Which Format Do I Use?

One of the #1 concerns when it comes to digital video is the issue of video format.  Which resolution should you capture at, how many frames per second should there be, and what is the best codec for encoding cartoons?  Well, let me try to answer these questions for you.

Which Resolution?

There are two common sizes for video on a computer: 320x240 and 640x480.  (If you live outside the USA, see my NTSC Vs. PAL/SECAM section for more info.)  Using a higher resolution will provide more image detail, but the file will be very large.  I recommend using 320x240 for several reasons:

1)  The file size is much smaller at 320x240.  To watch a video at 640x480 you would have to download dozens or even hundreds of megabytes.
2)  In my experience, the average person can't see much of a difference between 320x240 and 640x480.  Cartoons, being hand-drawn, do not contain the same detail as a real-life image.  Also, many recording devices (like a VCR) store video at a resolution much lower than 640x480.   Storing video on a computer at 640x480 is usually overkill.
3)  To decode 640x480 files, you need a relatively fast computer, somewhere along the lines of 500 MHz.
4)  When working with files above 320x240, you often need to deal with interlacing artifacts.  This is a big hassle.
5)  Some video formats (e.g. RealVideo) are optimized for lower resolutions and may lose sharpness at higher resolutions.

How Many Frames Per Second?

Many people will encode at a rate of 15 frames per second (fps) in an effort to reduce the file size.  I recommend encoding everything at 30 (actually 29.97) fps.  (If you live outside the USA, see my NTSC Vs. PAL/SECAM section for more info.)  Here's why I suggest 30 fps:

1)  A larger number of fps creates a smoother video.  When you start cutting out frames, the motion becomes very jerky and unrealistic.  This prevents you from seeing a video as it is supposed to look.
2)  Most video encoders work by storing changes between video frames rather than entire separate video frames.  For example, if you had a ball bouncing in front of a static background, a video encoder would only have to update the portion of the video where the ball was  The background would not updated, thus reducing file size.  If you encode at 15 fps, there will be large differences between each individual frame, making the file size moderately large.  If you encode at 30 fps, the file size will be slightly larger than that of 15 fps, but not by twice as much.  This is because although you have an extra 15 frames per second (15 +15 = 30), there will be less of a difference between each of these frames.  Not as much happens in 1/30^th of a second as does in 1/15^th of a second.  Therefore, the additional data required to store the extra 15 frames per second is not that large.

Which Video (and Audio) Codecs Do I Use?

Okay, this is the part where the greatest amount of confusion exists.  With so many codecs out there, and some of them receiving media attention (e.g. DivX), a person can't help but become confused.  Fortunately, I have done some significant testing of every major codec and can tell you which codec is the best.
Ahem.  Drum roll, please....       ....And the best codec for cartoons at a resolution of 320x240 is.......   RealVideo 8!  (Please note that I'm talking about the newer RealVideo 8 and not the older, inferior RealVideo G2.)
Here are the positive qualities of RealVideo:

1)  RealVideo 8 produces the clearest image at a given bitrate with the lowest amount of compression artifacts.
2)  RealVideo 8 very accurately retains the original color information.  It is especially good at keeping regions of solid colors and sharp edges separate, which are commonly found in cartoons.
3)  Practically everyone has RealPlayer, and it's downloadable for free.
4)  RealVideo 8 requires less CPU power than many other formats.

Here are the common concerns about RealVideo 8 and my responses.

1)  You can't export RealVideo to another format.

This is partially true.  Although you can use certain screen capture software to convert a playing RealVideo file to an AVI, you will probably drop many frames per second.  The audio will also be difficult to capture and will have to be synchronized with the video.
However, it is important to remember that most people who download your videos just want to watch them.  If someone really wants to edit the video, they'll get their own copy.  Besides, transferring from any highly compressed format will generally lead to poor results.

2)  RealPlayer is the worst software I have ever used!  It is bloated and cluttered with advertisements, etc.!

Run RealPlayer.  Click on View -> Compact.  Problem solved.
You can also turn off the highly annoying "StartCenter" by going to the general tab of the preferences dialog box.

3)  Doesn't RealPlayer only work on Windows-based computers?

Actually, RealPlayer works on all major platforms - Windows, MacOS, and UNIX/Linux.  Go to my Software page to download the free RealPlayer for your OS.

For further information, see my Codec Information page.