what does conform mean exactly...what is the purpose

[Peter Osinski]

this may seem like a stupid question...but what exactly does it mean to conform your edit?

 

[MichaelP]

Conform is taking your seqence, timeline, or program that was assembled using a lower quality image than the one you want to master out. For example, editing at SD offline for an HD online. Conforming your timeline is that process and ensuring that all the edits and creative decisions match frame accurately.

Michael

 

[Jordan Livingston]

Peter,

Michael's description above is indeed correct. Conforming is simply replacing your "offline" materials with your "online" materials. It can also be the process of generating alternate versions of your picture-locked timeline (for example, HD, SD, mobile, etc.). Another example that pertains specifically to RED might be working with ProRes "offline" files, then replacing them with the original R3Ds for final color grading and mastering, etc.

Conforming can either be an automated process or a manual one, depending on your workflow and asset management tools... In my personal experience, it's usually a good mixture of both.

Best,

- Jordan

 

[Peter Osinski]

thank you

I was planning on editing native r3ds in cs5...does that mean I will not need a conform?

 

[Jordan Livingston]

Peter, in your case you might possibly need to "conform" to your deliverable format, i.e. HD 1080p. However, it's also possible that you would just output from your R3D timeline. It depends entirely on your post workflow (color grading, compositing, titling, etc.) and your project's overall delivery needs.

- Jordan

 

[Charles Angus]

I would usually think of conforming as adding in all the additional elements other than the straight footage - ie. supers, titles, vfx shots, etc.

 

[MichaelP]

To me "conform" is exact replication of the proxy (offline) edit to the original sources. Finishing and mastering comprises all the other elements such as color correction, graphics, and deliverables.

Michael

 

[Scott Simmons]

I think of conform as being the first step of the entire online process. You have to 'conform' a low rez edit to full rez before the final online finishing steps of grading, supers, titles, vfx, etc.