Single video file animations
SketchUp allows you to export animation as a single video animation file (Audio Video Interleave or AVI on Microsoft Windows and QuickTime on Mac OS X). These files can be played using any compatible software video player or incorporated into a professional presentation using additional software presentation tools. SketchUp utilizes special third-party software called codecs (compressor/decompressor) to create these files. The following image shows the process of video compression on Microsoft Windows:
The following image shows the process of video compression on Mac OS X:
Each codec included with SketchUp implements a compression technique designed for a specific medium such as Web video, Email, or CD-ROM.
Multiple Image File Animations
SketchUp also allows you to export an animation as a series of progressive image files. The number of files exported depends on the frame rate for the presentation. For example, a 5 minute presentation exported at 10 frames per-second will yield 3000 files (60 seconds x 5 minutes x 10 frames per-second). Multiple image file animations are typically generated to use as input into video animation software products for post-processing.