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High Resolution Still Image from Screen Capture?
So I gave the Graphic artist who is attempting to do the poster art for my Indie Film the jpegs that came from the make freeze frame into still image option in FCP, they are apparently too low-res to work with. Is there a way to get a higher resolution still frame from the footage I have in FCP. I don’t have the option of re-shooting the scene my actors have all left the country…
Thanks so much…
-Tony
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5 Replies
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Unfortunately I don’t think there is any way to get the resolution you need from those frame grabs. First, the resolution of DV video (assuming you shoot DV) is only 72dpi. Print usually calls for 125dpi at the least, and for large posters, you probably want to start at 300dpi. Second problem is, the video images are interlaced. So you would have to deinterlace then and lose some more resolution there. You may want to consider a poster design that doesn’t call for use of the video images at all, maybe text and some other design elements that work with your message. The second option would be to invest in a program called Genuine Fractals. This program uses an algorithm to “uprez” the image with slightly better resolution. Keep in mind, this program is relatively expensive (in the neighborhood of $350 bucks) and still may not give you the quality you are looking for.
My suggestion: It’s time to be creative and see how you can manipulate the images you have so that you can hide the poor resolution.
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Check ebay, Nikon bundled genuine fractals with photoshop 5LE when they brought out the 990 3.4 MB cameras several years ago. If you bought the camera in Canada genuine fractals was not there but US versions had it. Your graphic artist should have the full version anyway so maybe it’s still not enough. Cristian’s suggestion is a good one, keep the photos small and maybe add afew more along with other design elements. Hey how about the filmstrip look. You could frame a string of frame grabs into a graphic of a film strip. Each frame could be about 2X3 or 3X4 inches and the film strip could wind around the poster.
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Next time, hire a photographer to come on set to take hi-res stills. That’s what the pros do.
Kevin Monahan
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
fcpworld.com -
Correct! Even if the budget doesn’t allow for a still photographer, as a field producer I would take the stills or someone with my firm would.
But as to the scaling/up-rez issue, how long has your graphic artist been out of school?
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[Plugin News] May 2005 Issue of Harald Heim’s The Plugin Site https://www.thepluginsite.com/
POLL RESULTS: Image Enlargement Plugins180 People took part in the poll asking for your favorite image
enlargement plugin. Here are the results:1. Genuine Fractals (63) 35.00% https://www.lizardtech.com/products/gf/
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5. Stair Interpolation Pro (9) 5%6. X-File (4) 2.22%
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Inquiring minds…,
BryceDon’t worry Mr. B. I have a cunning plan…
PowerBook 1.67 Ghz ATI 9700 128 MB 2 GB
Final Cut Pro HD
DVD Studio Pro 3
Motion -
If you must up-rez your video captures, save them as TIFF, PICT or TARGA. I would save it as RGB since most of the video noise is in the Blue channel. JPEG’s will amplify the video noise with compression artifacts and high contrast edge artifacts.
The following technique should only be used as a last resource and only by an experienced Photoshop designer. If these are face shots, blurring the Blue channel will start to reduce the overall video noise and then using the unsharpen filter Photoshop bring out the eyes and mouth detail. Our mental focus is always towards the eyes–not withstanding Al Bundy of Married with Children.
However, I would use one of the image enlargement plug-ins.
A little aside,
BryceDon’t worry Mr. B. I have a cunning plan…
PowerBook 1.67 Ghz ATI 9700 128 MB 2 GB
Final Cut Pro HD
DVD Studio Pro 3
Motion
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