Shorten Render Times | Flowframes

Flowframes is a godsend for anyone constrained by render times, especially if you are looking to make captivating time-remapped edits for 3D renders.

This free app (with a more feature-rich Patreon version) can dramatically streamline your workflow.

Though the software's UI may feel a bit clunky, it is highly effective. You’ll need to download training data to ensure smooth operation, and while it's possible to process footage on the fly with an internet connection, it can slow things down. However, once you're set up, it's a game-changer for increasing frame rates and improving video quality.

Check out this YouTube video for an in-depth walkthrough and demonstration of the software’s features.

Quick Start Guide:

Here’s a concise, step-by-step tutorial to help you get started with Flowframes:

1. Input & Output: Select your input video by clicking Browse (Video) under Input Video. Choose an output folder with Browse (Folder) under Output Directory.

2. Choose Interpolation AI: In the Interpolation tab, select your model. For optimal results, use RIFE 2.3 - Updated General Model (Recommended).

Set your original video's FPS and then set the Interpolation Factor (e.g., x4).

Example: You know your video is 30 FPS and you want to up it to 120 FPS so you set the factor x4.

3. Fix Scene Changes: In Settings > Interpolation, enable `Fix Scene Changes (Cuts)` and adjust the Sensitivity to 0.20 for most cases.

4. Configure Output Mode: Under Output Mode, choose MP4 (h264, h265) for a standard output format.

5. Interpolate: Hit the Interpolate! button, and Flowframes will process your video at the new frame rate.

Results:

The benefits of increasing framerate with Flowframes are self-evident, but let me illustrate with a personal favorite scenario. Below is a honey drip simulation. As we know, running such simulations—especially for viscous liquids—can be tricky and time-consuming. However, knowing that you can adjust the framerate later opens up possibilities for post-simulation fine-tuning.

In this case, I wanted the honey to flow a bit slower in the animation. Simply slowing down the footage in editing would have made it appear jumpy and staccato. But after using Flowframes, the video on the right shows a much smoother result, giving me the flexibility to adjust timing further in Premiere or After Effects. This kind of flexibility adds a layer of creative freedom that would have otherwise been difficult to achieve.

A Few Caveats:

• Weird and clunky UI: This issue is addressed in the paid version, but it requires a Patreon donation. The last paid update was in February 2023. You can access the paid version via the developer’s Patreon

• Future Support: It’s unclear whether the software will receive incremental updates beyond the latest paid version.

• PC Only: Unfortunately, Flowframes is currently available only for PC users, and it works best with Nvidia GPUs.

Conclusion:

Rating: ★★★★☆

Price: Free

Link: Flowframes

For more advanced features and support, check out the Patreon version