How long does post production take? If you have ever gone through the process of filming a movie or creating a digital media project, then you know that post production is often just as labor-intensive as the pre-production and on-site shoots.
But how long should you expect post production to last?
Post production (also known as video editing) is the time consuming work behind every video.
Without it, videos have no context, flow, and pacing.
Just pulling together raw footage takes hours, days and weeks of prepping let alone all the layering for special effects or graphics.
Post production can be an intimidating process but it doesn’t have to be.
Understanding how long the post-production phase typically lasts before you set off on your project gives you more control over budgeting, planning, and scheduling in your overall timeline.
In this article, we will discuss how long post-production lasts so that you can make strategic decisions throughout your entire filmmaking journey.
Post production is one of the most important elements in creating a successful media project, but it can also be a lengthy process.
Here’s an overview of the post-production timeline and how long different tasks take.
How Long Does Post Production Take?
It depends on what type of media project you’re creating, as well as its complexity.
Generally speaking, post-production for most types of video projects typically takes at least several weeks from start to finish – sometimes upwards of a few months or even longer depending on the amount of footage involved and the resources required to edit it all.
Editing and Color Grading Takes Time
Once principal photography has wrapped up, editors will then spend countless hours reviewing raw footage and piecing them together into coherent scenes that properly present each part of your story.
Once this is done, colorists will then adjust the overall color palette to bring out visual details that are often overlooked through traditional methods.
This is usually done with extra steps such as noise reduction (to reduce background grain) or chroma keying (to remove green screen backgrounds).
Additional effects might also be used to enhance specific scenes if possible.
The timeline for editing and color grading can range anywhere from one week to four or more, depending on the number of shots and complexity involved.
Sound Design Requires Attention
Music, sound effects, voice overs… all need to be sourced before adding them into your project’s timeline.
Professional sound editors are essential in making sure that audio levels are all balanced properly and that the sound design itself contributes positively to the overall film experience.
Depending on the length and complexity of your film/video project, this phase can take anywhere from two days (for shorter projects) up to several weeks for larger scale projects.
Wrapping Up Post Production
The final step in post-production is making sure all elements are presentable through exporting your final deliverables – including master files such as uncompressed ProRes 4:2:2 files, as well as formats suitable for social media platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo videos with specific dimensions optimized for viewing on mobile devices.
Depending on which delivery formats you request (and how many versions you need), this process could take anywhere from less than an hour to several hours; possibly even days if you require highly customized versions (such as broadcast quality masters).
Conclusion
Post production is a crucial element of filmmaking, and the success of any film depends on how long it takes to complete.
As filmmakers, we should always consider the total post production timeline in order to ensure that the best quality content reaches audiences quickly.
Planning ahead, closely managing budgets, and utilizing cutting-edge software can all help make the post production process much smoother and more efficient.
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