Quick answer
Updated 2 October 2026. Product details checked against the sources linked below.
Decide what the recipient needs before exporting anything smaller. A client approving a short film may only need a review copy. An editor taking over the project may need the original footage and supporting files. Sending the wrong version quickly is still the wrong delivery.
Are you sending a review copy or the original?
| Recipient’s task | What to send | What to explain |
|---|---|---|
| Approve the edit | A suitable viewing copy | Whether this is a review version or the final delivery |
| Publish the finished film | The agreed final export | Resolution, format and which version is approved |
| Continue editing | Original media and required project assets | Folder structure, software version and missing dependencies |
| Keep an archive | The intended master plus supporting files | How and where it should be backed up |
Keep the original master. If you make a smaller viewing copy, give it a different name and label it clearly. Uploading an already reduced file cannot recover the detail removed during export.
Should you send an MP4, a ProRes master or both?
Ask what the recipient will do with the video. A viewing copy, a finished master and a package for another editor solve different problems. Sending all three without labels makes the choice harder.
- For watching or approving: provide a viewing export that works on the recipient’s device. An H.264 video in an MP4 container is a practical option to agree with them. Keep the master separately.
- For publishing: supply the format and export settings the destination requires. An MP4 can be the correct final deliverable; it is not automatically just a preview.
- For further production: provide the agreed master format, such as ProRes, when the recipient’s workflow needs it. Confirm the codec variant, resolution, frame rate and colour requirements before exporting.
Apple’s ProRes documentation distinguishes several variants with different data rates and uses, including a Proxy version for offline editing. “ProRes” alone is therefore not a complete delivery specification. Converting a reduced viewing copy into ProRes will not restore detail already lost.
Send both a viewing copy and a master when they have distinct agreed uses. A finished master still does not replace the camera media and project assets needed to change the edit.
What would a clearly labelled video delivery look like?
Here is an illustrative delivery for a client who has requested a viewing copy and a ProRes 422 master. These names and sizes are examples, not files we uploaded or measured.
| File | Purpose | Example size |
|---|---|---|
| LaunchFilm_Review_v03.mp4 | H.264 viewing copy for checking the edit | 600 MB |
| LaunchFilm_Master_v03.mov | Agreed ProRes 422 master for further production | 12 GB |
| DeliveryNotes.txt | Version, specifications and collection deadline | Small text file |
The two videos total 12.6 GB using decimal units. With the small notes file, this example fits HeftySend’s 20 GB free transfer allowance. Your actual sizes depend on duration and export settings, so check the complete package before uploading. Tell the client to collect the files within the free link’s three day lifetime.
LaunchFilm v03 contains a viewing MP4 and the agreed ProRes 422 master. Use the MP4 to check the edit; download the MOV for the production handover. The notes list the resolution and frame rate. Please collect everything by the stated deadline and confirm both files open.
What should you include for another editor?
If the recipient needs to change the edit, agree the project format and software version, then collect the required source footage, separate audio and other dependencies. Preserve camera folder structures and associated metadata when the format requires them. Do not send a few loose clips and assume that every import workflow will reconstruct the original camera media.
For Premiere, Adobe documents copying a project with Project Manager. Choose the required sequences and its option to collect files into a new location. Review whether unused clips should be included: handing over only the used shots is different from supplying all the footage.
Open the collected copy and check its dependencies before delivery. Tell the recipient about any separately required assets, fonts or plugins. Keep your original project and media backups; a completed transfer does not replace them.
How do you send the video without losing quality?
- Choose the source file. Confirm that it is the intended export or original, not a copy saved from a messaging preview.
- Check the size. Include captions, graphics or other supporting files in the total. HeftySend’s free transfer limit is 20 GB.
- Upload to HeftySend. Keep the tab open and the device awake until the transfer completes.
- Check the link. Look at the filenames and test a supported preview. Download the delivered file when you need to verify the original asset.
- Send clear instructions. Tell the recipient which version to use and when the link expires. Free HeftySend links last three days.
Read HeftySend’s video sending guide for the supported workflow and our free sharing checklist for the complete handover.
Does a preview have the same role as the download?
A preview helps the recipient identify and check a video. The download is how they collect the delivered file for editing, publishing or keeping. Ask them to download the original when the actual asset matters, rather than judging the delivery only by what plays in the browser.
A filename ending in MP4 or MOV describes a container, not every detail of the video inside. Codec support can vary between browsers and devices. If a preview does not play, try downloading the file and opening it in a compatible player before assuming the transfer has changed it.
Should you ZIP or compress a large video?
A normal ZIP archive packages files without changing the video inside. It is useful when you want to keep a project folder together, but an already compressed video may barely shrink. Uploading individual supported files can make previews easier for the recipient.
Re encoding is different. Lowering resolution or bitrate can reduce size and can also remove detail. Use it when a smaller review copy serves the job, not simply because a service’s free allowance is too small for the agreed master. For a delivery larger than 20 GB, compare HeftySend’s paid transfer limits.
How long will a 10 GB video take to upload?
Using decimal units, the ideal upload time is file size in GB multiplied by 8,000, divided by upload speed in Mbps. That gives seconds. A 10 GB file at a steady 20 Mbps takes about 4,000 seconds, or 67 minutes, before allowing for overhead and interruptions.
| Upload speed | Ideal time for 10 GB |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbps | About 2 hours 13 minutes |
| 20 Mbps | About 1 hour 7 minutes |
| 50 Mbps | About 27 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | About 13 minutes |
These are calculations, not measured HeftySend results. Real transfers can take longer. Test your upload speed, pause competing uploads and use a stable connection. The recipient’s download is a separate wait, so allow time for both when setting a deadline.
How do you deliver video professionally to a client?
Put the final video, subtitle file and any usage notes in one clearly organised delivery. A message such as “Use the approved 4K master for publication; the smaller MP4 is for review” can prevent an expensive mix up.
HeftySend’s paid plans let you customise the download page with templates, colours, backgrounds and text. The page can carry your studio’s identity and the instructions the client needs, while supported previews help them recognise the delivery.
HeftySend does not charge for bandwidth usage. If you connect your own storage, that provider’s storage, request and delivery charges remain separate. Premium currently starts at $9 USD per month for up to 1 TB per transfer with up to 365 days of availability. See all plan details before choosing the size and collection period for your next project.
How does a CDN help deliver files?
A content delivery network places delivery infrastructure closer to recipients. HeftySend uses a global CDN, while your upload connection and the recipient’s download connection still affect the total time. Cloudflare’s short explainer shows the principle; it is not a speed test of the services in this guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I email a 4K video?
You can email a download link. Whether the file itself fits as an attachment depends on its size and your mail provider’s limit, not simply its resolution.
Can I send a 20 GB video free?
HeftySend supports up to 20 GB per free transfer. Include any additional files in that total and allow enough time for upload and collection.
Why does my MOV file fail to preview?
The codec inside the file may not be supported by that browser. Download it and try a compatible player, or supply a separate viewing copy while retaining the original.
Should I upload the project file alone?
Usually an editing project also depends on source media and other assets. Check your editor’s collection or consolidation process so the recipient has what the project needs.
Can I send the same delivery to several people?
You can share the completed link with the intended recipients. Check access settings and tell everyone the collection deadline.
What should I keep after sending the video?
Keep your master and project backup until your normal retention policy says otherwise. A transfer link is a delivery method, not your only archive.
Send the file you actually want them to receive
Keep the quality of your intended export, give it a clear filename and deliver it through HeftySend. Start free and choose a paid plan when your project needs more capacity, time or branding.