What is offline editing vs online editing?
Short Answer:
Offline editing is the creative stage — cutting the story together, often using lower-resolution "proxy" files so the edit runs smoothly. Online editing is the finishing stage that follows picture lock, where the edit is relinked to full-quality footage and finalised with grading, effects, and clean-up ready for delivery. Offline decides the cut; online makes it broadcast-ready.
Overview
The offline/online split is a workflow that separates creative decisions from technical finishing. It lets editors work fast and flexibly, then finish at full quality once the story is locked.
Detailed Explanation
Offline vs online editing
Offline: the creative edit, frequently on lightweight proxy files, focused on story, structure, and pacing.
Online: the technical finish after picture lock — full-resolution relink, colour, VFX, graphics, and clean-up.
Why proxies: high-resolution footage is heavy; proxies keep editing responsive.
The handoff: an accurate offline timeline is conformed to the original media for online.
Not every small project needs a formal offline/online split, but the principle — lock the creative decisions, then finish at full quality — underpins most professional post workflows.
Example
An editor might cut a documentary using proxy files so playback is instant, lock the story, then move to online where the timeline is relinked to the original high-resolution footage and graded for delivery.