MURMURLAYER

GUIDES

Check Reference Images Before Export

Check pixels, crop, filenames and frame roles, then choose between an individual image, a contact sheet, a selection export and a project copy.

A successful download is only the first check

You have collected the right pictures, but the next tool rejects a format, the crop removes a foot, or the filenames no longer distinguish the versions. A short review before export is usually easier than tracing the original footage again. Start by naming the recipient and the next task. A starting image, a sequence of storyboard panels and an overview for discussion need different files.

Do not judge the handoff by whether the download button worked. Open the actual output and ask whether it retains the information needed for its purpose. These checks apply whether the image came from video extraction, a split storyboard or a comparison capture.

Check the reference in five passes

1. Compare source dimensions with the current image

Find the original image or video dimensions, then inspect the current reference dimensions. A panel split from a large sheet contains only its share of the pixels. A frame extracted from a video cannot reveal detail that the source never contained. Murmurlayer’s export sizing preserves aspect ratio and does not upscale. Selecting a larger size limit is not a way to restore a soft face or unreadable text. If the next task needs more detail, return to a better source.

2. Check aspect ratio and crop position

Use Edit on an individual reference to choose an aspect ratio and inspect the framing. Turning a wide image into a vertical one removes content from the sides. A centered crop may cut off an extended hand, a prop or a second subject. Adjust the horizontal and vertical position while watching the important edges. Inspect the top of the head, feet and corners as well as the central subject. Keep the original ratio when you have not yet decided which content to sacrifice.

Fictional person before cropping, with hands and feet in frame
Before · 1254 × 1254 px
Actual centered portrait crop, removing the hand on the left and cutting into the hand on the right
Centered 9:16 crop · 705 × 1254 px

An edge-check example: the subject stays centered but the hands are incomplete. Reconsider the ratio or position before exporting. The input is an AI-generated fictional person; the crop is actual tool output.

3. Organize names, positions and frame roles

The single-reference editor lets you organize the filename, position in the selection and frame role. Use a name that retains a source or version clue, and make the first-frame or last-frame role match the intended use. A manually added reference does not become the desired ending image simply because its timestamp is near the end. Check the picture itself. Before exporting a group, inspect which items are selected so that comparisons and superseded versions are not mixed with final references.

4. Choose a format and a suitable delivery package

Frame extraction settings offer PNG, JPG and WebP; storyboard splitting produces PNG. Do not assume every output action offers all three formats. Check the actual file type against the receiving workflow’s requirements. Changing the filename extension is not a conversion. For an image-based task, save an individual reference. For a discussion of the sequence, a contact sheet can show several references together, but its resized previews do not replace the individual files.

A selection export packages the selected image files with selection.json. That list records source and dimension information, plus applicable fields such as time, panel and role. It can help keep a group understandable, but it is not the same as a project backup. A project copy serves a different purpose: preserving a restorable working state. Choose according to what the recipient needs rather than treating all ZIP downloads as interchangeable.

Some group and project actions depend on the account’s available permissions. Read the current account prompts and pricing information before using them. Check a single image first instead of assuming a bulk path is necessary for the task. When sharing a package, review its contents and source filenames as well as the visible pictures so that you send the intended material.

5. Open the exported file before handing it over

Open at least one downloaded image and verify its actual pixels, orientation, crop and useful detail. For a group, check file count, sequence and names. If you chose a ZIP export, extract it and confirm that the images are readable and correspond to the included list. Keep the source available until the handoff is checked. A local browser draft is not cloud synchronization and should not be your only backup. If you test project restoration, use a separate workspace rather than replacing work currently in progress.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using a contact-sheet preview as an individual reference. The scene may look complete, but its useful pixel area differs from the original panel or captured image. Use the appropriate separate file for the next input.
  • Assuming every image with a new extension has been converted. Check the actual format. Use a real export or conversion step when the destination requires a different encoding.
  • Selecting everything for reassurance. More files can mean more outdated versions and comparison images to confuse the handoff. Keep the group deliberate and check it in order.
  • Clearing the workspace immediately after downloading. Confirm that the delivered files and any needed backup are usable before deciding how to tidy the working selection.