Professional outputs
Professional film and video work typically specifies a resolution, frame rate, and/or color grade beyond what a generated clip already has. The pipeline often also needs a container it can open directly, such as ProRes or a PNG sequence.
Runway Dev covers both: Gen-4.5 and Aleph 2.0 generate these formats natively. Additionally, we have post-production models that can upscale, change the frame rate, or convert SDR to HDR on a video you already have.
Editorial containers
Section titled “Editorial containers”Gen-4.5 and Aleph 2.0 can deliver ProRes, a PNG sequence, or the default H.264 .mp4 on the generation request. These files stay in standard dynamic range. HDR is a separate delivery.
To generate outputs in these formats, simply specify an outputFormat in your request:
outputFormat | Delivery |
|---|---|
mp4 (default) | H.264 .mp4 |
prores | ProRes .mov |
png_sequence | .zip of PNG frames (plus a separate .wav when the output has audio) |
For prores, optionally set proresProfile (422 Proxy, 422 LT, 422,
422 HQ, 4444, or 4444 XQ; default 4444).
The same two models can also deliver 10-bit Rec.709 SDR when a grade needs more precision than 8-bit H.264. That file is still SDR.
outputFormat | Delivery | Models |
|---|---|---|
sdr_rec709_10bit | HEVC Main 10, Rec.709 .mp4 | Gen-4.5, Aleph 2.0 |
prores and png_sequence add 5 credits per second. 10-bit SDR uses the higher per-second surcharge. See pricing.
Generate HDR video
Section titled “Generate HDR video”HDR (high dynamic range) stores a wider span of brightness than standard dynamic range (SDR). Highlights keep detail that an SDR file would clip, which is what HDR playback, broadcast, and theatrical specs ask for. A default H.264 .mp4 is SDR and cannot carry that range.
Gen-4.5 can generate HDR natively. Set outputFormat to one of the HDR values below.
Ruby converts any SDR video, including an Aleph edit, to HDR on POST /v1/video_to_hdr. Inputs must be SDR, at most 30 seconds, and up to 4K.
HDR and high bit-depth (Gen-4.5 only)
Section titled “HDR and high bit-depth (Gen-4.5 only)”Gen-4.5 HDR outputs are true HDR renders, graded into BT.2020 with measured HDR10 metadata.
outputFormat | Delivery |
|---|---|
hdr10 | HEVC Main 10, BT.2020 + PQ .mp4 |
hlg | HEVC Main 10, BT.2020 + HLG .mp4 |
hdr_pq_12bit_master | 12-bit 4:4:4 BT.2020 + PQ .mov (lossless) |
hdr_prores | BT.2020 + PQ ProRes .mov |
hdr_png_sequence | .zip of 16-bit PNG frames + colorimetry sidecar (plus a separate .wav when the output has audio) |
hdr_exr_sequence | .zip of half-float OpenEXR frames as linear BT.2020 light (1.0 = 100 nits) + colorimetry sidecar (plus a separate .wav when the output has audio) |
hdr_exr_acescg_sequence_1_3 | The EXR delivery as scene-referred ACEScg for ACES 1.3 pipelines — reads with the stock ACES - ACEScg input transform |
hdr_exr_acescg_sequence_2_0 | The same scene-referred ACEScg delivery for ACES 2.0 pipelines (inverted through the ACES 2.0 Output Transform) |
For hdr_prores, proresProfile accepts 422, 422 HQ, or 4444
(default 422 HQ). On /v1/video_to_hdr, sources with an alpha channel are
delivered as 4444 regardless of proresProfile.
The ACEScg EXRs are scene-referred: the delivered picture is inverted
through the ACES 1.3 Output Transform (Rec.2100 PQ, 1000-nit), so reading
the frames with the stock ACES - ACEScg input transform and viewing
through your ACES pipeline reproduces the delivered picture — no Read-node
changes needed. The colorimetry.json sidecar names the ACES version and
the inverted transform.
These formats use the higher per-second surcharge — see pricing.
Upscale resolution and frame rate
Section titled “Upscale resolution and frame rate”A clip you already have can still fall short of the resolution or frame rate a timeline, broadcast spec, or playback target asks for.
- Higher resolution. Magnific Video Upscaler raises the video to 4K. Inputs can be at most 30 seconds. Complete spec is in the video upscale reference.
- A set frame rate. Enhance Frame Rate retimes the clip, including the drop-frame rates. Inputs can be at most 300 seconds. Complete spec is in the video upscale reference.