About Open Clip Files
In its simplest form, an Open Clip file consists of two parts:
The media is any supported media files, from DPX sequences to RED files, including multi-channel OpenEXR renders. The other component, the .clip file, is written in the XML format; you can open a .clip in any word processor (kedit, notepad, TextEdit) and decipher its content.
In essence, the .clip file 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, similar to how a wrapper works, whereas a source is similar to the essence of a P2 clip.
One of the strengths of the open .clip is that anyone can create .clip files. With one, you can manage media outside of the
Smoke application.
Using an Open Clip file, you can define many aspects of a clip, including:
- Source information
- Versioning
- Multiple channels of media
- Paths to media
To create an Open Clip:
- Use the Batch Write File node with Create Clip enabled.
- Export a sequence and enable
.
- Use a third party application or utility.
- Create one from scratch.
Note: When creating an Open Clip with versions, make sure the frame rate remains the same between versions: having differing frame rates within one Open Clip is not supported by the format.
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 or the Timeline 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
Smoke through the Read File node.