2025-02-BondingArtifact/.specstory/history/2025-10-09_18-12Z-encode-large-image-sequence-with-ffmpeg.md

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# Encode large image sequence with ffmpeg (2025-10-09 18:12Z)

_**User (2025-10-29 04:20Z)**_

losslessly encode the freakishly large image sequence in D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark to E:\3_background_dark using ffmpeg, nvidia nvenc with CQ=0. 60fps.

---

_**Agent (model default, mode Plan)**_



---

Checking the source image sequence to identify the format and frame range.


---

<tool-use data-tool-type="generic" data-tool-name="list_dir">
<details>
            <summary>Tool use: **list_dir** • Listed directory, 0 results</summary>
        
No results found
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: dir "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark" | Select-Object -First 5</summary>

```bash
dir "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark" | Select-Object -First 5
```

```

    Directory: D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark

Mode                 LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                 -------------         ------ ----
-a---          10/26/2025  2:33 PM       49803735 3_background_dark_0000.png
-a---          10/26/2025 12:17 PM       49803388 3_background_dark_0001.png
-a---          10/26/2025  1:19 PM       49799657 3_background_dark_0002.png
-a---          10/26/2025  9:56 AM       49800635 3_background_dark_0003.png
-a---          10/26/2025  1:39 PM       49806719 3_background_dark_0004.png

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: dir "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark" | Select-Object -Last 5</summary>

```bash
dir "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark" | Select-Object -Last 5
```

```

    Directory: D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark

Mode                 LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                 -------------         ------ ----
-----          10/27/2025 12:37 AM       49805765 3_background_dark_9995.png
-----          10/26/2025 11:21 PM       49805316 3_background_dark_9996.png
-----          10/26/2025  9:46 PM       49808654 3_background_dark_9997.png
-----          10/27/2025 12:13 AM       49806734 3_background_dark_9998.png
-----          10/26/2025 11:34 PM       49805629 3_background_dark_9999.png

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

Image sequence goes from `0000` to `9999` (10,000 frames); each frame is ~50MB.


---

<tool-use data-tool-type="unknown" data-tool-name="create_plan">
<details>
<summary>Tool use: **create_plan**</summary>


Parameters:

```json
{
  "plan": "# Encode Image Sequence with Lossless NVENC\n\nEncode 10,000 frames from &#96;3_background_dark&#96; directory to lossless H.265 video using NVENC.\n\n## Tasks\n\n1. Create the ffmpeg command with these parameters:\n   - Input pattern: &#96;3_background_dark_%04d.png&#96; (frames 0000-9999)\n   - Input directory: &#96;D:\\2025-02 BondingArtifact\\Renders\\3_background\\2025-10-26\\3_background_dark&#96;\n   - Output path: &#96;E:\\3_background_dark.mkv&#96; (or .mp4 if preferred)\n   - Encoder: &#96;h264_nvenc&#96; with &#96;-cq:v 0&#96; for lossless (or &#96;hevc_nvenc&#96; for H.265)\n   - Framerate: &#96;-r 60&#96;\n   \n2. Execute the encoding command:\n&#96;&#96;&#96;bash\nffmpeg -y -framerate 60 -i \"D:\\2025-02 BondingArtifact\\Renders\\3_background\\2025-10-26\\3_background_dark\\3_background_dark_%04d.png\" -c:v hevc_nvenc -cq:v 0 -preset slow -r 60 -pix_fmt yuv420p \"E:\\3_background_dark.mkv\"\n&#96;&#96;&#96;\n\n## Important Considerations\n\n- **File size**: With 10,000 frames at ~50MB each, the output will be very large (several hundred GB to over 1TB)\n- **Encoding time**: Will take many hours depending on GPU\n- **Output format**: Using &#96;.mkv&#96; as it handles lossless streams better than &#96;.mp4&#96;, but &#96;.mp4&#96; is also possible\n\n**Questions to confirm**:\n1. Do you want H.265/HEVC (&#96;hevc_nvenc&#96;) or H.264 (&#96;h264_nvenc&#96;)? H.265 is more efficient for lossless encoding.\n2. Output format: &#96;.mkv&#96; or &#96;.mp4&#96;? (MKV recommended for lossless)\n3. Should I use &#96;-preset slow&#96; for better compression ratio, or another preset?\n\nDefaulting to HEVC in MKV with preset slow.",
  "name": "Encode image sequence losslessly",
  "todos": [
    {
      "content": "Build the ffmpeg command with correct input pattern and NVENC lossless settings",
      "status": "pending",
      "id": "1"
    },
    {
      "content": "Execute the encoding command to process all 10,000 frames",
      "status": "pending",
      "id": "2"
    },
    {
      "content": "Monitor progress and verify output file creation",
      "status": "pending",
      "id": "3"
    }
  ],
  "overview": "Losslessly encode the 10,000 frame PNG sequence to H.265 using NVENC CQ=0 at 60fps"
}
```
Additional data:

```json
{
  "status": "pending",
  "reviewData": {
    "status": "Requested",
    "selectedOption": "none",
    "isShowingInput": false
  }
}
```
Result:

```json
{
  "rejected": {}
}
```
Status: **completed**


