Online & Conform Checklist
A live, savable companion to the post-production turnover docs. Check items as you go; state persists in your browser. Save named snapshots when you start a new project or episode, and download a clean PDF for the file.
Open the project, point everything at the right media, and put the timeline into a state worth conforming.
- Relink to Original Files
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- Spot-check a handful of clips in the inspector — same root, no missing segments, no offline placeholders.
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- Media Management
- Clean up the timeline by removing any unused clips so the project stays lean.
- Organise and consolidate all media and assets so the archived project is self-contained.
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- Track Organization
- V1 = picture, V2+ = roll-ups / titles / overlays per the show bible.
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Walk the timeline against the reference cut and resolve every editorial decision into clean, accurate handles in your finishing app.
- Check and remove unnecessary thru edits to ensure clean cuts throughout.
- Compare the conformed timeline against the reference video for accuracy — frame to frame.
- Verify that any nested compositions or sequences are correctly integrated and not introducing slip / wrap / framing issues.
- Transitions, dissolves, blending layers, or other effects that need refinement after conform.
- Ensure that mixed frame rates and motion effects (speed changes, optical flow, retimes) are handled correctly across the conform.
- Check for interlaced sources and deinterlace if necessary.
- Review and address all markers and notes passed on by editorial before moving on.
Effects-side passes that catch failure modes the colorist will otherwise inherit.
- Verify that stabilization is applied correctly and does not introduce artifacts (warp, edge crawl, missing pixels).
- Check speed ramps for smooth transitions and proper render — no stutter or jelly.
- Inspect for strobing or banding issues, especially in skies, highlights, and slow gradients.
Hand-off material gets the same vetting as camera media.
- Verify that all archival footage conforms correctly and matches the source specifications (frame rate, color space, level mapping).
- Ensure all VFX shots are conformed, rendered, and match the creative intent — no orphan placeholders, latest version slotted in.
Anything with type on it — accuracy, alignment, broadcast-safe placement.
- Ensure all titles, chyrons, and lower-thirds are accurate and final — names, dates, spellings, capitalization.
- Check the intro titles for correct placement and timing.
- Review end credits for accuracy, alignment, and timing — especially scrolling speed.
- Verify that all logos are correctly placed, sized, and meet branding guidelines from the deliverables packet.
- Ensure that subtitles are accurate, correctly burned in (or sidecar), and timed.
A consistent color language across markers and clip-coloring keeps a session readable as it grows. Use this as a guide and stay consistent show-to-show.
- Adopt a consistent meaning for each marker color across projects so anyone who opens the timeline can read it immediately.Red Flagged issueGreen Color notesPink Note from editorial / to-doPurple WIP / needs workWhite Conform notesBlue Questions for AEsBrown VFX exportYellow GFX placeholder
- Recolor every comp on the timeline to pink so they are easy to find at a glance.
- Examples: animation clips, vendor-specific shots, clips with a particular look applied, archival, etc. — pick a convention and stick to it.
The pre-flight pass right before output.
- Walk the timeline for any clips that may have been missed during color grading.
- Ensure the slate has the correct project info, version, and date.
- Include color bars, tone, Academy Leader, 2-pop, and tail-pop per the deliverables spec.
- Apply correct blanking (if needed) so framing is clean for final delivery.
- Step through suspect cut points to confirm there is no accidental hold-frame or clip duplication.
Last pass, then ship.
- Add a yellow background (or other specified background) to any areas needing attention or that should remain transparent.
- One last full review of the entire sequence, comparing it against the reference and checking all technical specs.
- Delivery export
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- Codec, bit depth, color space, slate, audio routing, file naming.
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- Archive the project, including all media, sequences, and deliverables.
Habits that keep a project from going sideways between cuts.
- Keep track of versions and ensure you are working with the most up-to-date sequences and media. Date and label every save.
- Maintain clear communication with the editorial and post-production teams to resolve issues that come up during conform.