Export Settings - Complete Guide

Export your whiteboard animations as high-quality videos with customizable resolution, frame rate, and quality settings. This guide covers the complete export workflow from settings to final download.

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Visual orientation

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The current video dialog shows both requested settings and the effective plan policy before local rendering starts.

Screenshot callouts

1. 1
   Resolution

   Choose Project size, 1080p, 720p, or 480p; plan policy can clamp the result.
2. 2
   Frame rate

   Choose 24, 30, or 60 fps.
3. 3
   Quality

   Low, Medium, and High map to the displayed target bitrates.
4. 4
   Format

   The current video dialog produces MP4 using H.264.
5. 5
   Estimate

   The bitrate estimate compares compression settings; it is not a guaranteed final size.
6. 6
   Local-render warning

   Keep this tab open and the device awake until export completes.
7. 7
   Export

   Starts the local frame render and encode.

Product UI verification

This dialog and its visible settings were checked in the real local Desktop editor at 1440 × 1000 on 26 July 2026. It is not a documentation playground. The installed UI and its effective-output note take precedence over older conceptual diagrams.

For a task-based comparison of MP4, Static SVG, .scribe, and template output, see Choose and verify an export. This page focuses on video settings.

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Overview

The Export system renders your animation frame-by-frame and encodes it into a video file. The hidden export stage captures each frame at your specified resolution and assembles them into an MP4 (H.264) video.

1. Configure resolution, frame rate, quality, and format.
2. Review the effective plan/device policy shown by the dialog.
3. Start export and keep the tab open while Scribe captures and encodes each frame.
4. Review the completion result, then download or save the MP4 through the current platform.

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Opening the Export Dialog

Current Desktop workflow

1. In the top bar, choose Export Video (MP4) in the exporter selector when multiple exporters are available.
2. Choose the adjacent Export action.
3. Review the dialog's effective resolution and plan note before starting.

The installed Help → Keyboard Shortcuts modal does not list a global export-dialog shortcut. Use the visible action so the selected exporter is unambiguous.

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Export Dialog Interface

The annotated screenshot above is the authentic interface. Read its fields in order:

Field	Decision
Resolution	Choose project dimensions or a video preset, then check whether policy clamps the result
Frame Rate	Balance motion sampling against render time and file size
Quality	Choose the displayed target bitrate
Format	Confirm the current MP4 (H.264) output
Estimate	Use it for comparison, not as a guaranteed final size
Local-render warning	Keep the tab open and the device awake
Export	Start the frame render and encode

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Resolution Settings

Choose your output video dimensions:

Preset	Dimensions	Use Case
Project size	Current project dimensions, subject to plan clamp	Preserve the authored aspect ratio
1080p	1920 × 1080	YouTube, presentations (recommended)
720p	1280 × 720	Fast iteration, web sharing
480p	854 × 480	Previews, low bandwidth

Resolution Selection

Selection	Approximate pixel count	Important behavior
Project size	Depends on the project	Uses authored dimensions, subject to the effective plan/device limit
1080p	2.1 megapixels	Strong source for YouTube and presentation delivery
720p	0.9 megapixels	Faster export for web sharing and review
480p	0.4 megapixels	Best reserved for lightweight previews

tip

For YouTube uploads, use 1080p at minimum. YouTube compresses videos, so higher source quality preserves more detail.

Plan Limitations

Plan	Max Resolution	Notes
Free	720p	Includes watermark
Pro	1080p	No watermark

The current entitlement model exposes Free and Pro policies. A lower maximum can still apply when the selected browser/device encoder cannot support the requested size.

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Frame Rate Settings

Control animation smoothness:

Frame Rate	Description	Best fit	File Size Impact
24 fps	Cinema-style motion that can look slightly less fluid	Artistic or stylized content	Smallest
30 fps	Standard, balanced motion	Most animations and web video	Medium
60 fps	Very smooth motion and twice as many frames as 30 fps	Fast camera movement when the extra cost is justified	Largest

Frame Rate Selection

Choose 30 fps unless the delivery requirement clearly calls for a film-style 24 fps cadence or the additional smoothness of 60 fps. Preview the actual project before deciding; more frames cannot repair abrupt keyframes or poor easing.

note

Higher frame rates double or triple export time and file size. Use 30 fps unless you have specific requirements for smoother motion.

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Quality Settings

Control video bitrate and file size:

Quality	Bitrate	Use Case	Approximate size per minute at 1080p
Low	2 Mbps	Small files and disposable web previews; detailed areas can show artifacts	15 MB
Medium	5 Mbps	Balanced quality and size; complex scenes can still show compression	38 MB
High	10 Mbps	Sharpest fine strokes and minimal compression artifacts	75 MB

Bitrate Comparison

Bitrate is a target rather than a visual-quality guarantee. Fine lines, texture, rapid motion, and many simultaneous changes are harder to compress than large static regions. Make a short representative test export before committing to a long final render.

warning

Avoid Low quality for final deliverables. Low bitrate causes visible compression artifacts, especially on thin strokes and detailed SVG paths.

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Format Settings

Scribe Animator currently exports MP4 (H.264) only. This provides the best compatibility across browsers and mobile apps.

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Export Progress

Progress Modal

During export, use the visible progress percentage, completed/total frame count, elapsed time, and remaining-time estimate to judge progress. Estimates can move as scene complexity changes. Use the visible Cancel action if you must stop; keep the tab active until cancellation or completion is confirmed.

