Supported File Formats

This page lists the file formats supported by Flame.

Important: Codecs marked with an asterisk (*) are not available in the Trial or the Educational versions of Flame. You can neither import nor export files encoded with these codecs.

Importing 16-bit Integer Media

By default, Flame interprets 16-bit integer media as 12-bit. This means that whenever you look at 16-bit integer media through MediaHub, the Bit Depth column displays 12-bit. In the Preview's Metadata tab, the File Bit Depth field always displays the actual bit depth of the file.

When you import 16-bit integer media, you can:

Action Formats
Format Extension Import Export Note
3ds Max .3ds yes yes (camera data only)
Alembic .abc yes no Supports version 1.5.4
Filmbox .fbx yes yes Supports version 2020.2
Inventor .iv yes no
Scalable Vector Graphics .svg yes no  
Substance Engine
  • Substance engine is compatible with Substance Designer 6
  • Substance Materialize engine is compatible with Substance Bitmap 2 Material (B2M) 2.2
  • Substance Materialize PBR engine is compatible with Substance Bitmap 2 Material (B2M) 3.1
UDIM .tx

.txr

.txt

yes yes Level of Detail is not supported: level 0 is automatically loaded.
Wavefront .obj yes no
Sequence Exchange Formats
Format Extension Import Export
Advanced Authoring Format .aaf yes
  • Supports importing AAF from Avid Media Composer version 7 or newer.
  • Limited support:
    • Adobe Premiere Pro CC (version 2017 and later)
    • Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve (version 12.5 and later)

    See here for additional information.

yes

The exported AAF can be imported in:

  • Avid Media Composer (version 8 and later)
  • Avid ProTools (version 12.2 and later)
  • Adobe Premiere Pro CC (version 2017 and newer)
  • Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve (version 11 and later)
  • Filmlight Baselight
Editorial Decision List .edl yes yes

Supported formats:

  • ALE (Avid Log Exchange) —import only
  • CMX 340
  • CMX 3600 —recommended format for import; default for export
  • CMX OMNI (ASCII version)
  • EDM (edit) —import only
  • GVG 4 and GVG 4 Plus (v4.1 or higher)
  • SONY 900 / 910 / 5000 / 9000 / 9100
  • SONY 9000 Plus (v2.21 or higher)

CMX 3600 is the default export format. To use another one, you must generate a customized EDL.

Final Cut Pro XML .xml yes

Supports Apple Final Cut Pro .xml files.

Supports Adobe Premiere CC 2017 .xml files.

no
Final Cut Pro X XML .fcpxml yes
  • Supports XML version 1.6 (from Final Cut Pro X version 10.3.) and earlier.
yes

The exported .fcpxml file uses version 1.5 of the XML format.

The exported XML file can be imported in:

  • Apple Final Cut Pro X (version 10.1 and later)
  • Black Magic DaVinci Resolve (version 11 and later)
Image Sequence
Format Extension Import Export Depth
Alias® .als yes yes 8 bits
ARRIRAW .ari

.arx

yes no 12, 16fp bits
Note:
  • Media is presented as a clip, never as a sequence of RAW images. Supports all ALEXA cameras, including ALEXA Monochrome, ALEXA Open Gate, AMIRA, LF and Mini LF, as well as the 3.2K format from the ALEXA SXT.
  • Automated colour space detection for ARRIRAW media files (.ari), based on information read from the file header.
  • .arx files are ARRIRAW files encoded using Codex High Density Encoding (HDE). .arx files are processed like .ari files: import options set for .ari files apply to .arx files. Supports version 3.4.2. For additional information, see Codex HDE website.

Decoded by the GPU on CentOS.

Cineon® .cin yes yes 10 bits
DPX .dpx yes yes 8, 10, 12, 16i bits and ADX encoding.
Note: 8, 10, 12, and 16i bits support alpha, including 12-bit DPX (packed) from CODEX recorders. Export supports 12-bit packed compression format, but only as RGB without alpha.
DPX - Single channel .dpx yes no See Note.
Note: Monochromatic DPX files from the following film scanners have been validated:
  • FilmLight Northlight (10 & 16-bit)
  • DigitalFilmTechnology SCANITY™ (10 & 16-bit)
  • Imagica (8, 10 & 16-bit)
  • Laser Graphics (8, 10 & 16-bit)

Lustre supports single channel DPX files only when imported through Wiretap Gateway.

Open Clip .clip yes yes n/a
HDR .hdr yes no 32 bits
JPEG .jpg yes yes 8 bits

Exif metadata is displayed in MediaHub > Preview > Metadata.

