 46 = 4416 kbits / 8* = 552 kBytes or 0.552 MB. (*8 bits = 1 Byte)
So if you know the length of your tracks you can calculate what bitrate you need to keep it within 10 MB total.
I consider 128 kbps the lowest bearable bitrate for popsongs and other modern drumkit based music. Deterioration of sound quality is often directly related to the quality of the initial mix and the type of instruments used in it. Piano(-like) tones tend to sound watery pretty quickly at lower bitrates, as do crash and ride cymbals. But don't take my word for it, try it out.
And once it's out of Logic and it is an mp3 or other type of audio file, is there a best format for compressing it further, and still maintaining the relative quality?
You can only ZIP the whole thing after that, but that is just for transport. You'll have to unzip it again to use it. And no, you cannot compress an MP3 any further and still play it.
I bounced out the three projects into wav's. Now I am using Switch for Mac to compress them down to smaller Mp3's.
That is silly, you could have done that in Logic, which has one of the best MP3 encoders built in. And how good encoders are will especially come out at bitrates around or below 128, which you might be looking at.
I basically need them to be about 3 mb each.
So, one more scrap of info we need here: how long are those three pieces, exactly? I'll calculate the bitrate for you - but please bounce 'm directly out of Logic as MP3's. They will very probably sound better than your WAV-conversions made with Switch.
!http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/4996323899_071398b89a.jpg!
Two of the recordings sound OK at that size, but they are just MIDI(one project is piano and string quartet, the other is just piano- all software instruments. The recording that combines MIDI and Audio and has more tracks (three audio tracks and 10 Midi/software instrument tracks)and sounds completely horrible if I get it under 5 mb as an mp3. The problem is that I need all three to equal around 9mb, but still sound good enough to submit as a portfolio for consideration into a Master's program.
Length of the piece? And does the .Wav bounce you have sound OK?

Export smallest file size best quality

Hi,
I need to export a video and get the best quality with the smallest file size preferably under 100 mb. It's a 4 min video that's about 4 GB. Thanks in advance.
Kerry

See those links. Ignore Compressor application but all settings are available from FCE quicktime conversion.
http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/youtube_compressorgary.html
http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/you_tube_reduxgary.html
http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/you_tube_hdgary.html
Michel Boissonneault

When using the Save Layer Comps to PDF Script, can you change the PDF settings. I need both Smallest File Size and Press Quality?

When using the Save Layer Comps to PDF Script, can you change the PDF settings. I need both Smallest File Size and Press Quality? Thanks in advance to the group for assisting with this matter.
— John

No, there isn't. The way you're using the file is not recommended. You
should use a review tracker to avoid getting in the way of one another.

Reduce image quality (and file size)

Is there a simple way to reduce the quality of all backgroung
images ? (there are all bitmap images, about 3 MB each of them)
I imagine that by reducing the image quality, the file size
will be less huge...
But I wasn't able to find a way to do that...
(the option about JPEG quality in project/preferences has no
effect, because all background images are bitmap... )
Any idea is welcome !
Valérie

Hi Valerie
I have been doing some research on this -- the issue of file
size (relating to both .cp and .swf) crops up a lot on this forum,
so I wanted to find out which were the critical factors relating to
images.
My findings show that there are two critical factors:
-- Slide Properties: Quality (High, Standard, JPEG,
Optimized)
-- Format of original image file (used for slide background
or inserted image object)
To summarize the results of my testing:
Slide Quality
Changing the slide quality from High
to Standard or JPEG makes little or no difference to the size of
the .cp file but can *significantly* reduce the size of the
.swf
This is an especially useful way of
dealing with the very large .swf file sizes caused by importing PPT
slides
A .swf consisting entirely of
imported PPT slides with complex backgrounds may be reduced to less
than 10% of its original size by changing the quality setting for
each of the slides to JPEG and using a JPEG image quality setting
of 75%.
Format of original image file
For complex images such as photos,
the best image file format to use is (oddly) .bmp -- although it
results in a larger .cp file than other file formats (such as .jpg
or .png), it generates the smallest .swf output.
The benefit of using the .bmp format
is less marked if you have set slide quality to Standard instead of
High, but it can still cut the file size of the .swf output by up
to 50%
For slides using a quality setting of
JPEG, there appears to be no difference in resulting .swf file size
between .bmp or any other image file format
A final comment: it is interesting to compare the size of the
.cp and resulting .swf for different Captivate projects. There is
typically an assumption that the .swf file will be smaller due to
compression. However, this is not always the case. For example, I
tested one project that used High slide quality and images that had
been inserted from .jpg files -- the generated .swf file was over 4
times larger than the .cp file. However, when I changed the quality
setting for all slides to JPEG, the .swf file reduced to less than
50% of the size of the .cp file.
I hope this information is helpful -- please contact me if
you'd like to see the detailed test data.
Best regards,
-Matthew Ellison

Help with saving movie with best quality and smallets size. PLEASE

I need to know how to save my movies with the best quality and the smallest file size. I'll be posting primarily to the web, so I need to keep my file sizes to a minimum, yet I want to retain as best quality as I can. ANY assistance is greatly appreciated!