</details>
</tool-use>

---

_**User (2025-10-29 04:20Z)**_

No. There are 14,401 frames. I want nvenc hevc in an mp4 container. Is the preset slow, or is it 7? I forget what the exact arguments are.

---

_**Agent (model default, mode Plan)**_



---

Verifying the exact frame range and NVENC preset syntax. Updating the plan.


---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Measure-Object | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Count</summary>

```bash
Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Measure-Object | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Count
```

```
14401

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: $frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png"; Write-Host "First: $($frames[0].BaseName)"; Write-Host "Last: $($frames[-1].BaseName)"</summary>

```bash
$frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png"; Write-Host "First: $($frames[0].BaseName)"; Write-Host "Last: $($frames[-1].BaseName)"
```

```
First: 3_background_dark_0000
Last: 3_background_dark_9999

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: $frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name; Write-Host "Start: $($frames[0].Name)"; Write-Host "End: $($frames[-1].Name)"; Write-Host "Total count: $($frames.Count)"</summary>

```bash
$frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name; Write-Host "Start: $($frames[0].Name)"; Write-Host "End: $($frames[-1].Name)"; Write-Host "Total count: $($frames.Count)"
```

```
Start: 3_background_dark_0000.png
End: 3_background_dark_9999.png
Total count: 14401

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---

_**User (2025-10-29 04:20Z)**_

you might as well do all 14401 frames.

---

_**Agent (model default, mode Plan)**_



---

Checking ffmpeg NVENC HEVC preset syntax. Updating the plan to use the full 14,401 frames in an MP4 container.


---

Received invalid string to replace in plan

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="unknown" data-tool-name="create_plan">
<details>
<summary>Tool use: **create_plan**</summary>


Parameters:

```json
{
  "plan": "# Encode Image Sequence with Lossless NVENC\n\nEncode all 14,401 frames from &#96;3_background_dark&#96; directory to lossless HEVC video using NVENC in MP4 container.\n\n## Command\n\n&#96;&#96;&#96;bash\nffmpeg -y -framerate 60 -i \"D:\\2025-02 BondingArtifact\\Renders\\3_background\\2025-10-26\\3_background_dark\\3_background_dark_%04d.png\" -c:v hevc_nvenc -cq:v 0 -preset p7 -r 60 -pix_fmt yuv420p \"E:\\3_background_dark.mp4\"\n&#96;&#96;&#96;\n\n**Parameters**:\n- Input: 14,401 PNG frames using pattern &#96;3_background_dark_%04d.png&#96;\n- Encoder: &#96;hevc_nvenc&#96; (NVENC HEVC)\n- Quality: &#96;-cq:v 0&#96; (lossless)\n- Preset: &#96;-preset p7&#96; (slowest preset for best compression)\n- Framerate: 60fps\n- Output: MP4 container\n- Pixel format: &#96;yuv420p&#96; (required for MP4 compatibility)\n\n**Note on preset**: For NVENC HEVC, use &#96;-preset p7&#96; (numeric) for slowest encoding with best compression, or &#96;-preset slow&#96; (named preset). Both work with lossless CQ=0; the preset only affects encoding speed.",
  "name": "Encode image sequence losslessly",
  "todos": [
    {
      "content": "Execute the ffmpeg encoding command to process all 14,401 frames",
      "status": "pending",
      "id": "1"
    },
    {
      "content": "Monitor progress and verify output file creation",
      "status": "pending",
      "id": "2",
      "dependencies": [
        "1"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "overview": "Losslessly encode the 10,000 frame PNG sequence to H.265 using NVENC CQ=0 at 60fps"
}
```
Additional data:

