Perhaps one of the most confusing tasks of finishing your film is getting it from the editing software to the screen. Which export, render, or "Save to..." option do you use? What settings are best for the web? This article will hopefully help clear up some of those questions and get you on your way to a successful gallery submission.

Step 1 - Pick Your Program

There are many programs you could use to edit your work, but I'm going to give examples of a few popular ones below. Some applications have multiple methods or exporting the final file so make sure you pick the right one!

After Effects

"Composition > Make Movie" (Please note that you shouldn't use "File > Export" for your video as it severely limits your options!)

Final Cut Pro

"File > Export > Using Quicktime Conversion"

iMovie

"File > Share > Quicktime > Expert Settings"

Premiere

"File > Export > Adobe Media Encoder"

Windows Movie Maker

"File > Save Movie File"

Step 2 - Choose a Format

When planning to upload your film to deviantART, it's best to use the settings listed in this help article to get the best size/quality ratio. Most editing programs will allow you to set these parameters, however if you have an existing file you want to convert for web use you can use one of these free converters:

Windows

MPEG Streamclip - MPEG Streamclip is a powerful free video converter, player, editor for Mac and Windows.

SUPER - SUPER is a simple, yet very efficient tool to convert or play any multimedia file.

DivX Converter - Convert nearly any video to DivX by dragging and dropping it onto the converter. (instructions here)

Macintosh

MPEG Streamclip - MPEG Streamclip is a powerful free video converter, player, editor for Mac and Windows.

DivX Converter - Convert nearly any video to DivX by dragging and dropping it onto the converter. (instructions here)

Step 3 - Preparing Your Submission

Once you have a final file that fits within the guidelines for uploading films, simply submit a deviation and select the appropriate film category therein. Be sure to choose the right place to upload your work!

After you add your file in the space provided you'll see 5 still images appear. These are the 5 frames that will show on every thumbnail around deviantART. Try to select frames that will attract viewers right away to maximize this feature. (Read more about it here.)

When typing in your description and keywords, always try to be as specific as possible in picking words/phrases that describe your project. It's important to strongly represent your work so people can find it!

Step 4 - Cite Your Sources

This may seem like a lot of extra hassle, but it's arguably the most important part of the film submission process. You must have your sources listed in your gallery submission, especially the music you used. deviantART requires that all submissions use 100% copyright-free music, and there's a great help article here that lists many websites where you can download royalty-free music for use with your projects. It's also good to list your cast and crew at this stage and not by commenting on the deviation itself - you can even link to deviantART profiles and more!

Step 5 - Finishing Up

You're all set! Simply verify the rest of the information and submit the form - your gallery submission will appear in a processing state until the servers can convert and load your footage. Once you see the Watch Film" option it can instantly be viewed by as many site users as you can draw in!


Hopefully this article has helped explain a few things and de-mystify the film gallery submission process. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to ask or post in the film forum. We'll do what we can to help you out and get your films uploaded!