OpenEXR 2.5.5 .exr yes yes
Note: Filmlight Baselight: only imports single part OpenEXR. This means that only RGBA OpenEXR exported from Flame Family are available in Baselight. Multi-Channel OpenEXR from Media Export and Write File node are Multi-parts, and not supported by Baselight.
8, 10, 12u, 12, 16fp, 32fp, 32i bits

RGB, RGBA, and multi-channel

Note: 32-bit int channels are converted to 32-bit fp, making it possible to use passes such as ObjectID.
Note:
  • SDK version: 2.5.7
  • You can access RGB and RGBA channels from a multi-part file; each part appears as a track of a multi-track clip in the MediaHub file browser.
  • Deep pixel channels are not supported and are not displayed.
  • Import and export both support 32-bit floating point channels.
  • You can access non-RGBA channels located at the root of the channels hierarchy.
  • Flame reads frame rate and timecode information from the header of an OpenEXR file, when one of the following frame rates is used: 23.97 / 24 / 25 / 29.97 / 30. It also supports writing that same information on export.
Photoshop .psd yes no 8 or 16i bits

RGB and RGBA

Note: Supports both flattened and layered files. Rasterize any layer with shapes before saving the file to make sure those elements are available in Flame.

Exif metadata is displayed in MediaHub > Preview > Metadata.

Pict (Macintosh®) .pict yes yes 8 bits
Note: Supports alpha.
Pixar .pxr yes yes 8 bits
Note: Supports alpha.
Portable Network Graphics .png yes yes 8 or 16i bits
Note: Supports alpha.
SGI® .sgi yes yes 8 or 16i bits
Note: Supports alpha.
Softimage® .pic yes yes 8 bits
Note: Supports alpha.
TARGA® .tga yes yes 8 bits
Note: Supports alpha.
Tdi/Maya® .iff yes no 8 or 16i bits
Note: Supports alpha.
Tiff .tif yes yes 8, 16i, or 32fp bits

Supports both contiguous (interleaved) and planar storage configurations.

Note: Supports alpha.

Exif metadata is displayed in MediaHub > Preview > Metadata.

Wavefront® .rla yes yes 8 or 16i bits
Note: Supports alpha.
Note: When rendering multi-channel clips from Batch (Write and Render Nodes), the channels are named "rgba", "rgba_alpha","rgba2", "rgba2_alpha", etc.
QuickTime
Format Extension Import Export Depth
Uncompressed 8-bit RGB (RAW) .mov yes yes  
Note: Supports alpha both RGB and RGBA import and export.
Uncompressed 8-bit VUY (2VUY) .mov yes yes 8-bit packed
Note: 4:2:2 codec.
Uncompressed 8-bit YUV (YUV2) .mov yes yes 8-bit packed
Note: 4:2:2 codec.
Uncompressed 10-bit RGB (R210) .mov yes yes  
Uncompressed 10-bit YUV (V210) .mov yes yes 10-bit packed
Note: 4:2:2 codec.
Apple Animation .mov yes no  
Note: Supports alpha.
Apple Graphics .mov yes no  
Apple® Video .mov yes no  
Cinepak .mov yes no  
Component Y’CbCr 8-bit 4:4:4 .mov yes no 8-bit planar
Component Y’CbCrA 8-bit 4:4:4:4 .mov yes no 8-bit planar
Component Y’CbCr 10-bit 4:4:4 .mov yes no 10-bit packed
Component Y’CbCr 10-bit 4:2:2 .mov yes no 10-bit packed
DV 25 .mov yes yes  
Note: NTSC & PAL

Although the specifications allow the DV format to be field 1 or 2, the industry standard is "bottom first". Thus, before exporting to Flame, ensure that the clip is Field 2. Reformat, if necessary.

