> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.nexrender.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Render Settings

> Control output format, codec, quality, frame range, and engine version for every render job

The `settings` object on a job payload controls how After Effects renders and what format the output takes. All fields are optional - omitting `settings` entirely uses the composition's default output settings.

<Note>
  `settings` and `preview` are mutually exclusive. If `preview: true` is set, the `settings` object is ignored.
</Note>

## Fields

<ParamField path="settings.type" type="string">
  Output type. One of:

  * `video` - renders to a video file (default)
  * `image` - renders a single frame or frame range as still images
  * `aep` - packages the project as a rendered AEP archive
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="settings.quality" type="string">
  Render quality. One of:

  * `full` - full quality output (default)
  * `draft` - faster, lower-quality render useful for testing
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="settings.codec" type="string">
  Output codec. Must be compatible with the chosen `type`. See the [codec list](#codecs) below.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="settings.frames" type="integer | array">
  Frame specification. Required when `type` is `image`.

  * Single integer - renders one frame at that position (e.g. `125`)
  * Two-element array - renders a frame range (e.g. `[0, 120]`)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="settings.engine" type="string">
  After Effects engine version to use for this job. One of:

  * `ae2026` (default)
  * `ae2025`
</ParamField>

## Codecs

### Video codecs

| Codec                   | Description                     |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| `video_h264_vbr_1mbps`  | H.264 variable bitrate, 1 Mbps  |
| `video_h264_vbr_5mbps`  | H.264 variable bitrate, 5 Mbps  |
| `video_h264_vbr_15mbps` | H.264 variable bitrate, 15 Mbps |
| `video_h264_vbr_40mbps` | H.264 variable bitrate, 40 Mbps |
| `video_h264_cbr_1mbps`  | H.264 constant bitrate, 1 Mbps  |
| `video_h264_cbr_5mbps`  | H.264 constant bitrate, 5 Mbps  |
| `video_h264_cbr_15mbps` | H.264 constant bitrate, 15 Mbps |
| `video_h264_cbr_40mbps` | H.264 constant bitrate, 40 Mbps |
| `video_prores_422`      | Apple ProRes 422                |
| `video_prores_4444`     | Apple ProRes 4444 (with alpha)  |

### Image codecs

| Codec        | Description                           |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------- |
| `image_png`  | PNG (lossless, supports transparency) |
| `image_jpeg` | JPEG (lossy, smaller file size)       |

Image codecs require `type: "image"`. Video codecs require `type: "video"`.

## Examples

<CodeGroup>
  ```json H.264 video theme={null}
  {
    "settings": {
      "type": "video",
      "quality": "full",
      "codec": "video_h264_vbr_15mbps"
    }
  }
  ```

  ```json Draft preview theme={null}
  {
    "settings": {
      "type": "video",
      "quality": "draft",
      "codec": "video_h264_vbr_5mbps"
    }
  }
  ```

  ```json ProRes with alpha theme={null}
  {
    "settings": {
      "type": "video",
      "quality": "full",
      "codec": "video_prores_4444"
    }
  }
  ```

  ```json Single frame still theme={null}
  {
    "settings": {
      "type": "image",
      "frames": 125,
      "codec": "image_png"
    }
  }
  ```

  ```json Frame range sequence theme={null}
  {
    "settings": {
      "type": "image",
      "frames": [0, 120],
      "codec": "image_jpeg"
    }
  }
  ```

  ```json Specific AE engine version theme={null}
  {
    "settings": {
      "type": "video",
      "quality": "full",
      "codec": "video_h264_vbr_15mbps",
      "engine": "ae2025"
    }
  }
  ```
</CodeGroup>