How do i make AE not blur my graphics by default?

[Dan Fredley]

Try setting the transfer mode to “Alpha Add.”

Dan Fredley

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

[David Ghast] “I remembered that AE likes to do subpixel feathering when the comp dimensions are indivisible with the asset dimensions”

This is incorrect. AE resamples a layer when the difference between a layer’s Anchor Point and Position values is not an integer – separately for x and y coordinates,

Try these –
1) create a 50×50 pixel solid
2) place it at position (200,50.5)
3) notice that the top and bottom of the solid is anti-aliased
4) change its Anchor Point value to (25,25.5)
5) notice that the anti-aliasing goes away

Experiment with different values and you will see that the statement in my first paragraph accurately describes the resampling issue.

The fix is to either set the layer to draft mode, where AE does not calculate motion with sub-pixel accuracy. This is likely to be undesirable if your layer is being animated.

The other fix is to ensure that the difference between your Anchor Point and Position values result in a integer.

HTH
RoRK

Intensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer

[David Ghast]

I tried the two suggestions so far which turned out to be right as far as the subpixel issues go ( or at least one way to solve them ):

but the problem remains, whether i use “alpha add” or make sure the positions are whole numbers or use export with draft quality:

AE blurs graphics and there doesnt appear to be any way to prevent it.

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

It looks like you’re trying to post images but all I see are broken links to images. Try and post them directly to the COW – there is a camera icon just to the top of each message input area.

[David Ghast] “whether i use “alpha add” “
This doesn’t work!

[David Ghast] “make sure the positions are whole numbers”
It’s not just the position values. Please re-read my original post.

[David Ghast] “use export with draft quality”
Please re-read my original post. I suggested that you set the layer to draft quality. You do so by clicking on the forward slash icon in the Timeline (to the left of the fx switch). When the line is full, the layer is at full quality. When the line has a dash, it is at draft quality. I’m not certain how setting the Render Settings to draft quality works – it may be analogous to a layer being in draft quality, it could not. Therefore, it’s best to set the layer to draft, if you can or have to.

[David Ghast] “AE blurs graphics and there doesnt appear to be any way to prevent it.”
Do you by any chance have Camera DOF switched, an effect applied or if you are using pre CS6, do you have OpenGL enabled?

As a last resort, you may want to post and AEP which includes your graphic.

HTH
RoRK

Intensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer

[David Ghast]

Um ok, then use a different browser if yours is broke. Dont know what else to say, im asking for what amounts to a fix to a design fault. Ive ran into this before where thin transparencies are blurred into uselessness, i guess this is why no major motion picture uses AE for anything serious, if at all. I guess its time to start learning nuke.

[Walter Soyka]

[David Ghast] “AE blurs graphics and there doesnt appear to be any way to prevent it.”

That’s not true at all.

See 4133_shadtile49x82aep.zip, created from the PNG file you originally posted.

Here’s a view of the nice, clean alpha channel [image]:

I noticed that your viewer was zoomed to 1600% in the images you posted where you were evaluating the image quality. Is it possible that your image viewer was adding antialiasing?

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[Darby Edelen]

[David Ghast] “Ive ran into this before where thin transparencies are blurred into uselessness, i guess this is why no major motion picture uses AE for anything serious, if at all. I guess its time to start learning nuke.”

Nuke is definitely worthwhile to learn, but I wouldn’t abandon AE either.

You’ve been given a fix for your sub-pixel sampling issue: change the layer quality switch from Best to Draft. This is a per-layer switch in the composition timeline. You could also change it in the Layer menu with your layer selected.

Nuke has a ton of sub-sampling choices where as AE only has these two, so if you’re disappointed with these options it might be time to explore others.

Darby Edelen

[David Ghast]

No, one of the first pictures i posted was the original png zoomed 2400% in with acdsee and looking normal.

[Walter Soyka]

[David Ghast] “No, one of the first pictures i posted was the original png zoomed 2400% in with acdsee and looking normal.”

Sorry, I missed that.

Did the AEP file I posted render cleanly for you?

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

[David Ghast]

Not sure what you did there but its producing the inverse of what it is. Also when the comp’s width increases the whole thing goes to hell. Thanks anyways.