Converting 4:1:1 to 4:2:2 color space?

[Alter Ego]

I need to do a lot of green screening with DV 720x480 NTSC footage. I understand DV at 4:1:1 isn't real good for keying. Can I get the DV footage converted to the 4:2:2 color space for better keys? Edius does works in the 4:2:2 space correct? Can anyone offer some suggestions or experiences on the best way to achieve this? Would you have to have the footage transferred to DVC 50 Pro format that uses 422? Thanks.

Tom

[GrassValley_BH]

EDIUS already puts DV in a 4:2:2 space, no need to transcode or dub. The "working space" is already 4:2:2 in EDIUS (except for some operations which may use a larger space temporarily).

[Alter Ego]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking about Edius. If I would export from edius to another compositing app i.e. Combustion, AE etc. would I keep the 4:2:2 color space? What format would I export to keep it? Thanks again.

Tom

[GrassValley_MD]

The HQ Codec is a 4:2:2 codec and if you output it to the HQ Codec it will remain 4:2:2


Mike

[GrassValley_BH]

Now that is a good question!
Using Canopus HQ, since Canopus HQ is a 4:2:2 compression format, it'll keep the 4:2:2 from EDIUS. Canopus Lossless should also.

Essentially EDIUS "has" a 4:2:2 space at the project resolution, so from that point it's a matter of what sampling and resolution the chosen output format supports.

(Next time I'm going to keep Mike on the phone and post my response first...)

[GrassValley_MD]

HAHAHAHAHAHA.... I had mine written and was verifying! :)


Mike

[Alter Ego]

Excellent to hear. Thank you both for the help. I thought this might be the case with the HQ codec. This should work out well. Now for some fun with green screens....

Tom

[STORMDAVE]

Even if you convert DV to Canopus HQ, you won't get "good" keys unless you use good keying software such as Keylight in AE, and it all depends on the footage. EDIUS does a pretty good job too. I've pulled many good keys out of DV footage, everything has to be properly lit though, and you should use a green screen for dv as it is 4:1:1 (Green is captured in full in DV). 4:2:2 footage gives you better keys obviously.

[biopic]

Yes Edius' own chromakey is really pretty good. I once spent a few hours at a TV centre trying to get a decent key on some indifferent footage with A*** systems, then came back here and did a much better job in Edius straight away, no trouble.