DVCPRO 50 .mov yes yes  
Note: NTSC & PAL
DVCPRO HD .mov yes yes  
DNxHD .mov yes yes RGB 8 and 10 bits
Note: Includes support for the following varieties: 36, 60, 75, 80, 85, 90, 90x, 100, 110, 110x, 115, 145, 175, 175x, 185, 185x, 220, 220x, 444 (sometimes known as 350x).
DNxHR .mov yes yes 8, 10, or 12 bits
Note: Supports the DNxHR family: 444, HQX, HQ, SQ, and LB. Supports import of Avid-created DNxHR files that are 10- or 12-bit.
H.264* .mov yes yes  
IMX .mov yes yes  
Note: Includes support for IMX 30, 40, and 50. When exporting, the Scan Mode box is ignored: NTSC clips are always exported as F2 dominant, while PAL clips are always exported as F1 dominant.
MJPEG .mov yes yes  
Note: JPEG compatible
MPEG-1* .mov yes no  
MPEG-4* .mov yes yes  
MSMpeg 4v3 (DivX)* .mov yes no  
PhotoJPEG .mov yes no  
Note: RT PhotoJPEG compatible
PNG .mov yes yes  
Note: Without alpha channel support
PNGA .mov yes yes  
Note: With alpha channel support
ProRes 4444 (XQ) .mov yes yes 12-bit
Note: Import and export support constant and variable bit rates, CBR and VBR.
ProRes 4444 .mov yes yes 12-bit
Note: Import and export support constant and variable bit rates, CBR and VBR.
ProRes 422 (HQ) .mov yes yes 10-bit
Note: Import and export support constant and variable bit rates, CBR and VBR.
ProRes 422 .mov yes yes 10-bit
Note: Import and export support constant and variable bit rates, CBR and VBR.
ProRes 422 (LT) .mov yes yes 10-bit
Note: Import and export support constant and variable bit rates, CBR and VBR.
ProRes 422 (Proxy) .mov yes yes 10-bit
Note: Import and export support constant and variable bit rates, CBR and VBR.
Quicktime Planar RGB .mov yes no  
TGA .mov yes no  
XDCAM* .mov yes no  
XDCAM HD* .mov yes no  
XDCAM EX* .mov yes no  
Note: There is no essence-mode browsing in a QuickTime XDCAM EX.
XAVC* .mov yes yes

The Supported QuickTime Audio table lists the audio codecs supported in QuickTime files.

Movie files using non-supported frame rate, such as 120fps, play back at the project rate. For example, a 1 second 120fps .mov file imported in a 24fps project takes up 5 seconds on the timeline.

Important: Movie files that contain multiple compressions are not supported and may display as checkerboard when scrubbed in MediaHub. Such files are usually created by exporting a sequence made of different DNxHD / DNxHR media from Avid Media Composer, with the Same as Source export option.
Material Exchange Format
Format Extension Import Export Depth
AVC-Intra 50* .mxf yes yes  
Note: Panasonic P2.
AVC-Intra 100* .mxf yes yes  
Note: Panasonic P2. Import includes support for 1080/60p. Import supports OP1atom format.
AVC-Intra 200* .mxf yes no  
Note: Panasonic P2. Supports 1080/25p, 1080/30p, 720/50p, and 720/60p.
AVC-Intra 4:2:2 HD* mxf yes no
AVC-Intra LT* mxf yes no
Note: The AVC-Intra LT format maps the complete raw image to a half-height 422 image when recording. To import the media at its full resolution, enable Image > Scale to Full Resolution in Format Specific Options for Panasonic.
AVC-Intra2K* .mxf yes no  
Note: Supports the VariCam 35 and HS, both 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 flavours.
AVC-Intra4K* .mxf yes no  
Note: Supports the VariCam 35 and HS, both 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 flavours.
AVC-LongG* .mxf yes no  
ARRIRAW .mxf yes no
Note: Support includes support for the Input Container mode, allowing you to select the media area to decode. Defaults to the file setting, but you can override from the Input Container Mode menu in the Resolution menu.
Canon XF-AVC* .mxf yes no  
Note:
  • Supports both Intra and Long GOP flavours
  • Supports spanned clips.
  • Importing Cinema Raw Light (CRM) files require the use of MediaReactor for decoding.
DNxHD .mxf yes yes  
Note:
  • SDK version: 2.7.0.10
  • Includes support for the following varieties: LB, TR, SQ, HQ, HQX, 444.
  • Supports DNxHD in .mxf files from ARRI ALEXA cameras.
  • Supports OP1a media files from Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve and from Avid Media Composer.
  • In MXF OP1atom files generated by Avid Media Composer, audio tracks appear in the MediaHub as a single audio channel file (A1). But once imported, the tracks display the original channels.
DNxHR .mxf yes yes 8, 10, or 12 bits
Note:
  • SDK version: 2.7.0.10
  • Supports the DNxHR family: 444, HQX, HQ, SQ, and LB.
  • Supports import of Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve DNxHR files, but only if they are OP1a (OP1atom files from DaVinci Resolve are not supported).
  • Supports import of Avid-created DNxHR files that are 10- or 12-bit, using OP1a or OP1atom.
DNxUncompressed .mxf yes no

YCbCr (4:2:2):

  • 8-bit
  • 10-bit
  • 12-bit
    • Note: 16-bit and 32-bit floating point YCbCr files are not supported.

