Quote: When opening up a range on the scrubber (using the ORANGE range buttons), there is a RENDER PREVIEW tab displayed. When selecting that, PD12 begins a rendering operation (shows a series of dialogs). How is this supposed to work? What render settings is it using? What flename is it using? Where is it saving the rendered file? After it completes I can't seem to find anything

There's nothing to find. It simply previews the selected (rendered) portion, per the HELP file...

"Range Selection
Click and drag one of the arrows on either side of the timeline slider to select a range* of media on the timeline.
Once selected, you can cut or copy, and then paste the selected media to another position on the timeline.

You can also use this feature to manually highlight a portion of a clip that you want to then remove or trim out. Or select Render Preview to have CyberLink PowerDirector render a video preview of only the highlighted range."

To the best of my knowledge render preview is a session only function that enables the preview player to display a selected range "pre-rendered" as opposed to processing edits in real time. (I know there are also instances of "auto-rendering" in lower spec systems, which can be very irritating)

PD appears to preview in real time by default, and therefore any enhancements, effects, adjustments etc place additional strain on the preview player and may result in choppy playback (which will depend entirely on the system specs).

In the same way that proxy or shadow files were commonly used, preview render may also be useful in some circumstances. I can't recall if or where any rendered files are located but the main function is to enable a smoother preview playback.

It can easily be tested (depending on system specs) by applying multiple enhancements to say 5 or 10 timelines, selecting a range, and then rendering the preview and previewing in full HD.

The difference in smooth playback is usually obvious between the pre-rendered range and the rest. I believe it's main function is to make playback of complex timelines "easier". Personally, I don't use it - I tend to produce the section instead but others may find it useful.

Cheers
Adrian

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. (see below)
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Hi

Just to add my two cents worth to the already great replies, I use RENDER PREVIEW to watch clips that I have sped up or slowed down as it it 'produces' the file and you can view it smoothly without that annoying 'stuttering' on super sped up clips.

Happy editing Happing editing

Best Regards

Neil
CubbyHouseFilms
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