[email protected] wrote:
> I need to know how to save my movies with the best quality and the smallest file size. I'll be posting primarily to the web, so I need to keep my file sizes to a minimum, yet I want to retain as best quality as I can. ANY assistance is greatly appreciated!
Flash video is becoming popular because you can have a player embedded
in your web page that will stream video that will play on nearly any
browser without additional plug-ins. You can get decent quality at a
decent size.

Converting to smallest file size

Trying to convert QT 3 minute movie to the smallest files size(so it can be emailed) and not sure what the best setting would be....

Sure, you will get a small file size, but how watchable will the video become?
We are talking about a 3 minute video, which can easily become less then 10MB, using the 300 Kbps H.264 preset, with a frame size of 320x240 or 320x180 anamorhpic. That should be an acceptable file size for e-mail.
I just did a test encode of a 3 minute video, using the 300 Kbps H.264 preset (80 kbps, 32 kHz AAC audio), and the file size became 6,7MB. Great quality for e-mail size video!

Smallest File Size not so small

Hi in CS2 here..
Exporting a .pdf. The InDesign file has 3 colored rectangles, some text, a few lines at 1pt. & two copied vector logos from Illustrator (no images or tiffs). In Pagemaker the smallest file size was always like 30K or something.... In InDesign I am getting almost 200k. What am I doing wrong?
Do I have to change something in the export dialog? I made the Bicubic Downsampling to 72, Compression JPEG & Image Quality - Minimum.
(Also, why do Small File .pdfs print different in color than regular ones from Reader?)
Thanks.
Jules

> two copied vector logos from Illustrator
Get rid of them, then File > Place to import the Illustrator artwork.
Minimize your use of transparency.
You can knock a bit off that by editing the Output section of the export dialogue. Change Profile Inclusion Policy to Don't Include Profiles.
Try printing to a PostScript file and distilling in Acrobat Distiller.
> Also, why do Small File .pdfs print different in color than regular ones from Reader
Define "regular ones".

How can I auto export a PDF File using the "Smallest File Size" preset and set the Exported File Name based on information from an Imported PDF?

Greetings all,
I am trying to create a script to automate a PDF export process for my company for inDesign. I’m fairly new to inDesign itself and have no previous experience with javascript, although I did take C++ in high school and have found it helpful in putting this code together.
We have an inDesign template file and then use the Multi-page PDF importer script to import PDF files. We then have to export two version of each file that we import, then delete the imported file and all of the pages to reset the template. This has to be done for nearly 1000 pdf files each month and is quite tedious. I’m working on automating the process as much as possible. I’ve managed to piece together code that will cleanup the file much quicker and am now trying to automate the PDF exports themselves.
The files are sent to us as “TRUGLY#####_Client” and need to be exported as “POP#####_Client_Date-Range_North/South.pdf”
For example, TRUGLY12345_Client needs to be exported as POP12345_Client_Mar01-Mar31_North and POP12345_Client_Mar01-Mar31_South.
There are two templates built into the template file for the north and south file that are toggled easily via layer visibility switches. I need to get a code that can ideally read the #s from the imported Trugly file as well as the Client and input those into variables to use when exporting. The date range is found in the same place in the top right of each pdf file. I am not sure if this can be read somehow or if it will have to be input manually. I can put North or South into the file name based on which template layer is visible.
I am not sure how to go about doing this. I did find the following code for exporting to PDF with preset but it requires me to select a preset and then type the full file name. How can I set it to automatically use the “Smallest File Size” preset without prompting me to choose and then automatically input some or preferably all of the file name automatically? (If the entire filename is possible then I don’t even want a prompt to appear so it will be fully automated!)
PDF Export Code (Originally from here: Simple PDF Export with Preset selection | IndiSnip [InDesign® Snippets]):
var myPresets = app.pdfExportPresets.everyItem().name;
myPresets.unshift("- Select Preset -");
var myWin = new Window('dialog', 'PDF Export Presets');
myWin.orientation = 'row';
with(myWin){
    myWin.sText = add('statictext', undefined, 'Select PDF Export preset:');
    myWin.myPDFExport = add('dropdownlist',undefined,undefined,{items:myPresets});
    myWin.myPDFExport.selection = 0;
    myWin.btnOK = add('button', undefined, 'OK');
myWin.center();
var myWindow = myWin.show();
if(myWindow == true && myWin.myPDFExport.selection.index != 0){
    var myPreset = app.pdfExportPresets.item(String(myWin.myPDFExport.selection));
    myFile = File(File.saveDialog("Save file with preset: " + myPreset.name,"PDF files: *.pdf"));
    if(myFile != null){
        app.activeDocument.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, myFile, false, myPreset);
    }else{
        alert("No File selected");
}else{
    alert("No PDF Preset selected");
So far my code does the following:
1) Runs the Multi-Page PDF Import Script
2) Runs PDF Export Script Above
3) Toggles the Template
4) Runs #2 Again
5) Deletes the imported PDF and all pages and toggles template again.
It’s close and much better than the original process which was almost 100% manual but I’d like to remove the Preset prompt from the PDF script and have it automatically select the “Smallest File Size” preset. and then if there’s a way to have it auto-fill in the file name so no user input is required at all other than selecting each file to import. (If there’s a way to setup a batch action for the multi-import script that would be even better!)
Thanks in advance and if there’s anything else I can provide that would help please let me know! Even a nudge in the right direction will be a big help!

