Third party photo montage

[MinMinc.]

I do alot of photo montages, has anyone used "3-D album" if so hows the quality, output to Edius timeline etc. Thanks, Gary

[STORMDAVE]

3d Album is not bad...it's good for event stuff. Other than that, I wouldn't use it, but I am picky.

[MinMinc.]

Thanks, comming from you, it might be worth getting...Gary

[GrassValley_MD]

I will add my agreement with StormDave here. It is OK but I wouldn't use it for higher end stuff. :)


Mike

[STORMDAVE]

Forgot to add, alot of people are happy with Imaginate here...it still works with Edius, but not sure if it's available for sale anymore?

[MinMinc.]

Since I've upgraded to Edius, and Imaginate 2.0 all my images within the app are soft, for years I've used it in Rex edit and everything looked great, any I've tried numerous settings, but do dif..any Ideas why..Gary

[richvideo]

Work over this side of the pond even works better in the latest update edius - funny enough i was at a local trade show and someone asked about imaginate it was great program iam sure its not dead GV brill program for the money

Dave
UK

Since I've upgraded to Edius, and Imaginate 2.0 all my images within the app are soft, for years I've used it in Rex edit and everything looked great, any I've tried numerous settings, but do dif..any Ideas why..Gary

[Jerry]

Since I've upgraded to Edius, and Imaginate 2.0 all my images within the app are soft, for years I've used it in Rex edit and everything looked great, any I've tried numerous settings, but do dif..any Ideas why..Gary

What resolution images are you using and what settings in Edius.
I use a couple of montage programs. Imaginate is among those.
I usually throw very large files into Imaginate, after being tweaked in
Photoshop to not have the dreaded flickering issue, and export to 1920x1080(I only work in HD now) which is a downrez from the originals.
Everything is crisp and clear. I have found that preparing the photo will net a much cleaner and more useable image at the other end.

[MinMinc.]

Hi Jerry, i've used up to 300dpi scanned images, frame grabs from Edius time line (1440x1080) lower dpi scans nothing will produce a clear image, it apparent the second I open an image, (the imaginate2.0 canopus image which is displayed when I open the program is sharp) any other ideas. Gary,

[Jerry]

Hi Jerry, i've used up to 300dpi scanned images, frame grabs from Edius time line (1440x1080) lower dpi scans nothing will produce a clear image, it apparent the second I open an image, (the imaginate2.0 canopus image which is displayed when I open the program is sharp) any other ideas. Gary,

Correct me if I am wrong on this.
1. You have scanned images into the system at 300dpi
How good is the scanner? What software do you use to import?
I normally have access to Camera RAW files for projects or
at least a 2500x2500 jpeg file.
I think Imaginate will accept an 8,000 x 8,000 pixel file.
I get Imaginate and Stage Tools confused on this number.
Either way, if this is a digital photo or a scanned image
providing the scanner is working properly, you should have a
very high quality image.
I have not noticed any softening of the image after manipulation.



2. You take frame grabs from the timeline in Edius.
If you are using Photoshop, do you use the deinterlace tool
as well as the action to remove any lingering artifacts that can
cause flickering? Doing this will clean up your frame grabs quite a bit.
You will also have to check the color phasing.
After you have done these fixes, save as jpeg or Photoshop files
and import back into Edius or Imaginate.
If you import into Imaginate do not expect great results if you are zooming
on this image. It will break down almost imediately.

[MinMinc.]

Thanks Jerry, I've tried digital camera images (fuji-S-2, and Nikon D-70) these are ultra sharp JPEG's 3000x2000 (estamate) sige images, very sharp using 3-D pinp in Edius, but in imaginate very soft....Gary

[Jerry]

Thanks Jerry, I've tried digital camera images (fuji-S-2, and Nikon D-70) these are ultra sharp JPEG's 3000x2000 (estamate) sige images, very sharp using 3-D pinp in Edius, but in imaginate very soft....Gary

What are your project settings in Imaginate and your output settings.
Usually, you will take a hit on sharpness within 3D pip.

[Claire]

Gary,

Are you using the IVP file in the Edius timeline, or are you rendering out an AVI file from Imaginate?

I bought Imaginate just recently after playing around with the trial version where because saving the project file is disabled I had to render out an HQ AVI. Everything was pin sharp. However in the full version where I can now save the project and place the IVP file on the Edius timeline I was dismayed to find the results soft! I weep!

As a careful test I took a 3072 x 2048 JPEG from my Canon EOS camera which I had carefully adjusted for correct levels and put into 709 colour space (in AE7) and I put this on the HDV timeline above an IVP of the same image.

This image is dead sharp well into the corners, taken with my Canon 100mm macro lens at a high shutter speed, this lens never lets me down!

Flicking between the two with the track enable switch, the IVP version is soft while the JPEG above is pin sharp. BTW I am monitoring with an HDTV via NX HDV card.

Finally I export the Imaginate project as Canopus HQ and place that on a third track in Edius, this one is every bit as good as the original still below so this tells me that Imaginate is rendering okay but I haven't a clue what is going on with the IVP on the timeline????????

I am curious to know if this is normal behaviour or a bug somewhere, I did not have Imaginate when I had Edius 3 so don't know how the IVP would behave there but since you say there was no problem with Imaginate in Rex then could it be Edius at fault?

Jerry how are you doing this?

[jonandmarkuk]

I wish Imaginate was still a supported and updated piece of software. If Canopus are no longer interested in the product there must be a good alternative?

[RandyD]

For the original poster, what color space is the original photo in? And what export setting are you using .ivp,hdv dv etc. I have found imaginate does best when the photo colorspace is Adobe RGB....use something like pro-photo and it converts it ugly. In photoshop you can make an action to batch convert to HD colorspace and that helps.