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Rendering Graphics in FCP
To the video experts on this board…
Why does FCP turn my properly formatted RGB graphics into hash when they get rendered? I have some graphics that were created in Photoshop at the right resolution for FCP, taking into account the rectabngular pixels and all, and the graphics look fine in the timeline at import. Then when they are rendered, the colors bleed, crosshatch marks appear across any colored areas, and the entire graphic is blurred. The vectorscope shows that the colors are legal. This makes no sense. I’m running the latest version of FCP on a G5.
Any ideas?
Steve
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25 Replies
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What Compressor are you using in the Sequence Settings> Quicktime Video Settings pulldown? Sounds like you might be using standare NTSC DV Compressor.
When I work with graphics I export my Quicktime sequence using the Animation Codec or 8bit Uncompressed. Sometimes I might leave the timeline codec at DV just for quick rendering, but export in Animaition or 8bit.
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Thanks, Rocco!
That was the problem. A whole new world inside the program that I didn’t know was there!
Experimenting a bit reveals that a similar, though more subtle quality hit occurs if you render in MPEG-2 from a timeline that has been rendered in the DV codec. I think from now on I’ll render the timeline in animation before going out to MPEG-2.
Steve
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Yes, codecs: they should be an exact science, but I swear they like to mess with you!
Don’t forget that rendering the timeline in Animation (or 8bit) will take longer and create HUGE render files. And also, it makes no difference to your final export if you first render the timeline. You can render the timeline in low quality H.264 for all the export cares (assuming you select Export> Using QT Conversion)
because when you export via a codec, FCP copies the ORIGINAL media not the rendered timeline media. You still need to export in Animation, then convert that new Qucktime via MPEG 2 (in QT Pro) to maintain good quality graphics.Good luck.
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Hmm. Interesting. But why would you need to output to an animation codec prior to going to MPEG-2 if that is already an output option within FCP? BTW, if you have a FCP license, do you automatically have QT Pro?
Steve
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That’s a good question: Maybe I’m wrong, you’ll have to experiment a little. I’m basing my opinion on work done with After Effects and FCP to export to the internet. If I have AE footage (exported via Amin. codec) in my FCP timeline, then I must export the sequence via Animation codec (Sometimes “None” works well too. Deinterlace if for web). This creates a high quality “master”
Try it and see; I think I’m right but I could be adding an extra layer of confusion. But I realized that I’m giving you advice without knowing what you’re exporting for. DVD?
And yes, QT Pro “comes with” FCP. It should automatically work as QT Pro.
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Exactly. QTPro seems to reside within the application in the output module of FCP. At least I can’t find an application called Quicktime Pro anywhere else on my hard drive. So within the application, I can output the file to MPEG-2 for import into DVD Studio Pro.
Were I to output the timeline with an animation codec, I’d have a video file that it seems I would have to re-import into FCP to output to MPEG-2. Or am I missing something?
BTW, I agree with you about the FCP/AE interface. I also output AE files in the animation codec before bringing them into FCP for further work. I usually have not output the FCP files as animation files because they are just too large, but I may have to re-think that now.
Steve
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Ah… You don’t need to create MPEG 2 before you bring it into DVDSP. If I’m making a DVD I always export Uncompressed 8 bit (or animation) then open DVD SP and drag that new quicktime in there; let DVDSP handle the MPEG2 conversion and create the DVD.
As for Quicktime Pro; you should have just a regular Quicktime application, but it’s “pro” features will be unlocked, for example you can trim it and export via all these codec we talked about. And it should say “quicktime Pro” in the “About Quicktime Player” menu item…
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You know, I think that’s going to work better than the method I have been using.
Thanks for your help today. I never realized I had QT Pro in that little player application until you pointed it out.
If you ever need any help, feel free to contact me. I do a lot of AE work and interactive stuff as well.
Steve
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Happy to help!
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Rocco, Shane gave me a sound beating over a closely related concept just yesterday: https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/8/923308?pview=t#head – and the manual seemed to be on his side. I was pretty darn sure myself. Is there any evidence that a QT conversion really does ignore the sequence renders? I’d love it to be true, but can’t find any indication either way in the manual…
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