Resampling option for still images

[dsa44]

Still using VS 7.0 (suits me just fine) and have a peculiar finding when inserting still images. I am inserting jpg high quality images (roughly 2800x2000) and if the resampling option is set to "keep aspect ratio" the image displayed on the preview screen looks quite pixelated. However, when I set the resampling option to "fit to project size", the image looks quite good.
Why is this? How can I get the program to display, (and render to dvd) the highest quality still images with my video clips
thanks in advance. Couldn't really find an answer among all the posts.
DSA

[sjj1805]

The preview screen is just that - a preview. The rendered video file will display a much better image. You could resize the pictures with a photo editor beforehand to fall within the size of your video
720 x 576 for PAL
720 x 480 for NTSC
Turn on the anti-flicker option when creating the video file.

[dsa44]

Thanks for the quick reply, but I am afraid it may not be the preview.
I made a short slideshow using only 2 images (the same image twice, 6 megapixel). The first image was set to "keep aspect ratio" and the second image to "fit to project size". The second image looked much better in the preview. I then rendered to an mpg file. When I played this file back with WMP, the first image looked horrible and the second image looked great. Are you suggesting that if I actually rendered it to a dvd and played it back on a dvd player on my tv, both images would look the same? Again, I am trying to get the highest quality slideshow.
Thanks

[Ilene]

I make a lot of movies using still images and after a lot of experimenting have come up with what I think offers the best quality.

I scan all images or convert all images to 720x480 ( NTSC)....if I scan a still image, I scan it at 200dpi, and reduce the picture size to 720x480. Anything larger is just too big...and unnecessary. 200dpi is enough so that I can zoom in on a small part of the picture without losing clarity. The smaller file sizes also render faster. Also, I always use the parameter - resampling quality "best". My images are generally jpgs too.

I have tested bmp, jpg and tiff, I have experimented with dpi's from 72 -300...there is not much difference when you are sampling a small quantity of photo's, but on a large project I like to keep everything the same....so try using 720x480, 200dpi for still images and I think you will find success.

When my files sizes were larger I used to get blips on my pictures. now everything renders clean and smooth. For video, you don't need to have large image sizes...these are only necessary for prints! I've even used pictures that are 300x400...they are not as clear, but they still work.

good luck!

Ilene

[Ilene]

i also always check - keep aspect ratio

[dsa44]

Thank you. What program do you recommend to render a 6 megapixel digital photo down to 720x480? (Hopefully something non "professional" and under several hundred dollars!)
Thanks, Doug

[DVDDoug]

What program do you recommend to render a 6 megapixel digital photo down to 720x480?

I have Paint Shop Pro ($80) and Microsoft Picture It, which seems to be no longer available.

Some other image editors:
GIMP (FREE !!!)
Ulead Photo Express ($30)
Ulead Photo Inpact ($90)

[Ilene]

My scanner allows me to customized the parameters by which I scan images - it's an Epson Perfection.

Otherwise I often resize my images using Photo Shop...you can resize the image one at a time, or batch process a whole folder or cd at the same time. Photo shop is also useful for resizing a canvas. You know how the edges of pictures get cut off when you view them on a TV versus your computer screen. If you resize the canvas, and fill the outer edges with a complimentary color, then you in essence "fake" ulead out...nothing gets cropped from the image when you view it on a TV.

Ilene