RGB (4:4:4):

  • 8-bit
  • 10-bit
  • 12-bit
  • 16-bit (seen as 32-bit fp in Flame Family products)
  • 32-bit floating point
Note: RGB DNxUncompressed files with floating point bit depth are always imported as Full range: setting Include YUV Headroom is ignored. RGB integer and YCbCr DNxUncompressed media files are imported as Full or Legal range; use Include YUV Headroom to set the range to import.
DV 25 .mxf yes no  
Note: Panasonic P2
DVCPRO .mxf yes yes  
Note: Panasonic P2
DVCPRO 50 .mxf yes yes  
Note: Panasonic P2 (PAL & NTSC)
DVCPRO HD .mxf yes yes  
Note: Panasonic P2. Available in 1080p@25/50, 1080p@24/30/60, 720p@25/50, and 720p@24/30/60.
ProRes 4444 (XQ) .mxf yes no 12-bit
ProRes 4444 .mxf yes no 12-bit
ProRes 422 (HQ) .mxf yes no 10-bit
ProRes 422 .mxf yes no 10-bit
ProRes 422 (LT) .mxf yes no 10-bit
ProRes 422 (Proxy) .mxf yes no 10-bit
SonyRAW .mxf yes no  
Note: SonyRAW support includes the Sony VENICE (FW 6, see Sony documentation.) and HFR clips, the Sony F-series cameras, and other Sony cameras that output SonyRAW.

Supports the SonyRAW X-OCN (and X-OCN XT) codec generated by the Sony recorders.

Sony SStP* .mxf yes yes  
Note: Sony's implementation of MPEG-4 Simple Studio Profile, part of the SRMASTER format.

Supported Sony SStP formats:

  • SR-Lite (10-bit / YUV 422 / 220 Mbps)
  • SR-SQ (10-bit / YUV 422 / 440 Mbps)
  • SR-SQ (10-bit / YUV 444 / 440 Mbps)
  • SR-HQ (10-bit or 12-bit RGB 444 / 880 Mbps)

These formats are supported in 1280x720 (50p, 59.94p), 1920x1080 (23.97p, 24p, 25p, 25i, 29.97p, 29,97i, 50p, 59,94p), 2048x1080 (23,97/24/25PsF) with up to 16 tracks of PCM audio.

XAVC* .mxf yes yes  
Note: Includes support for Sony XAVC-Long format.
XDCAM* .mxf yes no  
Note: MPEG-2 IMX-30, IMX-40, and IMX-50
XDCAM HD* .mxf yes yes  
Note: MPEG-2 Long GOP. Import supports 4:2:0 and 4:2:2. Export is 4:2:2.
Note: Flame exports MXF as OP1a files (including the timecode). The is audio encoded as PCM, 16-Bit or 24-Bit. Avid applications support OP1atom MXF files: use the AMA MXF plug-in to bring the OP1a files into an Avid application.
MP4
Format Extension Import Export Depth
H.264* .mp4 yes no  
XAVC-S* .mp4 yes no  
Note: Supports up to 4 tracks of 16-bit PCM audio.
XDCAM EX* .mp4 yes no  
Note: MPEG-2 Long GOP. Includes supports for High Frame Rate (HFR) media—50p, 59.94p, 60p.—
Other Streaming Codecs
Format Extension Import Export Depth
Blackmagic Design RAW .braw yes no
Note:
  • SDK version: 2.7.0.10
  • Default colour space is set to BMD Film/WideGamut Gen5.
AVCHD* .mts or .m2ts yes no  
Note: Only linear PCM audio is supported. Some cameras can record AC-3 audio, but this format is not supported: Flame can still access the video portion of the media.
REDCODE .R3D yes no 12, 16fp bits
Note:
  • SDK version: 8.0.3
  • As of the 2020.1 release, the Dragon Enhanced Black option is no longer available when colour science is set to IPP2.
  • Flame uses RED SDK and its Image Processing Pipeline (IPP2). Colour Science 3 is still available, but IPP2 is the recommended setting. With IPP2, you can access the CDL settings.
Audio File Formats
Format Extension Import Export Depth
AIFF .aiff yes yes 16 or 24 bits
AIFF-C .aifc yes yes 16, 24, 32fp bits
Audio Visual Research .avr yes yes 16 bits
Berkeley/IRCAM/CARL Sound (BISCF) .bsf yes yes 16 bits
MP3* .mp3 yes yes 16 bits
Nextsnd .au yes yes 16, 24, 32fp bits
WAVE .wav yes   16, 24, 32fp bits
WAVE - Broadcast .wav yes yes 16, 24, 32fp bits
Note: Includes support for RF64 files (BWF-compatible format that supports files larger than 4 GB).
WAVE - Extensible .wav yes no 16, 24, 32fp bits
Note: Audio tracks are imported as regular audio tracks, without mapping the channels to spatial locations.
Note: Files of any sample rate can be imported, but they are all resampled to 48 kHz.
Topics in this section

Related Concepts