Burn in timecode
Burn in timecode draws the project’s timecode into the exported picture. Use it for a review copy, so a note about a frame carries the number you’ll find on your timeline.
- Menu
- File ▸ Export…
- Keys
- ⌘E
- Where
- Export sheet ▸ Burn in timecode
- Agent tools
exportrender_frame
Burn in timecode
Section titled “Burn in timecode”Choose File ▸ Export… and turn on Burn in timecode. It’s off by default.
The timecode appears only in the exported file, never in the preview. It sits centred near the bottom of the picture, on a translucent black plate, on top of everything, captions included.
The box works on every format with a picture, Animated GIF and Animated PNG included. It’s greyed out for the audio-only formats, and File ▸ Save Frame… never offers it.
The sheet remembers it with the rest of your last export, and a preset stores it.
What the timecode shows
Section titled “What the timecode shows”It uses the project’s own timecode format, as the toolbar shows it: HH:MM:SS:FF or HH:MM:SS.mmm, non-drop. See Canvas background and timecode.
It shows project time. A file exported from an in/out range that starts at 00:00:10:00 begins at 00:00 in a player, but its first frame reads 00:00:10:00. That’s the number a reviewer’s note needs.
With an agent
Section titled “With an agent”burn_in_timecode turns it on in export, and it’s off by default. render_frame takes the same argument, so an agent can draw the timecode into a single frame, which Save Frame… can’t do. See Check the picture: render_frame.