Export Phases

Phase	Description
Settings	Configure export options
Exporting	Rendering frames (shows progress)
Complete	Download ready
Error	Export failed (shows error message)

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Export Complete

Success State

When export completes:

1. Confirm that the result reports the expected filename, effective resolution, duration, size, and render time when those fields are available.
2. Choose Download or the platform's native save/share action.
3. Open the saved MP4 outside Scribe.
4. Check the beginning, a complex middle section, the end, audio sync, hand animation, and camera movement before delivery.

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Browser Compatibility

The current exporter targets MP4 (H.264), but encoder, audio-mux, download, and native-save capabilities differ by browser and device. The dialog can open even when a later encoder capability check fails, so always make a short test export on the delivery device. WebM is not exposed as an end-user video format in the current dialog.

Support Matrix

Platform	MP4 (H.264)	Notes
Chrome (desktop)	✅	Uses WebCodecs for MP4
Edge (desktop)	✅	Same as Chrome
Firefox (desktop)	✅	Uses WebCodecs for MP4 (with audio mux fallback if needed)
Safari (macOS)	✅	Uses WebCodecs video + ffmpeg.wasm audio muxing
iOS app (Capacitor)	✅	Uses native iOS encoder (AVAssetWriter) with MediaRecorder fallback
Android app (Capacitor)	✅	Chromium WebView; similar to Chrome/Edge

Implementation Notes (High-Level)

• MP4 (H.264) uses WebCodecs (VideoEncoder) for deterministic frame timing.
• Audio muxing differs by runtime:
  • Chromium/Firefox: WebCodecs AudioEncoder + MP4 muxing.
  • Safari (macOS): WebCodecs video + ffmpeg.wasm for WAV → AAC + muxing.
  • iOS: the native encoder saves the result and makes it available through the system share sheet or Files app.

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Recommended Settings

For YouTube

Setting	Value
Resolution	1080p (1920×1080)
Frame Rate	30 fps
Quality	High (10 Mbps)
Format	MP4

For Fast Previews

Setting	Value
Resolution	720p (1280×720)
Frame Rate	30 fps
Quality	Medium (5 Mbps)
Format	MP4

For Professional Delivery

Setting	Value
Resolution	1080p when the Pro policy and device allow it
Frame Rate	30 fps (or 24 for cinema)
Quality	High (10 Mbps)
Format	MP4

For Web Embedding

Setting	Value
Resolution	720p (1280×720)
Frame Rate	30 fps
Quality	Medium (5 Mbps)
Format	MP4

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File Size Estimation

Approximate file sizes at High quality:

Resolution	30 sec	1 min	5 min
1080p	~38 MB	~75 MB	~375 MB
720p	~17 MB	~35 MB	~175 MB
480p	~8 MB	~15 MB	~75 MB

note

Actual file sizes vary based on animation complexity. Simple animations compress better than detailed scenes with many simultaneous animations.

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Pre-Export Checklist

Before exporting, verify these items:

• Preview the entire animation with Play.
• Check that every scene renders correctly.
• Verify audio synchronization when audio is present.
• Confirm that hand animations finish correctly.
• Check that camera movements are smooth.
• Resolve every missing or broken asset.
• Save the project before exporting.
• Optionally export a short representative test.
• Inspect fine-stroke sharpness in that test.

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Troubleshooting

Export Fails Immediately

Cause	Solution
Browser not supported	Switch to Chrome or Edge
Insufficient memory	Close other tabs, reduce resolution
Project not saved	Save project and try again

Export Stalls at Percentage

Cause	Solution
Complex scene rendering	Wait longer, or simplify scene
Memory exhausted	Export in smaller segments
Browser tab inactive	Keep tab focused during export

Video Has Missing Frames

Cause	Solution
Animation not precomputed	Play through animation before export
Worker timeouts	Reduce animation complexity
Browser throttling	Keep browser tab active

Audio Out of Sync

Cause	Solution
Variable frame rate	Use constant frame rate (30 fps)
Audio loaded late	Ensure audio fully loaded before export
Timeline mismatch	Verify audio track timing in timeline

Low Quality Output

Cause	Solution
Low quality setting	Use "High" quality
Low resolution	Use the highest effective resolution allowed by the current plan
Heavy compression	Check upload platform re-encoding

Blurry Strokes

Cause	Solution
Resolution too low	Use the highest effective resolution allowed by the current plan
Quality too low	Use High (10 Mbps) bitrate
Scaled-up content	Use source SVGs at export resolution

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Export Telemetry

The export system tracks these events for diagnostics:

Event	Data
export.start	Settings, timestamp
export.progress	Completed frames, total frames
export.complete	Duration, bytes, frame count
export.error	Error message, phase

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Keyboard Shortcuts

The current editor exposes export through the top-bar exporter selector and Export action. While the settings view is open, Escape can close it. Once rendering has started, use the visible progress/cancel controls and do not assume Escape or Enter will stop or start an encode.

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Best Practices

For Sharp Lines

1. Export at the highest effective resolution allowed by the current plan, up to 1080p
2. Use High quality (10 Mbps)
3. Ensure source SVGs are vector, not rasterized

For Smooth Animations

1. Use 30 fps minimum
2. Precompute LUTs before export (Play through once)
3. Keep browser tab active during export

For Small File Sizes

1. Use 720p for web sharing
2. Use Medium quality for previews
3. Keep animations under 2 minutes per export

For Consistent Results

1. Use a currently supported browser or the native app and complete a short test first
2. Close unnecessary browser tabs
3. Don't switch tabs during export

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Related workflows

• Choose and verify an export
• Camera modes and path following
• Voiceover and synchronization
• Troubleshoot Scribe Animator