Compressor Tutorial: Employing the Right Video Codec Settings for Motion Graphics

Compressor Tutorial: Employing the Right Video Codec Settings for Motion Graphics
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Graphical Compression

Apple’s Compressor is used to compress video formats and to covert video codecs for any file that comes through it, but it is especially integrated to work with the programs in the Final Cut Studio like Final Cut Pro, Color, and Motion. There are a number of different types of programs that export video that you will use, and many of them should not be compressed in the same way as a standard video. This is especially true for motion graphics which may be used in a number of different ways once exported from their program, which is especially true when trying to compress files coming out of Apple’s Motion. Here is an easy tutorial on how to use compressor for motion graphics.

Compressing Motion Graphics

Start by either sending your motion graphics file from the program you are working in or take the file independent and open it in Compressor. Go to Target and Destination to set the location you want the compressed file to head to.

Once the Destination is set for the compressed video file go down to Settings and select Apple. Select Other Workflows from the list of

available options, which is at the bottom right below Formats. From here you will have five options, the middle one will be Motion Graphics and it will list that there are twenty available settings within this broader category. When you open up Motion Graphics you are going to essentially see a list of different compression options that are going to match different types of video and viewing options. These will include 8-Bit NTSC, 8-Bit PAL, Animation PAL, Animation NTSC, DV NTSC 4:3, DVCPro50 NTSC, Photo - JPEF PAL, Pixlet PAL, and several more in various combinations. The point of having these varied settings is so you have a predesigned compression format that will be able to convert your motion graphics to the exact format you will need for the later purpose.

Go ahead and find the Motion Graphics codec that fits your needs and then drag and drop it up into the project

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window where you set your Destination. Once you correctly label the video that is being compressed you can hit Submit, but you will then have to also label the Compressor project. You will then be able to watch its compression process in detail with the Batch Monitor.

If you would like to take a look at what the Motion Graphics will look like after the compression you can do so with the Preview window to your right. Once you have actually set your specific Motion Graphics settings in place you can then press play over in the Preview monitor to get a look at what it is going to appear as. This will give you a good visual as to whether or not the compression is appropriate.

This post is part of the series: Compression Types in Apple Compressor

Here is a series of Apple Compressor tutorials looking at different video compression and video codec types.

  1. Apple Compressor Tutorial: Compressing for Standard Definition
  2. Compressor Tutorial: Compressing for Animation
  3. Compressor Tutorial: How to Use Compressor for Motion Graphics
  4. Compressor Tutorial: Exporting for Apple TV
  5. Compressor Tutorial: Compressing for Internet Download