Changes to codec requirements for VideoHive

Envato Authors Video Authors
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ISSUE
Apple’s recent transition from 32-bit to 64-bit technology in macOS Catalina has led to the drop of support for several legacy video codecs. Most notably affected are two codecs which are no longer compatible with Apple’s 64-bit operating systems:

  • Photo-PNG
  • Motion JPEG (M-JPEG, MJPEG)

– Photo-PNG
This was previously our preferred option for files containing alpha channels or transparency. Since Photo-PNG is no longer compatible with Apple’s 64-bit operating systems, we recommend using one of the options listed further down in this post.

– Motion JPEG
While more obscure and not as widely used, we’ve discovered that some video encoding software might display its output setting as “Photo-JPEG”, but unbeknownst to authors, is actually creating an MJPEG variant instead. Some versions of the Motion JPEG codec may still be functional, but must be OpenDML only.

LATEST FILE PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS
Please see our updated documentation which outlines our currently approved video codecs and file settings:

Approved Video File Formats:

  • Quicktime MOV (.mov)
  • MP4 (.mp4)

Approved Encoding Formats:

  • Photo JPEG
  • H.264
  • ProRes (442, 442HQ, 4444, 4444 XQ)

ALPHA CHANNEL/TRANSPARENCY OPTIONS
With Photo-PNG no longer supported, we now offer a few solutions to providing files with an alpha channel, transparency, or luma/chroma matte.

  • Preferred option: encode the file(s) using the ProRes 4444 or ProRes 4444 XQ codec.

  • Alternative option: provide a separate matte file (such as a black-and-white luma matte encoded with Photo-JPEG or h.264) allowing customers to key the transparent portion manually.

SOLUTIONS FOR EXISTING MARKETPLACE ITEMS
Many items on the Videohive Marketplace are encoded using the Photo-PNG codec, which is no longer compatible with Apple’s 64-bit operating systems. Whether you’re a Videohive author or a customer who is having trouble using an item you’ve downloaded, we’ve offered some solutions below to deal with existing items that are affected by the change:

  • Authors: We’re advising authors to re-encode their more current and most popular items to one of our approved codecs from the file preparation guidelines.

  • Customers: If you’ve purchased an item that is no longer compatible, the file can be
    converted to a compatible format that will hold an alpha channel using video conversion
    software such as Adobe Media Encoder.

Need more help or have additional questions? Please feel free to contact Envato Support.

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Hello, thanks for the update @kdubdent

i have two questions concerning Alpha Channel and size limit.

a) Due to the fact that ProRes 4444 + Alpha produces bigger file sizes and you can’t change the quality when rendering - (that’s because the codec comes with the data rates embedded) are you going to increase the accepted upload size limit for motion graphic packages that needs to have lots of clips inside?

b) What’s the review policy concerning existing items that when they will be re-encoded to 4444 they are going exceed by much the 3GB size limit?

I’ve read what you wrote about the separate luma matte file but this will be a pain for customers that are not that much familiar with this procedure. Alpha clips are way more easy & fast to use either you are a junior or advanced video user.

Thank you in advance :slight_smile:

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Hi @Bogz, happy to be handling responses for this thread.

ProRes 4444 has been an approved codec on Videohive for years, and many authors have been using it without encountering any significant issues staying well within the 3GB limit.

Since the codec hasn’t seemed to produce file size issues for other authors, should you encounter problems with exceedingly large file sizes, it might be necessary to sell items individually, as opposed to multi-clip bundles, and/or shorten the duration of certain clips.

I hope that helps!

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Hi @MotionRevolver

Is it for also asset videos inside After Effects Project Files?

For Alpha channel I should provide a separate matte file?

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Hi @DrMotion, video assets associated with project files should always be either .mov or .mp4, encoded according to the particular program’s requirements. Also, for project files, the alpha should always be embedded in the footage file, no matter which codec. For example, Adobe software is still able to utilize the Photo-PNG codec, even on Apple computers, but recently dropped support for several other legacy codecs such as JPEG2000.

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Thank you for information!

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