Remote review and approvals.
Clients need to see the cut, say what they think and approve it. We set up review so that feedback lands in one place, links do not linger and a sensitive cut is not sitting in someone's inbox.
Quick answer
Remote review means clients watch a cut through a link, comment on exact frames and approve a version, without downloading files. We set up a review tool with passwords, expiry and watermarks where the plan allows, a naming routine for versions and a clear sign-off step.
How review goes wrong.
- 01
Notes arrive everywhere
Email, text, a screenshot and a voice memo. Someone retypes them into a list, and something gets lost.
- 02
The download link in an email
A direct download link for an unreleased cut can be forwarded, saved and found later. A review link with a password, expiry and watermark limits that.
- 03
Nobody can say which version is current
v3_final_REAL2 is a sign of a missing process. Versions need a rule, and the review tool should show the latest by default.
- 04
Links that never expire
A link made for one round of notes is still active a year later. Expiry and a periodic clean-up close it.
- 05
Approval is a feeling
A client says "looks good" in a call. Without a recorded approval of a specific version, the later argument is hard to settle.
Ways to share a cut
Review tool, share link or download.
Features differ by product and by plan, so we confirm what your current plan includes before relying on it.
Hosted review service
The usual choiceTools: Frame.io and similar
Upload a version, send a link, collect time-coded comments and see approvals. Public share links can be set up without the client creating an account, and the product pages list passphrases, expiry, disabled downloads and watermarks, with the plan deciding which you get.
Advantages
- Comments tied to exact frames
- Versions stacked in one place
- Controls on who can download
Considerations
- A monthly cost
- Features depend on the plan
- Large uploads still need bandwidth
Share link from your own storage
Cheap and quickTools: Cloud storage or a NAS sharing feature
A link to a file in cloud storage or on the NAS. Simple to start, with less structure around comments and versions.
Advantages
- No new tool
- Familiar to clients
- Low cost
Considerations
- Comments end up in email
- Easy to leave open for too long
- Fewer controls on downloads
Download by email or transfer
Last resortTools: File transfer links
The client gets the file itself. It is the fastest way to lose track of where a cut has been.
Advantages
- Works for any client
- No tool to learn
Considerations
- The file is out of your control
- No comments or versions
- Hard to withdraw
What we set up
Review that behaves.
The review tool and its settings
Passphrases, expiry dates, download limits and watermarks, as far as your plan supports them.
A version routine
A naming rule and a place for each version, so there is one current cut and a history behind it.
A path from the edit to the review tool
How an editor exports a review copy and uploads it, with settings written down so every cut looks the same.
Sign-off you can point to
A recorded approval of a named version, and a periodic clean-up of old links and guests.
For protected content
When a client has rules about review.
Some studios and streamers require specific controls on how unreleased content is reviewed. Read the client's rules first. Our articles on protected review and secure screeners go through the usual controls.
Before you hire anyone
What to ask any IT provider.
Ask us the same questions. A good answer is specific and can be checked.
What controls does our plan include?
A specific list: passphrases, expiry, watermarking and download limits, checked against the current plan.
How do we keep an old link from staying live?
Expiry dates, plus a monthly clean-up routine.
What does a client need to do to review?
Open a link. If they must create an account or install software, expect friction.
How is approval recorded?
In the tool, tied to a version, with the name of who approved.
How do we remove a freelancer from review?
A line in the offboarding checklist.
Questions people ask
Does the client need an account to review?
Often not. Hosted review services offer share links that open in a browser. The details depend on the product and your settings, so we confirm them with you.
Can we watermark a review copy?
Many review services support visible watermarks on shared assets, with the plan deciding availability. You can also burn a watermark into the export itself.
Should we pay for Frame.io?
It is common and works well for many teams. For a few reviews a year, a share link from your cloud storage may be enough. We help you compare it to how you actually work.
How long should review links last?
Long enough for the round of notes and no longer. Many studios use days to a couple of weeks and then extend on request.
Can you set up review for a client who has strict rules?
We can set up the technical controls. The client's requirements decide what is allowed, so get them in writing before you start.
Plug us in. Tell us what your studio runs on.
Tell us what you see on screen. A person on our production consulting team reads it and replies, usually with the first thing to check.
Keep reading
Proxy workflows, remote access and review so editors can work away from the studio.
The short list of security steps a small creative studio can finish, mapped to CISA and NIST guidance.
Storage for image sequences, remote access, review and onboarding for motion and VFX boutiques.
How we handle client footage.
How to run remote review and approval for cuts, color and mix without losing control of unreleased footage: link settings, roles, version control and sign-off.
Basics for vendors sending cuts to clients: when watermarks are required, how secure screeners and review links work, and the settings to check before you send.
How to share dailies and review cuts remotely while keeping control of footage: who sees what, link settings, watermarking basics, expiry and TPN.
Frame.io uploads slow or stalling? Check your uplink, wired connection, browser, batch size and the Frame.io Drive app, and learn how to plan big transfers.
Describe your studio and we will take it from there.
A real person on our team reads every request and replies within one business day.