The timing display offers two ways of measuring time in your project: frames or timecode. Frames are incremental still images starting at 1 or 0 and continuing for the duration of your project. Timecode is the standard eight-digit numeric system used in video production. Timecode runs like a clock from 00:00:00:00 to 23:59:59:29. The first two digits represent hours; the second two digits represent minutes; the third two digits represent seconds; and the final two digits represent frames, as in HH:MM:SS:FF.
Frames and timecode counters have specific advantages, depending on the video format in which you’re originating and finishing. For example, if you’re designing a title sequence for a 35mm film that must be exactly 720 frames, set the timing display to show frames. If you’re building a television spot for broadcast (which uses the timecode standard), set the timing display to show timecode.