moved graphic with 3DPIP - now blurred

[Claire]

Is this normal? I drop a 700 x 400 px map into a 1920 x 1080 square pixel comp in After Effects and save it as a 32 bit PNG file (alpha channel transparency).

In Edius 4.10 I add the map graphic to V2 track, so it's over my HDV footage, all is well, clean overlay, the map shows nice and sharp, easy to read.

Now I need to gradually move it from the centre to one side, for this I use the only tool in Edius I think can do it.. 3D PIP.

I move the map but now I cannot read much of it anymore as it's gone so fuzzy.

The 3D Pip destroys the quality of my graphic. What I am doing wrong?

Thanks..

[GrassValley_BH]

Hi Claire,

You're not doing anything wrong, unfortunately the 3D P-in-P in EDIUS puts the source into project resolution before it manipulates it, so if you're zooming in (blowing up), then the image will get fuzzy/blocky.

If it's a simple horizontal motion, then try using the Loop Slide video filter.

[Claire]

Hi Brandon, thanks for the fast reply!

Unfortunately I am still puzzled, I am aware that scaling will be detrimental so definitley not trying to zoom in, just want to reposition the graphic.

I tried the Loop Slide , this was new to me but it's moving the map inside it's own area and just cropping it leaving behind a white rectangle the size of my graphic. Like it doesn't handle the alpha channel?

I fixed this problem by animating the map in AE and exporting in HQ codec with alpha, the map now stays sharp as it moves but this is surely taking a bulldozer to crack a nut?

[GrassValley_BH]

Hi Claire,

Hmm, you're right - loop slide will... well, loop, heh.

Another option would be to put the image on one of the title tracks and use one of the title slide effects on it.

Ideally, I think we'd all like to see the Layout function keyframeable in the future, and that's on the feature request list.

[peterC]

Hi Claire.

As Brandon says, try using the titler to do this.

You may need to render out a L>R crawl or whatever it is you want to do, then pull this back in and match frame it to a captured still of the graphic for both the start and stop points you want (if that is what you want to do).

This works but it should be a lot easier than this and I would hope that 3D PIP especially could be made 'Imaginateive', that would be good and better than the layout approach since you can get to do more, more simply and quickly.

[Claire]

Hi Claire.

As Brandon says, try using the titler to do this.

Thanks Peter, however I am finding that the title slide effects don't allow me to stop the map graphic, I am wanting to move and hold the position, not disappear off the edge of the screen.

I think I have come up with a working method that unlike the 3D PP is not making the map go fuzzy and indistinct..

What I am doing is to take the map into Edius at it's native small size, not as before it on a 1920 x 1080 transparent background so this immediately removes my need to go into After Effects.

Then instead of the dreaded 3D PIP, <grin> I use the layout tool, this does not seem to cause the fuzziness that 3D Pip brings with it. It does introduce a new problem of blacking out the underlying video but this is easily solved by adding a luma key to the graphic.

I am finding this quite fast and effective but still don't understand what is the matter with the 3D Pip, does it need an overhaul?

[TimK]

I've seen this before, and the fix was to tweak the settings a little. Just moving a clip around vertically by 1 point or 2 worked for me.

[antonsvideo]

Then instead of the dreaded 3D PIP, <grin> I use the layout tool, this does not seem to cause the fuzziness that 3D Pip brings with it. It does introduce a new problem of blacking out the underlying video but this is easily solved by adding a luma key to the graphic.

the 3D PIP defaults to 80% zoom when you apply it, simply set this back to 100% and you will have full resolution no matter what horizontal or vertical position

also, the layout tool allows transparency, type 0% instead of 100%, bottom left of layout tool

[Claire]

I've seen this before, and the fix was to tweak the settings a little. Just moving a clip around vertically by 1 point or 2 worked for me.

Yes I also noticed this effect but never really found a spot good enough, even using the arrow keys for postioning.

[Claire]

the 3D PIP defaults to 80% zoom when you apply it, simply set this back to 100% and you will have full resolution no matter what horizontal or vertical position

also, the layout tool allows transparency, type 0% instead of 100%, bottom left of layout tool

Yes I know this Anton but thanks for the tip on the transparency function in the layout tool, I had assumed this would simply be a fade for the whole graphic not just it's black background.

BTW, the only reason I can use the layout tool instead of the 3D PIP is because I am no longer animating the position of the map so I would still like to hope that this 3D PIP will be improved in the future,

thanks..

[pjsssss]

I think you will see some much anticipated changes in the future.

[GrassValley_BH]

Thanks Peter, however I am finding that the title slide effects don't allow me to stop the map graphic, I am wanting to move and hold the position, not disappear off the edge of the screen.

Hi again Claire,

Looks like you found a solution, but as for the title movement, what you want is to have the graphic positioned where you want it, then have it Slide In. It will Slide In into its "resting" position.

[peterC]

Thanks Peter, however I am finding that the title slide effects don't allow me to stop the map graphic, I am wanting to move and hold the position, not disappear off the edge of the screen.

I think I have come up with a working method that unlike the 3D PP is not making the map go fuzzy and indistinct..

Hi Claire.
I understood you but I don't think you understood me.
1) Create the title graphic as a crawl (for eg).
2) Render this out
3) Bring the rendered file back to VA track
4) Scroll/scrub this render to the point where you want it to begin as a still frame start position of your image and CTRL + T for a screen grab. Scroll/scrub thru the crawl further to where you want it to stop and repeat the frame grab there too.
5) At both times of the I/O grab points you are making as stills (match frame/pickup edit), use marker V to give you the right sync point on the timeline for inserting back in, those still grabs as overlay (on the upper/ next VA track) to the rendered crawl title below it.
6) Insert the screen grabs/match frame edit stills, on the next (upper) VA track at the marker points on the timeline you made previously.
7) Set your still/match frames to the duration to suit you and it is done. If you want, you can go back to the rendered crawl file on the lower track and increase or decrease the speed as you wish. Just remember that you will need to recapture your (new) match frame/pickup edit still frames for start and end points to suit the new speed.

You can do then all sorts of trickery with the file in terms of Keying, trans I/O's, colour treatments, filters eg old movie etc

It's not that hard to do, but it should be easier than this just the same.

HTH.

If need be and you want more clarity, I will put up some screen grabs of this since I was using this technique last month. But I prefer not to if possible!!!