Clarification on Color Format (I444 vs I420) for Programming Tutorials

Hi everyone,

I'm currently creating my first Udemy course focused on programming, where most of the content is presented through an IDE (dark theme with bright-colored code) and slide visuals made with Canva.

While testing screen recordings with OBS, I noticed a big difference in color quality depending on the color format used. When recording with I444, the output looks sharp and true to what I see on screen. However, using I420 makes the video look pale or washed out — especially with the IDE’s dark background and vibrant code colors.

I’ve also noticed this “washed out” effect in some existing courses on similar topics, so I’m concerned it may be due to either their recording settings or perhaps Udemy’s compression during upload.

I read through Udemy’s video specifications, but I couldn’t find any mention of recommended or supported color formats (like I444 vs I420). Before I commit to producing all my content in I444 — which results in larger files and longer export times — I’d like to know:

👉 Does Udemy re-encode uploaded videos to a specific color format like I420?
👉 Will the color quality of I444 recordings be preserved after uploading, or is it better to stick with I420 from the start?

Any advice from fellow instructors or the Udemy team would be greatly appreciated. I’d love to keep the color fidelity of my coding tutorials as clear as possible for learners.

Thanks in advance! 😀

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Accepted answers

ElianaC

Hi @MarvelousAvocado, You can upload your videos directly from your course dashboard, under the "Curriculum" section. Additionally, as a student, you'll be able to preview your videos to ensure everything looks perfect before moving forward. You can learn more about previewing your course here.

I hope this helps!

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hidran

I've never chosen or changed any color format while recording my videos. Whatever I use during my programming with my pc, it's what's going to be recorded.
I use dark theme with a big font ( Consolas 22 on jetbrains editors) and full HD video format.
I set 15 as frame rate for my screen recording as that's more than enough for that purpose. For talking head, I leave the default settings 30 for screen recording and 60 for talking heads

ElianaC

Hi @MarvelousAvocado! Great question, and thanks for the insight! To address your concerns:

Udemy does re-encode uploaded videos. All videos go through a transcoding process to ensure consistency across devices and bandwidths. This means that even if you upload in I444, the final output may be re-encoded to a more compressed format like I420, which is standard for streaming platforms due to its smaller file size and compatibility.
Color fidelity may not be fully preserved. While I444 recordings offer richer color and less chroma subsampling, Udemy’s processing might still compress this to I420 during encoding. This can result in the “washed out” effect you’re noticing, particularly with dark themes and vivid text/code colors.

Recommendations:

If you prioritize clarity during the editing phase (e.g., when adding effects, text overlays, or zooms), you might still benefit from recording in I444, even if it gets compressed later.
If you want to match what students will see as closely as possible, recording in I420 might be the safer route to avoid surprises after upload.
Try uploading a short test video recorded in I444 and review it on Udemy's preview as a student would. This will give you the best indication of how colors are preserved after processing.

If you have further questions, please send an email to the Instructor Support by contacting us through the Help Center.

Hope this helps!

RonErez

Amazing question. I have no idea. Definitely worth sending Udemy a test video before you go to far. They give great feedback.

MarvelousAvocado

Hi, thank you so much for the helpful reply! 🍺

I really appreciate the suggestion about uploading a short test video to see how the color is handled after Udemy’s processing.

Just to clarify — does this mean there's a sandbox, testbed, or draft area where I can upload and preview videos exactly as a student would see them, before publishing the full course?

If so, where can I find this magical sandbox? 😄 It would really help me test things like color fidelity (e.g., I444 vs I420) without needing to go through YouTube or publish unfinished content.

Thanks again for the guidance!

ElianaC

I hope this helps!