Stairstepping on Scaled Graphics (Both FCP and Motion)

[Dave Martin]

Thanks for the replies Jeremy. I did find the “best” rendering of motion effects and I’ll leave it on that setting from now on…is there any reason I wouldn’t want to?

Also, I’ve cycled through item properties alpha (straight versus black) and I find black makes type look much better but doesn’t seem to make too much difference on regular graphics. If I’m missing something here please let me know.

Why is it that the alpha channels don’t default to black with graphics coming out of Livetype or Motion do you think? I always have to change it?

Thanks again for your reply…

Tim Martin

-MacBook Pro – 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo – 2 gig Ram

-FCP Studio 5.1.1 – QT 7.1 – OSX 10.4.6 – Lacie D2 dv external drive – G-raid dv drive

[Donald V]

Have you tried laying the .motn file in your FCP timeline and then rendering? As long as your motion project and FCP timeline have the same settings it should result in the highest quality.

Donald Van Slyke
Director of Technical Ministries
First Baptist Church of Scottsdale
https://www.fbcscottsdale.org

[Bret Williams]

Having animated countless things in AE over the last 10 years, I’ve never seen any stairstepping. But in FCP, hell yeah. How on earth are you getting stairstepping in AE?

[Dave Martin]

Hi Donald

Thanks for the reply…I’ve definitely tried the motion file in the FCP timeline and rendered from there. Although I love the workflow, it didn’t improve the quality all that much…thanks again!

Tim Martin

-MacBook Pro – 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo – 2 gig Ram

-FCP Studio 5.1.1 – QT 7.1 – OSX 10.4.6 – Lacie D2 dv external drive – G-raid dv drive

[Kevin Monahan]

Sequence > Render Menu: is FULL quality checked?

RT POP UP menu is in Safe RT?? High Quality? Full Frame Rate?

Kevin Monahan
Take My FCP Master’s Workshop!
fcpworld.com
Pres. SF Cutters

[Dave Martin]

Hi Kevin

Thanks for the reply…now I will admit that I don’t quite understand how the Sequence/render menu’s work so I’m playing with them now. Full was not checked for the Selection only menu so we shall see.

I also had unlimited/dynamic on the RT popup but I thought that was only for realtime playback and had nothing to do after you’ve rendered a clip?

Thanks so much for the reply…

Tim Martin

-MacBook Pro – 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo – 2 gig Ram

-FCP Studio 5.1.1 – QT 7.1 – OSX 10.4.6 – Lacie D2 dv external drive – G-raid dv drive

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Tim Martin] “is there any reason I wouldn’t want to?”

If you prefer faster renders over quality.

[Tim Martin] “If I’m missing something here please let me know.”

Sounds like you have it covered, it really depends on ow you render out your graphics.

[Tim Martin] “Why is it that the alpha channels don’t default to black with graphics coming out of Livetype or Motion do you think? I always have to change it?”

Yeah, I think it’s just one of those things with FCP. I always have to change it. I noticed that you said you didn’t have your options set to full in your sequence >render menus. That is paramount as it’s quite possible that FCP is showing you an rt effect and you won’t get a good look until you ‘bake in’ that effect by rendering.

Are things looking better after you rendered and changed the settings?

Jeremy

[Kevin Monahan]

I also had unlimited/dynamic on the RT popup but I thought that was only for realtime playback and had nothing to do after you’ve rendered a clip?
You need the RT Pop Up Menu set up properly to make a value judgement regarding quality. For that, I like to have it showing me what’s what.

You are correct. It doesn’t matter in viewing a rendered QT, however, the rendered QT is not always displayed at “High Quality”. With certain codecs, it is unchecked by default

[Dave Martin]

Very interesting…thanks Kevin!

Now…the big question….for the best of the best quality…would you still recommend AE?

Tim Martin

-MacBook Pro – 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo – 2 gig Ram

-FCP Studio 5.1.1 – QT 7.1 – OSX 10.4.6 – Lacie D2 dv external drive – G-raid dv drive