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Timeline Render

Timeline Render · screenshot coming soon

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What this node does

Timeline Render reads upstream COMFYTV_TIMELINE JSON, invokes the selected timeline workflow backend, and stitches/encodes segment images (plus optional audio) into one COMFYTV_VIDEO. vs Director Timeline: that node is the edit list; this one is the master clip. There is no text prompt—timing, order, and asset URLs come entirely from timeline JSON.

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When to use it

  • Final step of Storyboard → Shot Images → Director Timeline to export a shareable MP4.
  • Re-Run this node only after timeline tweaks without re-rendering all shots.
  • Validate BGM vs picture length before sharing (preview in Director Timeline first).

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How it works (why ComfyTV is designed this way)

  • Stage + ▶ Run: Executes the timeline workflow only—won’t re-run upstream Shot Images / Storyboard; per-segment progress callbacks (shot 2/5, etc.).
  • Snapshots: Uses the timeline snapshot Director Timeline saved; if you edited the timeline but didn’t Re-Run Render, you still get the old clip—Run here again.
  • workflow dropdown: Maps to timeline runners. Built-in Multishot (placeholder) is a demo stub (returns a sample video URL); production encoders are tracked on the roadmap.

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Types (COMFYTV_* vs native ComfyUI)

Details: bridges.md

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UI and parameters

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workflow

  • What: Timeline render backend; options from runners with kind='timeline'.
  • Built-in today: Multishot (placeholder)—development stub, not a final encoder.
  • Source: runners/ registry + future workflows/timeline/ files.
  • Models: Placeholder needs none; future workflows per README/models list.
  • Effect: Encoding/stitching behavior per backend.

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timeline

  • What: Upstream COMFYTV_TIMELINE wire.
  • Wire: Director Timeline → timeline.
  • Mistake: Empty timeline/segments → invalid or placeholder output.

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custom_params (hidden)

  • Sidebar-bound extra workflow parameters as timeline backends evolve.

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Outputs

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Step by step for beginners

  1. Complete Storyboard → Shot Images → Director Timeline (or equivalent asset chain).
  2. Add Timeline Render; wire timeline from Director Timeline.
  3. Pick an available workflow (e.g. Multishot placeholder).
  4. ▶ Run; watch per-segment progress.
  5. Preview the clip; wire Video Upscale or branch via asset loader.
  6. After timeline edits: Re-Run this node only (not Shot Images).
This page covers one node only. For end-to-end workflows, multi-stage pipelines, type conversion, and design rationale, see the ComfyTV user guides on GitHub:

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Repository and workflows

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FAQ

Q: Output is a sample video, not my frames?
A: Multishot (placeholder) intentionally returns a demo clip until real timeline workflows land. Q: Run does nothing?
A: Confirm timeline wired and Director Timeline has non-empty segments; check console. Q: vs Video Stage?
A: Video Stage generates AI video (text/image-to-video). Timeline Render encodes arranged frames. Generate vs stitch/export. Q: Gray workflow list?
A: Restart ComfyUI to rescan; timeline runners register at startup. Q: Load vs generate?
A: Load Video imports files; this node encodes a new master from timeline JSON. Loaders don’t replace Render.
  • Director Timeline — required upstream layout.
  • Shot Images — common segment image source.
  • Video Stage — single-shot AI video, different use case.
  • Video Clip / Video Upscale — post on the master clip.
  • Load Video from Asset — reuse Render output from the library.