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Photo-JPEG Workflow
Hi,
I’m planning a workflow that entails high resolution, lossless, simple motion graphics work within FCP followed by conversion to a playable QT for a current Mac Mini.This is my workflow:
1. Import 2500 RGB .png still image files into an empty, lossless (probably RGB Animation codec), 30 fps, 10 Megapixel timeline
2. Export that to a QT mov
3. Import that QT into a lossless, 30 fps, 1024×768 timeline, remove attributes on that clip (i.e. scaling), then apply simple edits, dissolves and a continuous zoom (scale) up to 100% of that 10 MP image.
4. From that timeline I will export (via QuickTime Conversion from FCP) a final 30 fps QT for playback via Mac Mini on a 1024×768 LCD. This final QT will likely be Photo-JPEG @ 75% (less likely .h264).Now for the solicitation for advice help:
1. What is the recommended Gamma Level setting within FCP 6’s “Imported Still/RGB Video Gamma” User Preferences for import into my lossless 10 MP timeline?
2. On a related note in this forum I came across a thread about issues/bugs with gamma and Photo-JPEG in FCP 6? What is exactly the issue, will I encounter it upon final export/conversion from lossless timeline to P-JPEG, and have others found the solution?
3. How can I keep my complete workflow through to export RGB? I know that PhotoJPEG75% is YCbCr, lossy 4:2:2 and that PhotoJPEG100% is RGB, uncompressed 4:4:4. What about the values in between (e.g. 80%)?
4. Other advice pertaining to my workflow ..? Advice on recommended lossless timelines (i.e. P-JPEG100@ vs Animation). -
11 Replies
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Chimps, I don’t know what the heck you are doing, but that sounds like a really lossy way to get a 1024×768 photojpeg movie.
Jeremy
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How is it lossy if I’m using a lossless workflow with minimal RGB<>YCbCr color shifts?
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You are bringing your pictures to an 8 bit RGB codec.
Exporting that to another 8 bit RGB codec.
Importing that, processing and then exporting to PhotoJPEG.
Why not just work in PhotoJpeg@100% with the stills @ 1024×768?
Jeremy
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I expect that I do want an RGB codec (source is RGB and Mac Mini QT playback to LCD is RGB via DVI). I expect my source PNG’s are 8-bit … Is there loss if I have an 8-bit workflow? Should I instead be better served working within Apple’s 10-bit Uncompressed codec (or is this overkill)?
I’m going through an initial 10 MP timeline (identical to the resolution of my source images) and producing a single lossless QT movie from this in order to better apply a progressive zoom within my 0.8 MP (1024×768) timeline. Basically, this will allow me to easily keyframe this zoom. I suppose I could alternately drop in my 10 MP PNG’s into a 1024×768 timeline, remove attributes on all 2500 frames, nest the 2500 frames then apply a progressive zoom to that nested item. It just seems prone to issues where a self-contained QT isn’t. (I do need a quality zoom without interpolation (afforded by 10 MP footage within a 0.8 MP/1024×768 timeline)
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Personally, I’d do all of this in After Effects, but that’s just me.
If you need to go to FCP, I would do the zoom with the nest, as you suggested. It’ll be much easier to control and there’ll be less overall compression. Also, if you are finding that FCPs zoom isn’t doing you well, you can then export your finished movie (minus the zoom) to MOtion or AE.
No harm in going 8 bit if your stills really are 8bit.
Jeremy
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Thanks Jeremy. Yes, After Effects is really the better and more fitting application for this project. However, I’m much more confident in FCP. This project only has 1 simple zoom into the center of the image with 2 keyframes at start and end – with “ease in” and “ease out” bezier curves. My understanding is that such simple motion graphics wouldn’t really reveal After Effects superior motion graphics abilities. Thoughts?
If I go with FCP, I will paste and nest to reduce compression. Perhaps, I will push myself to run this through After Effects.
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First of all, scaling in FCP is not really all that great. It’s okay, but not great. Ease in and out totally sucks in FCP. Totally.
This is a perfect project for AE.
Jeremy
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hmm, sucks huh. I definitely want less suckage in this project. I’m convinced. um … see you over at the After Effects forum?
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Doing a scale in After Effects is a breeze.
Are you PNGs sequential (I.e. an image sequence)?
Jeremy
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Yes the PNG’s are sequential. However, I will need to edit out sections: specifically, editing out 24 frames every 48 frames beginning approx 1/3 into the sequence.
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