Overview
Rendering minutes measure video generation activity in Lucas. Understanding how and when rendering minutes are consumed helps you manage your account usage and optimize your video creation workflow.
When Rendering Minutes Are Consumed
Rendering minutes are consumed at specific points in your workflow:
Initial Video Creation
- When: You generate a new video for the first time
- What's counted: The full duration of the generated video
Saving Edits
- When: You click "Save" after making edits in Edit mode
- What's counted: The full duration of the video (not just edited portions)
Publishing (Going Live)
- When: You publish or "go live" with your video
- What's counted: The full duration of the published video
What's NOT Counted (Free Actions)
The following actions do not consume rendering minutes:
Editing and Previewing
- Making edits in Touch-Up
- Previewing changes scene by scene
- Testing different variations
- Previewing your video before saving
Important: You can make as many edits and preview as many times as you want without consuming rendering minutes. Minutes are only consumed when you explicitly save your changes.
How Rendering Minutes Are Calculated
Measurement Increments
Rendering minutes are measured in 30-second increments, rounded up.
Examples:
| Video Duration | Rendering Minutes Consumed | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 15 seconds | 0.5 minutes | Rounded up to nearest 30 seconds |
| 30 seconds | 0.5 minutes | Exact increment |
| 45 seconds | 1.0 minute | Rounded up to nearest 30 seconds |
| 60 seconds | 1.0 minute | Exact increment |
| 90 seconds | 1.5 minutes | Exact increment |
| 100 seconds | 2.0 minutes | Rounded up to nearest 30 seconds |
| 2 minutes 15 seconds | 2.5 minutes | Rounded up to nearest 30 seconds |
Formula: Video duration rounded up to the nearest 30 seconds = Rendering minutes consumed
Workflow Examples
Example 1: Simple Creation and Publishing
- Create new video (45 seconds duration) → 1.0 minute
- Preview in Edit mode → 0 minutes (free)
- Save edits → 1.0 minute
- Publish (go live) → 1.0 minute
Total: 3.0 rendering minutes
Example 2: Multiple Edits Before Saving
- Create new video (30 seconds duration) → 0.5 minutes
- Edit title → 0 minutes (free)
- Preview → 0 minutes (free)
- Edit text overlay → 0 minutes (free)
- Preview scene → 0 minutes (free)
- Edit colors → 0 minutes (free)
- Preview scene → 0 minutes (free)
- Save all edits → 0.5 minutes
- Publish → 0.5 minutes
Total: 1.5 rendering minutes
Example 3: Multiple Save Cycles
- Create new video (60 seconds duration) → 1.0 minute
- Make edits + Preview → 0 minutes (free)
- Save version 1 → 1.0 minute
- Make more edits + Preview → 0 minutes (free)
- Save version 2 → 1.0 minute
- Final edits + Preview → 0 minutes (free)
- Save final version → 1.0 minute
- Publish → 1.0 minute
Total: 5.0 rendering minutes
Best Practices to Optimize Usage
Minimize Saves During Editing
- Make multiple edits before saving
- Use preview mode extensively (it's free!)
- Only save when you're satisfied with changes
Plan Your Edits
- Review your video thoroughly before editing
- Make a list of all needed changes
- Apply all changes in one editing session when possible
Test Before Creating
- Finalize your content, text, and assets before generating
- Review storyboard and data carefully
- Minimize need for post-creation edits
Understand Your Workflow
- Initial creation always consumes minutes (unavoidable)
- Each save consumes minutes for the full video duration
- Publishing consumes minutes once when going live
Common Questions
Q: If I preview my video 10 times, do I consume 10 times the rendering minutes?
A: No. Previews are completely free. You only consume rendering minutes when you save or publish.
Q: If I edit just 5 seconds of a 2-minute video, do I only consume rendering minutes for 5 seconds?
A: No. When you save edits, rendering minutes are consumed for the full video duration (2 minutes), regardless of how much you edited.
Q: Can I edit without consuming rendering minutes?
A: Yes! Make as many edits and previews as you want in Edit mode. You only consume rendering minutes when you click "Save."
Q: If my video is 31 seconds, how many rendering minutes does it consume?
A: 1.0 minute. All durations are rounded up to the nearest 30 seconds.
Q: Does re-publishing a video consume rendering minutes again?
A: Yes. Each time you publish (go live), rendering minutes are consumed for the full video duration.
Q: If I save without making any changes, do I still consume rendering minutes?
A: Yes. Each save operation consumes rendering minutes for the full video duration, whether you made changes or not.
Q: Where can I see my available rendering minutes balance?
A: Your Available rendering minutes are displayed in your account settings.
Q: What happens if I run out of rendering minutes?
A: Contact your account administrator or Idomoo support to discuss increasing your allocation.