How to Reduce a Video to Send Videos in an Email
Sending videos in your email can be difficult if you're not working with short clips. Users may want to compress their large MOV files to smaller formats, like MP4s, for example, so it doesn't take the email recipient a long time to download the attachment. You can reduce the size of your smaller existing videos with a number of programs you can download from the Internet (your PC or Mac does not come equipped with video compression software). Before you begin reducing your video's size, check your email options to determine how many megabytes of attachment are allowed.
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Instructions
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Open your video in its own player window after downloading and installing your movie conversion software (See Resources). Let your video load completely before continuing.
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Choose your video's output format settings, selecting a format that can be greatly compressed. For instance, you may want to try an MP4 setting with an H264 encoder option, which results in a smaller file size and higher quality video. You should also re-size your video to a smaller resolution to cut down on the size of your email attachment. If using HandBrake, you can set an approximate output file size, based on how large your email attachments can be. If using QuickTime, you will receive an estimate file size at the bottom of your export options screen.
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Rename your file and choose its output destination (where your computer will save the file). You will need this location later to tell your computer where to find the video to attach to your email. Click "Save" or "Start" to begin the conversion. When compression is complete, check the video's properties to view its size. If it's too large, you can try exporting again with smaller resolution and picture size; or, if you're trying to send a feature film, see Tips.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are sending a feature-length film, you will need to cut down or edit the video into parts. You can use QuickTime's "in" and "out" marker points to cut out parts of your video, and then reopen your video and repeat for each section. If ripping a DVD, HandBrake will allow you to convert specific chapters at a time.
Please note that compressing the size of your videos will result in loss of video quality.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit email image by Hao Wang from Fotolia.com