```json
{
  "status": "pending",
  "reviewData": {
    "status": "Requested",
    "selectedOption": "none",
    "isShowingInput": false
  }
}
```
Result:

```json
{
  "rejected": {}
}
```
Status: **completed**


</details>
</tool-use>

---

_**User (2025-10-29 04:20Z)**_

No, process all 14401 frames.

---

_**Agent (model default, mode Plan)**_



---

Command uses `%04d.png` which only captures frames 0000–9999, missing the rest. Checking for five-digit frame numbers.


---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Where-Object { $_.Name -match '_\d{5}\.' } | Select-Object Name -First 10</summary>

```bash
Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Where-Object { $_.Name -match '_\d{5}\.' } | Select-Object Name -First 10
```

```


```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: $frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name; Write-Host "Unique count: $($frames | Select-Object -ExpandProperty BaseName -Unique | Measure-Object | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Count)"</summary>

```bash
$frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name; Write-Host "Unique count: $($frames | Select-Object -ExpandProperty BaseName -Unique | Measure-Object | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Count)"
```

```
Unique count: 14401

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: $frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name; $lastFrame = $frames[-1].BaseName; Write-Host "Last frame: $lastFrame"; if ($lastFrame -match '_(\d+)$') { $num = [int]$matches[1]; Write-Host "Last number: $num"; Write-Host "Need %05d pattern" }</summary>

```bash
$frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name; $lastFrame = $frames[-1].BaseName; Write-Host "Last frame: $lastFrame"; if ($lastFrame -match '_(\d+)$') { $num = [int]$matches[1]; Write-Host "Last number: $num"; Write-Host "Need %05d pattern" }
```

```
Last frame: 3_background_dark_9999
Last number: 9999
Need %05d pattern

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: $frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name; $numbers = $frames | ForEach-Object { if ($_.BaseName -match '_(\d+)$') { [int]$matches[1] } }; Write-Host "Min: $($numbers | Measure-Object -Minimum | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Minimum)"; Write-Host "Max: $($numbers | Measure-Object -Maximum | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Maximum)"; Write-Host "Count: $($numbers.Count)"</summary>

```bash
$frames = Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name; $numbers = $frames | ForEach-Object { if ($_.BaseName -match '_(\d+)$') { [int]$matches[1] } }; Write-Host "Min: $($numbers | Measure-Object -Minimum | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Minimum)"; Write-Host "Max: $($numbers | Measure-Object -Maximum | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Maximum)"; Write-Host "Count: $($numbers.Count)"
```

```
Min: 0
Max: 14400
Count: 14401

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

Frames span 0000–14400. Verifying files with 5-digit numbers:


---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\3_background_dark_*.png" | Where-Object { $_.Name -like '*_1*' } | Select-Object -First 5 Name</summary>

```bash
Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\3_background_dark_*.png" | Where-Object { $_.Name -like '*_1*' } | Select-Object -First 5 Name
```

```


```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name | Select-Object -Last 10 Name</summary>

```bash
Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name | Select-Object -Last 10 Name
```

```


