Montage Help CenterWhere your originals are kept
Your original is the file you brought, as it is. Where it is kept depends on how you added it: on the web, or with the Mac app.
Written by Ben (Founder) · Updated November 6, 2026Where each file lives
| Added on the web | Added with the Mac app | |
|---|---|---|
| Your original | Kept in your Montage account, as it is | Stays on your computer. It never goes up |
| The small file to watch while you edit | Made by Montage from your original | Made by the app on your computer, then saved to your account |
| What the export reads | A full-quality copy Montage makes from your original | Your original, on your computer |
Who sees them
Everything you add goes to Media. Only your workspace sees it: you, and the people you invited to it.
With the app: keep your originals where they are
The app exports from your originals on your computer. If one is on a disk that is not plugged in, the export window says so and offers Find the file. A video added on the web is brought down from your account when the app exports it.
Your footage space counts your originals at their own size, never the copies Montage makes of them. How much room you have.
Questions
Does Montage change my original?
No. It is kept as you brought it. Every other file is made from it.
Is the export made from a smaller copy?
No. The small file is only for watching while you edit. The export is made at full quality: from your original in the app, from a full-quality copy of it on the web.
Can I download my original again?
Not from Media: it has no download button today. Keep a copy of your footage where you filmed or saved it.
What happens to my originals when I delete them?
An original kept in your account is deleted, with every file made from it. One on your computer stays there. Delete footage.
Why a file is still getting ready→
Still need help? Contact support