If you hold down the option key, it will typically show the location. Or you can often hit option-return on the file and it will reveal the file in the Finder, instead of opening it.
Final option is to open it, and just option-click the filename in the toolbar of Preview and it should show you the location.
It's probably an attachment to an email you've received. If you have Mail set to cache emails and their attachments it'll be stashed in a subdirectory of ~/Library/Mail. Which is fine.

How to create a smallest file size pdf from indesign CS4 document

How to create a smallest file size pdf (suitable for upload to a website) from indesign CS4 document which contains multiple illustrator CS4 illustrations.
I have chosen the "smallest file size option" but the pdf file is over 30MB, can anyone help please.
Thank you

One trick is to
Set the placed graphics to have a transparency of 99.9% (you can do this with Find/Change and select Objects)
This is enough to force the graphics throught the Transparency Flattener
Next set the Transparency Blend Space to RGB (Edit>Transparency Blend Space)
Next set a custom Transparency Flattner Preset Edit>Transparency Flattner
Next
Use File>Export and choose
Smallest file size
PDF Compatibility Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3)
In Advanced Section - go to transparency and selec the new Flattener Preset you created.
*this will convert your vectors to raster, but it should reduce your file size

InDesign Transparency Effects - Problems with Image Quality and File Size

Hello,
We are experiencing new problems exporting InDesign files to PDF.
To summarize, though our largest workflow is to create files for offset printing, we also deliver our work to PDF for mounting on a website so our clients can download directly from the web. Our new problem is Transparency Effects, and creating a PDF that will both have a high quality (or resolution), and be a small file size.
We are working with multiple page documents (24 to 48 pages), and would very much like to work with InDesign Transparency Effects. However, after spending much time testing a variety of PDF types, we are finding there is a radical difference between quality and file size. I was curious if anyone has had these problems, and if there is a simple answer. InDesign is an incredible program that allows us to design on the fly with Transparency Effects, but, if we are going to experience these problems, we will have to eliminate these wonderful tools.
Can you help me or lead me to information online that will help.
Thank you,
Lain

Please don't post in multiple forums. Your question has nothing to do with the PDF language and specifications, but rather PDF workflow or InDesign. I've responded to your other posting and am closing this thread.
- Dov

Export to PDF (smallest file size) is giving me a very large file

Hi all,
I got 2 document with around 100 pages (same size), with a picture or two in each page.
I've been using the Export to PDF (smallest file size) and export it.
first file became 5MB, which is fine
second file became 30MB, this is much too much.
I have used the exact same setting for both files and have no idea why the big difference between them.
The only difference between them is that first file contains CMYK photos, and second one - RGB.
Can this be the difference?
Any suggestions?
thanks,
shlomit

That's certainly part of the difference. Additional font information if one of the documents uses more fonts or additional glyphs could be some of it, too. Swatches and styles might also be a factor. Vectors don't compress like bitmaps, either.
Have you opened the optimizer and done a space usage audit to see what is taking up all the space? Did you do a Save AS before export?

Can you change X Pro default settings to save all PDFs using "smallest file size" job option?

Is there a way to change Acrobat X Pro's default PDF Save settings to use the settings in Distiller's "smallest file size" job options, or adjust Acrobat's default save settings to a close match?

In Windows you select the printer in the Start>Printers menu and right click to get the properites. You can then go to the settings tab and select the smallest file size job options. When you do it in the printer settings, you have set the default. Be very careful with this choice. It typically reduces the image resolution and embeds no fonts. If you are not distributing the file, then probably not an issue. However, with distribution you risk many folks not being able to read the PDF because of strange characters and low-res image.

Best quality, smallest file size

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