Apple ProRes is a family of high-quality video codecs designed for editing, production, and post-production rather than tiny streaming files.
ProRes is compressed, but lightly compared with delivery codecs.
It is designed for editing performance and quality.
ProRes files are much larger than typical H.264 or H.265 delivery files.
ProRes is used in video production when editors need smooth playback, strong image quality, and files that can handle grading and repeated editing better than highly compressed delivery formats.
ProRes keeps much more image information than typical web delivery codecs. That makes files larger, but easier to edit and less fragile in post-production.
| Codec | Best for | File size |
|---|---|---|
| ProRes | Editing, mastering, production handoff | Large |
| H.264 | Uploading, streaming, sharing, playback | Small to medium |
ProRes is used for video editing, post-production, mastering, and high-quality production handoff.
Yes. ProRes is compressed, but it is much less aggressively compressed than typical delivery codecs like H.264.
ProRes files are large because the codec preserves more image information for editing quality and performance.
For editing, ProRes is often better. For sharing and streaming, H.264 is usually smaller and more compatible.
Export ProRes for production handoff or mastering. Export MP4 for general sharing, streaming, and playback.