Answer by D Songwriter for Set a custom preset for HandbrakeCLI?

I found out how to create and use an exported JSON.

I used the GUI to create the JSON, then used the following command to reference it from the command line:

HandBrakeCLI -v --preset-import-file 20RF.json -i input.ts file name -o output.mp4

I had created some that did not work.. and for some reason one that did, after editing and renaming it did not work. When I followed the following process it did.

1. Create presets wanted in GUI and save as new preset given your name of choice.

2. Presets - set Default (this sets your new preset as the default... when I don't do this it does not work)

3. Presets - Export (name your new .json file.. was 20RF.json in my above example.)

The HandBrakeCLI will open and use the setting in the json file when created this way. I am using HandBrake 1.1.0 (x86_64) with an i5 8400 and Ubuntu mate 18.04

This is one of the threads which pointed me in the right direction to find out what worked on my system so wanted to share back.