Precision and bit depth
Frame Job works in 16-bit float, so a gradient from a 10-bit camera file survives grading. There’s nothing to turn on. This page says where that depth is kept and where it ends. “Deep” here means more than 8 bits per channel.
- Menu
- File ▸ Export…
- Keys
- ⌘E
- Agent tools
export
16-bit float compositing
Section titled “16-bit float compositing”Every video source is decoded to 16-bit float, and every frame is composited at 16-bit float. There’s no 32-bit float mode. Blends run there too, so a heavy grade keeps its precision. A 10-bit source keeps its detail all the way to a 10-bit or ProRes export.
A 16-bit float frame takes twice the memory of an 8-bit one, so an export needs about twice the memory for its frames.
10-bit exports
Section titled “10-bit exports”The format you choose on the export sheet decides how much of that depth reaches the file.
| Format | Depth in the file |
|---|---|
| HEVC 10-bit (MP4) | 10-bit (Main 10) |
| AV1 (MP4), AV1 (WebM) | Always 10-bit |
| ProRes 422 (MOV), ProRes 4444 (MOV) | Deep: they take the composited frames as they are, at 10 bits in ProRes 422 and 12 in ProRes 4444. See ProRes. |
| VP9 (WebM) | 8-bit for an SDR picture, 10-bit for HLG and HDR10 |
| H.264 (MP4), HEVC (MP4), HEVC with Alpha (MOV), VP9 with Alpha (WebM) | 8-bit |
| Animated GIF, Animated PNG | 8-bit |
The sheet’s Bit depth: row is about sound, not the picture. See Export bit depth.
Deep stills
Section titled “Deep stills”A still deeper than 8 bits per channel, such as a 16-bit PNG or TIFF or a 10-bit HEIC, is drawn at 16-bit float. An 8-bit still is drawn at 8 bits. It’s automatic and there’s no setting: add the file with File ▸ Add Media… (⇧⌘I) as usual.
Saved frames
Section titled “Saved frames”File ▸ Save Frame… (⌥⌘E) writes a 16-bit PNG or a 10-bit HEIC when the frame shows a deep still or a 10-bit VP9, HEVC or ProRes clip, and always in an HDR (HLG) project. A frame gets the same when the lowest track with video on it holds a 10-bit HEVC or ProRes clip, anywhere along the timeline. A JPEG is always 8-bit. See Save Frame.
Reversed clips
Section titled “Reversed clips”A reversed clip plays from a backwards copy rendered at 10 bits, at the source’s exact size and with the source’s own colour labels, so an HDR or log clip still reads correctly. See Reverse a clip.
What stays 8-bit
Section titled “What stays 8-bit”Text, shapes, captions, graphics and screen recordings are 8-bit, and so are thumbnails. In an HDR (HLG) project those layers are still lifted to HDR reference white, so they sit with the rest of the picture.