Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is OpenRV Web?
OpenRV Web is a professional browser-based image and video review tool inspired by OpenRV. It provides frame-accurate playback, comprehensive color management, annotation tools, and collaborative review sessions -- all running entirely in the browser with no server-side processing.
Is OpenRV Web free?
Yes. OpenRV Web is released under the MIT license. It is free to use, modify, and distribute. The source code is available on GitHub.
Does OpenRV Web send my files to a server?
No. All processing happens locally in the browser. Files loaded through drag-and-drop or the file picker never leave the machine. There is no server-side component. Even the collaborative review features use peer-to-peer WebRTC connections.
What is the relationship to the original OpenRV?
OpenRV Web is a web-based reimplementation inspired by the original C++ OpenRV application from the Academy Software Foundation. It shares design philosophy and supports loading .rv session files, but it is a separate codebase written in TypeScript for the browser.
Can I self-host OpenRV Web?
Yes. Build the project with pnpm build and deploy the static files in the dist/ directory to any web server or static hosting service. See the Installation guide for details.
File Loading
What file formats are supported?
OpenRV Web supports a wide range of image formats (PNG, JPEG, WebP, EXR, DPX, Cineon, HDR, TIFF, JPEG XL, JPEG 2000, HEIC, AVIF, gainmap HDR variants), video formats (MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM, OGG, AVI, MXF), and session formats (RV, GTO, OTIO). See the File Formats reference for the complete list.
How do I load an image sequence?
Select multiple numbered image files through the file picker or drag and drop them onto the viewer. OpenRV Web automatically detects the numbering pattern and treats the files as a playable sequence. Supported patterns include frame_001.png, frame.001.exr, frame001.png, and hash/printf notation.
Why does my video not play with frame accuracy?
Frame-accurate video playback requires the WebCodecs API, which is available in Chrome 94+, Edge 94+, and Safari 16.4+. Firefox does not yet support WebCodecs and falls back to HTMLVideoElement, which may not provide frame-level precision. For the best experience with video, use Chrome or Edge.
Can I load files from a URL?
URL-based loading is not currently implemented. Files must be loaded from the local filesystem through drag-and-drop or the file picker.
Color Management
What color corrections are available?
OpenRV Web provides a comprehensive color pipeline including: exposure, gamma, contrast, saturation, brightness, temperature, tint, vibrance, clarity, highlight/shadow recovery, whites/blacks adjustment, three-way color wheels (lift/gamma/gain), HSL qualifier, ASC CDL, color curves, 1D/3D LUTs, log curve presets, OCIO integration, and tone mapping (Reinhard, Filmic, ACES). All adjustments are GPU-accelerated and applied in real time.
Does OpenRV Web support OCIO?
Yes. OpenRV Web includes an OpenColorIO-style pipeline with built-in presets (ACES 1.2, sRGB) and the ability to load custom .ocio configuration files. Input color space auto-detection, display/view transform selection, and look transforms are all supported. OCIO processing uses a WASM-based implementation.
Are LUT files embedded in saved projects?
No. LUT files are referenced by path, not embedded in the .orvproject file. The LUT file must be accessible when the project is reopened. If the LUT file is unavailable, the project loads without the LUT applied.
Playback
What is the maximum playback speed?
Forward playback supports speeds up to 8x. Reverse playback is limited to 4x to prevent frame extraction issues with the WebCodecs decoder.
Why is audio muted during reverse playback?
Audio is automatically muted during reverse playback because reversed audio does not provide useful information during review. Audio resumes automatically when playback returns to forward direction at 1x speed.
What loop modes are available?
Three loop modes are available: Loop (continuous repetition), Ping-pong (reverse at boundaries), and Once (stop at boundary). Press L to cycle between them.
Collaboration
How does collaborative review work?
OpenRV Web uses WebRTC peer-to-peer connections for real-time collaboration. Create a room, share the room code with other viewers, and sync playback position, zoom, color adjustments, annotations, and cursor position. PIN-based encryption secures the session.
Is a server required for collaboration?
A signaling server is needed to establish the initial WebRTC connection. OpenRV Web uses public STUN/TURN servers (Google, Cloudflare, OpenRelay) by default. URL-based signaling provides a serverless P2P alternative. No media passes through any server -- all data flows directly between peers.
Export
What video codecs can I export?
Video export supports H.264 (Baseline, Main, High profiles), VP9, and AV1. Codec availability depends on the browser. H.264 is the most widely supported. Video export requires the WebCodecs API (Chrome 94+, Edge 94+, Safari 16.4+).
Can I export annotations?
Yes. Annotations can be exported as JSON (for data interchange and re-import) or as PDF (printable review reports with thumbnails and timecodes). Both options are available in the Export menu.
How do I copy a frame to the clipboard?
Press Ctrl+C to copy the current frame to the system clipboard. This works in secure contexts (HTTPS) and may require user permission on first use.
Related Pages
- Troubleshooting -- solutions to common problems
- Quick Start -- get started quickly
- Browser Compatibility -- feature support by browser