"Could not render animation: Unknown error" Repeated problem

[Per1d0t_12]

So for a while now, for no discernible reason, when i try to render an animation, it refuses to export, no matter how i export it, the animation file always comes out bugged.
It’s not like ffmpeg is bugged, as this only happens sometimes, other animations export with no problem.
i originally thought it happened when the animation file was too big, as previously, the prior 3 files it had happened with all had a lot happening in them, one used animation curves, which i assumed bugged the first one, the other was animated at 24 fps rather than my usual 12, and the 3rd just had a lot of layers and the file was massive.
However i no longer believe this to be the case as i just started a new animation, 12 fps, 4500x4500, and tried to export it at 76 frames to show my friends when the error popped up again, i have no idea what triggers it! and i know my ffmpeg isn’t broken because i went back to my other animations that i was able to export before and i could still render them, so i just don’t know what is causing it and it’s really annoying me

I’m using the steam version of krita, most recent version 5.2.10, but i’ve been having this problem since February of this year, i’m on a 2024 Macbook Air, Sequoia 15.1.1 and i’m using a Intuos BT S Wacom tablet

[Michelist]

Hello @Per1d0t_12, and welcome to the forum!

To use a size of 4500 square Pixels for an animation is insane if you don’t plan to throw it on canvases of ginormous sizes.
Reduce the size and try at 2k pixels.

Michelist

[Takiro]

@Per1d0t_12

4500x4500

This sounds like you’re cracking the megapixel limit by a lot. Not all codecs can handle 4k and larger resolutions. When the error appears it probably even says the pixel dimensions exceed the maximum allowed range.

[Michelist]

I forgot to add, if you really want to use these sizes, you need an external version of FFmpeg, the internal version only offers GPL conform codecs, and these are capped below the size you want to render. If you search for versions of FFmpeg that are recommended to use, so far the versions offered at static FFmpeg binaries for macOS 64-bit Intel ¹ were those recommended for use with Krita.

Michelist

¹ These work on ARM too. At least this was the case so far, but who knows which measures Apple throws next in their users faces because these codecs are offered free of charge? That must be evil …

[Per1d0t_12]

That may be it, but

it just says unknown error, i’ll try changing the canvas size
…
whelp that worked so yep, that was the problem, Thanks!

[Takiro]

You don’t need to reduce the canvas size. When exporting/rendering the animation there is an option to scale to different dimensions that is independent from the document’s.