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What’s the best way to sharpen unsharpend HDV footage?
So I just learned how to turn off all image processing in my FX1. I’m good with color grading but I need to sharpen the footage in post now. What’s the best way to go about that?
Most of my videos are talking heads on infinite white. So when I’m sharpening in camera i get a really hard edge around the shoulders and stuff. I’m very familiar with Ps, so I understand Unsharp Mask and things of that sort. I’d love to hear what you guys do.
Thanks.
Corbin Gross
Photo/Video
SANMAR
Marketing -
5 Replies
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I never use any image processing in the camera. I have a Canon A1 everything is turned off, even gain is set to -3 to give a sharp image.
I make sure the aperture is between 4 and 5.6. This will give the sharpest image. Very closed apertures (the A1 will go up to F22) will give fuzzy focus. Then I use the ND filter to get the aperture open. This is also in the manual of the FX1.Imo if you filmed your subject correct the footage does not need sharpening.
Although you can sharpen a subject within the frame to give it more grit.If you do want to sharpen (not out of focus images) a overall image add the effect straight to the clip and try different settings or place two instances of the clip on top of each other (superimposed). Add the sharpen (30-50) or unsharpen effect (trial and error) to the clip in track 2 and lower the opacity to 50-70%. This last technique is suited for sharpening analog video and maybe fuzzy focus.
Beware sharpening looks better when image is paused then in play.
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Adobe Certified Expert Premiere Pro
Adobe Community Professional -
When deciding how you’re going to run camera settings, it’s always best to test extensively before running with a paying job as you are very limited in what you can do to compensate for over-detail, or lack thereof in camera footage.
I’d be cautious with any “sharpening” in post… You can increase contrast to help the feeling of sharpness, but any Photoshop or Photoshop-like sharpening will likely cause results that change so much from frame to frame that you’ll end up with a lot of pattern noise for a little sharpness boost.
TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,Adobe Certified Instructor
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So you’re saying maybe that it’s not so bad to have a little sharpening in camera? I definitely had over-sharpened files before, but maybe something more mild would look good.
Also, My usual work flow is to shot in 1080 60i and deliver in something more like 720 24p. So the shrink of the footage helps a little to.
Corbin Gross
Photo/Video
SANMAR
Marketing -
Well…it IS HD…people don’t count pixels, they look at sharpness.
The bottom line is that someone with camera A can say “you need to set detail at zero” but if you use camera B, that exact setting may not produce the results you’re after.
Everyone’s content is different
Everyone’s visual expectations are different
Everyone’s equipment is different
Therefore: No advice should be accepted and implemented without testing to verify you achieve what you want with your gear to produce your content vs using someone else’s settings from their gear that they like for their content…
So…whether some sharpening is good, or how much…is something you need to decide through some tests.
…and yes, down-scale to 720p will help markedly. I would recommend you take the 1080 footage and just edit it on a 720p timeline (scale to 67%) and see for yourself. Additional measures may not be necessary.
TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,Adobe Certified Instructor
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Cool, so I’ll just try it a few different ways with some test videos and see what has the best final product. It’s good to know that it’s not black and white, I’ll fiddle around with it a little.
And the shoot-1080-edit-720 is what I’ve been doing, so it’s good to hear that’s an acceptable workflow. I’m kind of self taught, so I always think I’m doing it the wrong way.
Thanks a lot for the help.
So is there somewhere I can get feedback on some of these videos? Nobody I work with really knows quality. The people needed for approval on a project are looking more for content than good shooting/editing/titling and whatever. I’d love to have some input as to how these things look from somebody not vested in the actually product being explained/sold. Could I just paste a link when I finish something and get some advice from folks that have been doing this longer than me?
Corbin Gross
Photo/Video
SANMAR
Marketing
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