Compressed Video Email
Video files are generally too large for email due to the extensive data required to save both video and audio information. Most email programs have a limit on file size for attachments; at hundreds of megabytes in size, most videos exceed the limit. However, if you need to send a video, some programs will compress videos so they are small enough to email.
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Software Programs
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Most video-editing programs have an option that will let you export a video file in a compressed, email-friendly format. Even if you did not create the file, you may be able to save it in a smaller file size using the video-editing program that comes with your computer. On Mac computers, iMovie comes standard. When you open a video file in iMovie, you can choose to save the file for email from the Share menu. On a PC, Windows Live Movie Maker allows you to select an "Email" setting from the "Publish Movie" menu.
Online Compression
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If you don't have access to a video-editing program, you can use downloadable conversion tools. Conversion programs allow you to upload a video file and export it in a smaller size that is compatible with email programs. AVS Video Converter and VIDEOzilla Video Converter are among the programs available for download; each has a free version.
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Quality Considerations
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When you compress a video file to a size that will fit in an email message, the final product is considerably lower quality than the original. The compressed video will be blurry and the audio will not have the same richness, making it difficult to make out detail. The larger the original file size, the more it must be compressed. The best candidates for email compression are very short video clips that have a smaller starting file size.
Other Options
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If the quality of your video is crucial to the recipient, there are other options that allow you to share the file online. File-sharing sites like Box.net or YouSendIt.com allow you to upload a full-size video file from your computer and send an invitation to the recipient. The program emails a link that allows the recipient to download the full-size video to his computer. With a file-sharing site, you can ensure that the other person will see the same level of quality and detail.
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References
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