Lightworks Knowledge Base

Supported Formats Reference

Written by Lucy | Oct 1, 2026, 5:06:13 PM

A working map of what goes in and what comes out. Exact availability varies by licence tier and platform - the import and export panels only offer what your plan includes, and the definitive current list is on the Lightworks website.

Video containers (import)

Common wrappers are supported for import, including MP4, MOV, MXF, and AVI, along with transport streams and other consumer formats. Files that can't be played natively are converted automatically on import (see Importing media).

 

Video codecs

  • Delivery codecs - H.264, H.265, AV1.
  • Intermediate codecs - Apple ProRes, Avid DNxHD/DNxHR (DNxHD requires a separate licence), Cineform, uncompressed.
  • Camera raw - RED R3D, Blackmagic RAW - with configurable decode settings on Pro (see Media formats and technical settings).

 

Still images and sequences

Standard image formats import as stills, and numbered image sequences import as clips. SVG files can be imported for mask shapes (see Masks and selective effects).

 

Audio

Common audio files (WAV and other standard formats) import directly; audio can also arrive inside any supported video wrapper. Export of audio-only deliverables uses WAV (stereo or mono tracks from the LR mix).

 

Export formats

 

Licence-dependent capabilities

Capability Notes
Export codecs Base: AV1, H.264. Higher tiers add H.265, ProRes, Cineform, Uncompressed, and others
10-bit Decode standard; 10-bit encode is tier-dependent
Colour spaces Rec. 601/709 standard; 2020, PQ, HLG, P3, ACES2065-1 on higher tiers
8K export Available with ProRes, Cineform, DNxHR, AV1, H.265, and image sequences
Video plugins OpenFX (tier-dependent)
Audio plugins VST, AU, LADSPA (tier-dependent)

Note: For the authoritative, current format list for your platform and plan, check the product pages at lwks.com - codecs and tiers evolve between releases.