Curious

[Rudy B.]

Purchased a sequence for the first time and was curious why this vendor converted a model's effects into a video clip and how it's done.

[Gilrock]

I can only guess they want to hide the actual effects used to create what you see.  If that's the case would probably avoid that vendor because a video is not going to scale and render on the various model types as well as using the original effects.

[Rudy B.]

Actually, all the effects that made up the video are layered below. If I delete the video and the Off effect the model looks no different when played.  From your answer I'll assume it's not a common practice that I should worry about.

[allknowing2012]

They do it so that it will render the way they designed it regardless if you have a 16x50 tree or a 32x100 tree etc. It will always look (essentially) the same. They leave the effects below the video in case you want to change something or perhaps add to the effects.
It is accomplished by right clicking on the model in the list of elements (without the video and off effect there) and "export" to .avi. Once done, outside of xlights, convert to mp4 .. now you have a video of the rendered effects.

If you want you can delete all those effects- keeping the vid - and it will reduce your render times. If at some point you want the effects, just reimport that model back from the original zip.

[Rudy B.]

They do it so that it will render the way they designed it regardless if you have a 16x50 tree or a 32x100 tree etc. It will always look (essentially) the same. They leave the effects below the video in case you want to change something or perhaps add to the effects.
It is accomplished by right clicking on the model in the list of elements (without the video and off effect there) and "export" to .avi. Once done, outside of xlights, convert to mp4 .. now you have a video of the rendered effects.

If you want you can delete all those effects- keeping the vid - and it will reduce your render times. If at some point you want the effects, just reimport that model back from the original zip.

Interesting, Thanks.