Is there a difference between the video compression choices? Has anyone tried a render with/without compression for comparison of size and quality?
Mike
I have not done any video files (OK one for a test check and it worked OK easily) in TFP12
However I have dome many 3D animations and there is a big difference in file size and image quality...and who has a matching codec to playback the compressed file....if you send it to someone else to play back on their PC.
There is no one best way or codec or settings....that is a topic well discussed in 3D animation circles.
Compression can be as good as 100:1 and still get great quality....but wrong settings or scene content and 10:1 may yield poor results.
Newer .mp4 and H.264 codecs work well but older codecs like ivx and Sorenson still work well too.
You can save as uncompressed and use other 3rd party tools like Quicktime or DrDivix etc......there are many....to do a compressed file from the original uncompressed file....and that is the fastest way to get to a best compressed file....because compressions run much faster than re-rendering each time.
The real answer is you have to experiment....set your goals for render image size, quality, end user readability, and file size, then play until you get what you think works for you. Each different scene setup will change the final settings.
I know this seems like a lot of work, and it is, but there is no easy way except to try a couple times and pick what results you like....keep trying until you get what you like.....they remember what you learned for the next project starting setup.