What You Receive at Delivery
Final delivery typically includes your approved video in a high-quality master format, along with platform-optimized versions if those were included in the project scope. Every project is different — the exact files in your delivery package are defined in the project agreement.
Files are delivered via a shared download link (WeTransfer, Google Drive, or Dropbox) after the final balance is paid. Save your files to at least two locations — cloud storage and a local drive — immediately after download.
Standard File Formats
- Master file — H.264 or H.265 .mp4 at full resolution (typically 1920×1080 or 3840×2160), suitable for web, upload, and archival
- Social versions — formatted for the specific platforms included in scope (vertical 9:16, square 1:1, or widescreen 16:9)
- Caption file — .srt file if captions were included, for upload alongside the video on supported platforms
- Thumbnail — .jpg or .png if a custom thumbnail was produced
Platform Upload Guidelines
- YouTube — upload the master mp4 file directly; YouTube re-encodes on their end. Include your .srt caption file in the subtitle section
- Vimeo — upload the master file. Vimeo handles encoding well and preserves color better than most platforms
- LinkedIn — use the 16:9 master file; LinkedIn supports up to 5GB and 10-minute videos
- Instagram — use the 9:16 vertical version for Reels and Stories; use the 1:1 or 4:5 version for feed posts
- Facebook — 16:9 for standard posts; 9:16 for Reels
- Website embedding — embed via YouTube or Vimeo rather than hosting the file directly on your server
Re-exporting a delivered video through iMovie, Premiere, or another NLE will degrade quality — especially color and audio. If you need a version in a different format or aspect ratio, contact RetroMotion. Additional exports and format conversions are available as post-production add-ons.
File Storage and Backup
- Download and save all files within 30 days — shared download links expire
- Store on a minimum of two locations: one cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) and one physical drive
- Keep the original filenames — they often include version and format information
- Do not rename or compress the master file for any reason
- If you need raw footage (and it was included in your project), store it separately from the edited deliverables