Apple Pro Res Universal?

[Phil Bates]

Just wondering if Apple Pro Res(including HQ and 444) is considered a universal format, compatible with most editing and compositing applications? Do you know of any problems or issues with this codec?

Thanks,
Phil

 

[Phil Bates]

I should mention that I am referring to Apple Pro Res as an intermediate format, not as a delivery format.

Thanks,
P

 

[Erich Ocean]

Gamma shifting can be a problem; this usually happens when one app is re-interpreting the gamma (FCP, I'm looking at you) and another isn't, e.g. After Effects. So the image in FCP would look different in AE. If you're selling stock footage in ProRes format, then you would do the correct gamma (2.2) and be done with it, so it shouldn't be an issue.

More info here: http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/professionalformatsandworkflows/index.html#chapter=10%26section=5%26tasks=true

 

[Tom Lowe]

Well PC users might be able to decode it, and possibly use it in some NLEs, but I don't think PC users can author ProRes.

Basically ProRes does not play nice with PCs, which is a shame.

 

[Phil Bates]

Thanks Erich! So, if I understand correctly, the Gamma is correct automatically when rendering to Apple Pro Res out of AE? I notice no gamma change at all to these files. When importing them back into AE they match the source exactly...

Thanks again,
Phil

 

[Phil Bates]

Well PC users might be able to decode it, and possibly use it in some NLEs, but I don't think PC users can author ProRes.

Basically ProRes does not play nice with PCs, which is a shame.

So Tom, if they are just importing Apple Pro Res stock footage files (like in Vegas) on a PC, would that matter?

Thanks,
Phil

 

[Liam Hall]

I should mention that I am referring to Apple Pro Res as an intermediate format, not as a delivery format.

Apple ProRes is an intermediate codec. That is what it is designed for.

 

[Fredrik Harreschou]

Well PC users might be able to decode it, and possibly use it in some NLEs, but I don't think PC users can author ProRes.

Basically ProRes does not play nice with PCs, which is a shame.

Very true. It´s very sad that a protected format has become the standard offline file format. DNxHD is just as good and completely open for anyone to encode and decode. The Power of Apple...

 

[Erich Ocean]

Thanks Erich! So, if I understand correctly, the Gamma is correct automatically when rendering to Apple Pro Res out of AE? I notice no gamma change at all to these files. When importing them back into AE they match the source exactly...

AE defaults to sRGB, which is 2.2, which is what ProRes is natively, so it *should* work correctly out-of-the-box. That said, people can always re-interpret the ProRes gamma in their NLE as 1.8, in which case it won't look right.

From my perspective, if you deliver ProRes footage in the sRGB color space (with the 2.2 gamma), you've done everything you need to do as far as the customer is concerned.

Any app that supports QuickTime on Windows can display ProRes files by installing this (it's free): http://support.apple.com/downloads/Apple_ProRes_QuickTime_Decoder_1_0_for_Windows