```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name | Select-Object -Last 10 | ForEach-Object { $_.Name }</summary>

```bash
Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | Sort-Object Name | Select-Object -Last 10 | ForEach-Object { $_.Name }
```

```
3_background_dark_9990.png
3_background_dark_9991.png
3_background_dark_9992.png
3_background_dark_9993.png
3_background_dark_9994.png
3_background_dark_9995.png
3_background_dark_9996.png
3_background_dark_9997.png
3_background_dark_9998.png
3_background_dark_9999.png

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | ForEach-Object { if ($_.BaseName -match '_(\d+)$') { [int]$matches[1] } } | Sort-Object | Select-Object -Last 20</summary>

```bash
Get-ChildItem "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\*.png" | ForEach-Object { if ($_.BaseName -match '_(\d+)$') { [int]$matches[1] } } | Sort-Object | Select-Object -Last 20
```

```
14381
14382
14383
14384
14385
14386
14387
14388
14389
14390
14391
14392
14393
14394
14395
14396
14397
14398
14399
14400

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

<tool-use data-tool-type="shell" data-tool-name="run_terminal_cmd">
<details><summary>Tool use: **run_terminal_cmd** • Run command: Test-Path "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\3_background_dark_14400.png"</summary>

```bash
Test-Path "D:\2025-02 BondingArtifact\Renders\3_background\2025-10-26\3_background_dark\3_background_dark_14400.png"
```

```
True

```
</details>
</tool-use>

---



---

Frames run 0000–14400 (14,401). Switching to a flexible pattern that handles both 4-digit padded and 5-digit names. Updating the plan:


---

<tool-use data-tool-type="unknown" data-tool-name="create_plan">
<details>
<summary>Tool use: **create_plan**</summary>


Parameters:

```json
{
  "plan": "# Encode Image Sequence with Lossless NVENC\n\nEncode all 14,401 frames from &#96;3_background_dark&#96; directory to lossless HEVC video using NVENC in MP4 container.\n\n## Command\n\n&#96;&#96;&#96;bash\nffmpeg -y -framerate 60 -start_number 0 -i \"D:\\2025-02 BondingArtifact\\Renders\\3_background\\2025-10-26\\3_background_dark\\3_background_dark_%05d.png\" -c:v hevc_nvenc -cq:v 0 -preset p7 -r 60 -pix_fmt yuv420p \"E:\\3_background_dark.mp4\"\n&#96;&#96;&#96;\n\n**Parameters**:\n- Input pattern: &#96;3_background_dark_%05d.png&#96; (captures frames 00000-14400)\n- Input directory: &#96;D:\\2025-02 BondingArtifact\\Renders\\3_background\\2025-10-26\\3_background_dark&#96;\n- Encoder: &#96;hevc_nvenc&#96; (NVENC HEVC)\n- Quality: &#96;-cq:v 0&#96; (lossless)\n- Preset: &#96;-preset p7&#96; (slowest preset for best compression)\n- Framerate: 60fps\n- Output: MP4 container at &#96;E:\\3_background_dark.mp4&#96;\n- Pixel format: &#96;yuv420p&#96; (required for MP4 compatibility)\n- Start number: 0 (tells ffmpeg to start from frame 0)",
  "name": "Encode image sequence losslessly",
  "todos": [
    {
      "content": "Execute the ffmpeg encoding command to process all 14,401 frames",
      "status": "pending",
      "id": "1"
    },
    {
      "content": "Monitor progress and verify output file creation",
      "status": "pending",
      "id": "2",
      "dependencies": [
        "1"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "overview": "Losslessly encode the 10,000 frame PNG sequence to H.265 using NVENC CQ=0 at 60fps"
}
```
Additional data:

```json
{
  "status": "pending",
  "reviewData": {
    "status": "Requested",
    "selectedOption": "none",
    "isShowingInput": false
  }
}
```
Result:

```json
{
  "rejected": {}
}
```
Status: **completed**


</details>
</tool-use>

---