Soft image in Imaginate

[Claire]

Anton,

Thanks for the confirmation.

I agree if there is constant motion in the show then this softness might not be an issue, depending on content. I could not test this feature with the trial version of Imaginate since it didn't allow a save so when I bought the full version and saw this issue I was niggled.

Fortunately as I found out a rendered avi doesn't have the softness so it's the editors choice which method to use, as long as the issue is known about that's their decision.

[MinMinc.]

Still don't have a fix for the soft image, using Fuji & Nikon D-70 cameras, very clean jpegs, the second I open the file in Imaginate the smaller window on the right shows the softness, right then I know I'm in trouble. and ideas on image format or settings to try. Gary

[antonsvideo]

I save the images into tga format prior to use in IM2

tga is the ideal still image format for video

[antonsvideo]

the image on the right is a very tiny % softer due to the fact that it is already zoomed a bit, view the following at 100% size (not shrunk by browser)
http://www.videoproductions.com.au/edius45/IM2.jpg

[MinMinc.]

Thanks again Anton, I'll give it a try. Gary

[Claire]

Image rotation in Imaginate

As usual I exported my recent HD slideshow animation to Edius as an HQ avi file rather than as an IVT since this is the only way to preserve sharpness as seen on a decent HDTV. However despite this method, this time I was surprised to see that when I viewed the result in Edius the stills with rotation on them were no longer as sharp as the original stills.

After some head scratching I discovered that it's the one or two degrees of rotation in Imaginate that is the trouble, when I removed it they became pin sharp. So I decided to straighten them in Photoshop before taking them into Imaginate.

Problem solved, the resolution drop with Photoshop doing the rotation is miniscule. (Ruler down one of the lamposts > Image > Rotate > Arbitary)

Looks like this further step in my routine is in order to maintain maximum quality.

Oh dear, am I too fussy or what...

[Bluetongue]

Looks like this further step in my routine is in order to maintain maximum quality.

Oh dear, am I too fussy or what...

No I don't think so, with HDV Hi def any change in sharpness / picture quality is noticeable.
When I was using SD I used zoom in Premier or Motion in MSP and no noticeable degradation was seen, BUT the viewing medium could not pick the difference.
When I moved to EDIUS and used 3D PIP to manipulate stills Pan / zoom etc there was a considerable drop in resolution, part of Edius being able to mix formats, so I went back to Premier and it was no better but MSP maintained the full picture quality BUT, the video then had shimmering edges to any fine detail in the picture.
I do not have Imaginate, not available in Australia, but I have found using Boris Red (Rather expensive) the picture quality is maintained and by using the 1:2:1 pull down for export in Boris eliminates the shimmering edges but maintains the sharpness.
Regards Barry

[Claire]

Barry I cannot begin to wonder how you found the 1:2:1 pull down in Boris export solved the shimmer, wow... wonder how that worked?

Here I film mostly in 25P mode so in Imaginate export with HQ codec I choose progressive frames rather than upper field first and provided I tell Edius the AVI is progressive everything is hunky-dory.

I don't how Imaginate manages to avoid the shimmer you mention that you got from MSP Cbut but it does, unlike ProShow Producer which also makes animated slides that shimmer like crazy and anyway Proshow only does interlaced and has a 2GB limit in Canopus HQ codec, (11 slides).

So praise be to Imaginate, fast and easy to use and almost but not quite perfect, bought mine from dvc.uk.com here in the UK without any trouble last year and it seems to be still available.

[MinMinc.]

Gave up on Imaginate, still soft, even before any render, obvious soft in the preview window, seems stuck on a blur value...might just be my software...I've tried re-installing but same problem. Anyone out their with this type of problem and any fix. Gary (Mr. softie)..