Edius and Imaginate

[MinMinc.]

I've been using Imaginate for years, with my new Edius system 4.13 using Imaginate 2 I've noticed a sharp image (frame grab or hi rez Jpeg) on the timeline but when brought into Imaginate the preview window's image is soft also final render also is. (I've checked and I don't have the blur on). any Ideas, Can anyone "clear things up for me", Thanks again, Gary

[antonsvideo]

instead of rendering out an avi, use the IVT direct on timeline and see if it is sharp now

[Rusty]

Because you start with a frame grab, aren't you losing resolution with a zoom in? How does it look with a zoom out? Have you re-sized in Photoshop?

Rusty

[SoundFreak]

Sorry for this OFF topic post.

I have used Imaginate 2 + SP2 for a short while now and I run into a problem of massive flickering on several parts of almost each Image taken by a Panasonic FZ 50 still image camera.

I have uploaded 2 full res (10 mp) sample's of the few hundred photo's I need to compile in several "holiday trip" projects for a costumer.

http://rapidshare.com/files/96078760/PROBLEM_IMAGE__Sample_.rar

For the users who know how to solve still image problems for video please be so kind and take a look at the 2 sample's and try to guide me in solving this issue.

All help is greatly appreciated

[Bluetongue]

SoundFreak
I have had the same problem with 5MP files from a canon A450 when manipulated for PAN or Zoom when using Media Studio Pro.
I Used MSP as the moment you bring the files into Edius the files are down coded to the project size and immediately loose their sharpness when zoomed for Pan or Zoom.
The problem comes because the images are too sharp and as the Zoom or pan occurs the encoder cannot make up its mind as to which pixel to place the edge on so jumps back and forward causing the flicker or jitter.
I do not have imaginate so I do not know what filters are available but I solved my problem with Boris (*** expensive) but using the 1:2:1 pulldown on export designed to eliminate the flicker on scrolling text caused by the above problem description there is now no flicker.
Perhaps try a slight Blur on the picture to see if it eliminates or reduces the flicker
Regards Barry

[SoundFreak]

Hi Bluetongue,

I have done projects before in Imaginate with a 5, 6 & 10 mp files before, it never was a problem.

The camera used (see sample's) is not a high end camera, just large resolution but low dpi, infact only 72 dpi, as the other pro camera's usually have something like 300 dpi.

I'm not a graphic person and have very limited knowledge about this but most images put in Imaginate never had problem before.

I have played a bit with photo shop to apply some filters to it and reduce resolution / increase dpi etc, but to be honest I don't know what I'm doing there, just desperate trail and error (more error than anything else)

I will check if anyone here in town uses boris but I doubt it, so I still need some help from users who have an educated gues what can be done in photoshop etc.

Please take a look at these 2 images (about 9mb download)

http://rapidshare.com/files/96078760...E__Sample_.rar

Thanks guys & girls ...........

[SRsupport]

I dowloaded the images and put them on an Edius time line. The image look as if they where out of a HD video with no filtering applied.

But I know you said they came from a still camera.

Antiflicker at 80 % made the still at my end viewed on a broadcast monitor.
I would suggest you apply antiflicker at 80 on that ivp.

Steve

[SoundFreak]

Thanks SRsupport, will try that.

p.s. is the still camera that bad that it looks like a HD timeline still ?

[SRsupport]

No Hd stills are that good. kidding

I was seeing that same move whe I take a still out of Hd wit moving subjects.
I don't now that still camera but was the person doing video record at that time?
Some have that possibility.

I ask because may I could be the way the still cap is handled while recording video.
Just guessing here. :) I am not in to still camera's he he.

[SoundFreak]

If you right click in windows explorer you can see a long list of details like camera make and model, exposure etc, and from there you can make out that it was a still image not a running video.

I tried the anti flicker but only helps so far, I forgot to leave out (sorry for that) that the project needs to be put on a DVD, as in Mpeg2 SD resolution, which doesn't help my problem either.

I put 100 % anti flicker and motion blur at 8, many images are at "ease" now a few still flicker here and there, but the image becomes way to soft / blur.

Still need to tinker and tweak some more, i think

Thanks for the help so far.

