TIFF Sequence > AE > FCP > ugly flickering

[Spiro]

BTW – I have mapped images in the 720×534 comp, so if I drop this comp into a 720×480 comp the images get thrown off.

[Alexxx]

Does the QT look faultless?

Alex

http://www.lightdrop.com.au

[Spiro]

Yes, the 720×534 QT rendered from AE looks great. It’s when I scale it down to 720×480 that I start noticing the flickering and warped edges.

[Tom Hepburn]

If I have a lot of motion in something in AE I render it lower field first (in US). It looks bad if you play it with QT, but when you import it into FCP it with interpret lower field first and it will look good again.

T

[Spiro]

Adobe’s web site talks about using 720×534 for square pixel motion graphics …

Work in a square pixel composition. This technique is primarily used to create motion graphics using square pixel source footage when exact positioning is necessary. When After Effects renders the composition, frames appear stretched on-screen, but the final output is correctly proportioned on a DV video monitor. To work in a square pixel composition in After Effects:

1. Create a new composition with the following settings:

— For DV NTSC output:

a. Deselect Lock Aspect Ratio.

b. Type 720 in the Width text box and 534 in the Height text box.

c. Choose Square Pixels from the Pixel Aspect Ratio pop-up menu.

——————–

I’m just doing what Adobe tells me to do! 🙂

[Steve Roberts]

720×534 is the square pixel equivalent to 720×480, due to the 6 missing pixels compared to 720×540. If you drop a 720×534 image into a 720×486 D1 comp and size to width, you’ll find leftover pixels top and bottom.
So 534 goes with 480, and 540 goes with 486. So cmd-opt-f works with 534 into 480, as you said. It also works with 540 into 486.

Me, I use 648×486, or D1/DV with PAR correction. In Lightwave, I use 720×480 DV, 720×486 D1, or widescreen … all non-square pixels for eventual SD video use.

Now can FCP handle 720×534 square? I don’t know. But i know it can handle 720×480 (or 486) non-square. So to paraphrase Dave, if you have to use square pixels in your 3D app, nest the 534 inside 480 non-square and render to 720×480 non-square, and give that to FCP.

[Spiro]

I think I’m finally making some progress by dropping my 720×534 comp into a 720×480 comp. Adding a little ReelSmart motion blur has helped, too.

Thanks for all the feedback.