Which export mode should I choose: Unscaled, Scaled, or Enhanced?
Smooth Operator offers three export modes. Each trades off between speed, quality, and file size. Here is how to choose the right one for your project.
Unscaled — Fastest, crop only
Unscaled mode crops the video to your output orientation and applies camera movements, but does NOT resize the output. The exported video keeps the source video's natural resolution within the cropped frame.
When to use Unscaled:
- You need the fastest possible export.
- Your source resolution is already exactly what you need.
- You are exporting a draft or test version.
- You are not zooming in significantly (no quality loss from scaling).
Example: A 4K landscape source, exported as portrait at 2160x3840 (derived from the 4K source).
Speed: Fastest — no scaling computation needed.
Scaled — Standard, most versatile
Scaled mode crops the video AND scales it to your chosen output resolution. This is the default mode.
When to use Scaled:
- You need a specific output resolution (e.g., 1080p for web).
- You want predictable output sizes.
- You are exporting for platforms with resolution requirements.
- Most general-purpose exports.
Example: A 4K source exported as 1080p landscape at exactly 1920x1080.
Speed: Standard — scaling adds some processing time.
Enhanced — AI upscaling for zoomed footage
Enhanced mode uses AI upscaling to restore detail in areas where the camera is zoomed in. This is especially useful when your camera moves involve significant zoom (scale > 1x).
When to use Enhanced:
- Your project has significant zoom-ins (scale above 2x on any anchor).
- You want the best possible quality for zoomed sections.
- You are exporting a final deliverable where quality matters most.
- Your source resolution is high enough to benefit from AI enhancement.
When NOT to use Enhanced:
- Quick drafts or test exports.
- Your project has little or no zooming.
- You are on a slower device — Enhanced is noticeably slower.
Speed: Slowest — AI upscaling requires significant processing.
Comparison table
| Feature | Unscaled | Scaled | Enhanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crops video | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scales to target resolution | No | Yes | Yes |
| AI upscaling | No | No | Yes |
| Speed | Fastest | Standard | Slowest |
| Best quality at high zoom | No | Acceptable | Best |
| File size | Varies | Predictable | Predictable |
| Recommended for | Drafts, tests | Most exports | Final, zoomed-in exports |
Tips
- For most exports, Scaled is the right choice. It is the default for a reason.
- Export a short custom range in Enhanced mode first to see if the quality improvement is worth the extra time.
- If Enhanced export seems stuck, it is probably processing. The AI upscaling is computationally intensive. See troubleshooting export errors.
- Unscaled is great for quick previews when you just want to see how the camera moves look without waiting.