About Open Clip Files

Open .clip files are files created using the Write File node in Batch or by a third party application.

How to Create an Open Clip?

Three ways to create an open clip:

• Using the Batch Write File node with Create Clip Data is enabled.
• Using a third party application or utility.
• Creating one by hand

What Is an Open .Clip File?

In its simplest form, an open .clip file consists of two parts:

• A .clip file
• Media files

The media is any supported media files, from DPX sequences to RED clips, including multi-channel OpenEXR renders. The other component, the .clip file, is written in a human-readable format, the XML format; you can open a .clip in any word processor (kedit, notepad, TextEdit) and decipher its content.

In essence, the .clip files contains all the metadata and references to media that are required to define a source and its versions. The .clip file does nothing by itself, but is essential to recreate the sources.

One of the strengths of the open .clip is that anyone can create .clip files. With one, you can organize media outside of your applications for later use.

Using an open .clip file, you can define many aspects of a clip, including:

• Source Information
• Versioning
• Multiple channels of media
• Paths to media

Why Use an Open Clip?

For open clip history and data exchange.

Open clip history

Open clip history provides you with the ability to save with a processed clip the Batch setup used to create that clip. Later on, to open that clip in Batch and edit previous nodes and their settings.

Data exchange

Data exchange requirements with a facility's shot management system. In such a case, the .clip is a file created by a third party system, allowing something else to define a source using instructions contained within the file. In this case, the clip can contain a list of render passes for you to composite in Flame Premium. Using of the Read File node, you can easily navigate a source's versions.