[SRsupport]

What you can try is bring bring them to photoshop and interlace them and run the video filter . I am not at a system with photoshop so I can't give the specifics.

Try the one that flickers the most. If results is to your liking save it as a batch command and run a batch on the folder. Then all the stills will under go the same processing.
Steve

[SoundFreak]

Was thinking among those lines, but as I am no graphic person and only have Photoshop elements with only basic bells and whistle's I need to ask some people here in town for help.

Thanks for all the help so far.

As the sun is almost rising again here in asia, i will call it a day (night)

Will report Monday again, if photo shopping did the trick . . . . . .

[Jerry]

If you right click in windows explorer you can see a long list of details like camera make and model, exposure etc, and from there you can make out that it was a still image not a running video.

I tried the anti flicker but only helps so far, I forgot to leave out (sorry for that) that the project needs to be put on a DVD, as in Mpeg2 SD resolution, which doesn't help my problem either.

I put 100 % anti flicker and motion blur at 8, many images are at "ease" now a few still flicker here and there, but the image becomes way to soft / blur.

Still need to tinker and tweak some more, i think

Thanks for the help so far.

Did you get my PM? I just need a link to send the files back to you so that you can try them after the fix.

[SoundFreak]

Hi Jerry.

Sorry that it took a while for me to reply, this morning I got the nasty message "this version has expired" so have been busy trying to get 4.6 running again, took me the better part of the day,4.01 then 4.54 then 4.6 upgrade, even the full iso did not work for me anymore, so I'm back now at 4.54.

To come back to your image fix, as I am a bit of a perfectionist I would say it's 85 ~ 90% perfect.
The image remains pretty sharp with very little flicker on the walk bridge, the water is as good as 100% at ease now.
I should except the fact that nothing is perfect in this world and that images taken on a lower end camera just are not that great in SD video.

I think the client will be happy with this, so please let me know "what have you done to it".
I'm almost too scared to ask if this is possible to do in batch mode, as I need to do 1000+ photo's.

If you feel that the used software doesn't belong here in the forum you can send me a PM or a e-mail, but I think the "fix" will also benefit other users.

Thanks again Jerry for taking the time and being so patient with me.

[Jerry]

Hi Jerry.

Sorry that it took a while for me to reply, this morning I got the nasty message "this version has expired" so have been busy trying to get 4.6 running again, took me the better part of the day,4.01 then 4.54 then 4.6 upgrade, even the full iso did not work for me anymore, so I'm back now at 4.54.

To come back to your image fix, as I am a bit of a perfectionist I would say it's 85 ~ 90% perfect.
The image remains pretty sharp with very little flicker on the walk bridge, the water is as good as 100% at ease now.
I should except the fact that nothing is perfect in this world and that images taken on a lower end camera just are not that great in SD video.

I think the client will be happy with this, so please let me know "what have you done to it".
I'm almost too scared to ask if this is possible to do in batch mode, as I need to do 1000+ photo's.

If you feel that the used software doesn't belong here in the forum you can send me a PM or a e-mail, but I think the "fix" will also benefit other users.

Thanks again Jerry for taking the time and being so patient with me.

I'm glad it worked for you. I posted this on the old forum a year or two ago.
For all who are interested here are the steps.

I do this step out of habit.
A. Go to filters and Pick Video and De-interlace. I ususally run both even and
odd de-interlace. Since I am in NTSC land I also run the NTSC color filter.


This is the main process"
1. Import you photo into Photoshop CS2 or CS3.
2. Go to the actions panel and make sure the video actions are loaded
3. Pick Interlace Flicker Removal
4. Press play button The action will run the process and that is it.

(You mentioned a friend of yours that was good at Photoshop. Have him make a batch file for you and the action should run on those 1000 photos with little or no problem).

Save your picture to whatever file type you are going to import into Imaginate.
As I said, on most pictures it will render very very acceptable results. I have found that if I have a very difficult section of the photo, I will run make a selection of that area and run the process again.

This process works very well in NTSC land and I cannot confirm how it works in PAL land. However, when using this method in my projects I can say that I have far less flickering than many broadcast documentaries with photos even in HD.

This process was posted in Photoshop magazine a year or so ago.
Jerry