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Blender logoblender · HeyBraza shows you

how to render an animation as mp4 in blender

HeyBraza points at the output tab, the ffmpeg format and the h.264 encoding so you get one video file instead of 250 pngs.

HeyBraza in a real session - not this exact fix.

blender has no 'export video' button - you set the file format before you render, and if you leave it on png you get a folder full of numbered frames instead of a movie. here's the exact output setup for a single mp4.

or do it yourself

  1. 1open output properties (the printer icon) and set your frame range - 'frame start' and 'end' decide how long the video is.
  2. 2under 'output', click the folder and choose where the file goes, then set 'file format' to 'ffmpeg video'.
  3. 3open the 'encoding' panel underneath and set 'container' to 'mpeg-4' and 'video codec' to 'h.264'.
  4. 4set 'output quality' to 'high quality' (or 'perceptually lossless') so the video isn't a blocky mess.
  5. 5now render with 'render' > 'render animation' (ctrl + f12) - 'render image' only ever gives you one frame.

let HeyBraza do this with you

HeyBraza is a tiny on-screen guide that points at the right buttons and talks you through it, on windows and mac.

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common questions

why won't my rendered mp4 play?

the container and codec don't match what your player expects - re-render with container 'mpeg-4' and codec 'h.264', which plays anywhere.

should i render frames or straight to video?

frames (png) are safer for long renders - if blender crashes you keep everything done so far, then join them in the video sequencer.

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