Flickering on still images but video is ok (VS 9)

lcvdw · Post by **lcvdw** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:05 am

I recently purchased the full version of VideoStudio 9.

I have put together my first project which consists of video clips taken with a digital compact camera (.avi) and still images (.png sized to 720x480) as well.

I have followed the suggested steps for creating a DVD, and when playing the burned DVD everything looks perfect on a computer monitor. When I switch to a TV though, all of the still shots show flickering (some more than others) despite me checking the "anti-flickering" in project setup and prior to disc creation.

Are there any other suggestions? I've heard about applying a gaussian blur (1 px) to all still images, but when I do that they look so blurry in photoshop. I haven't tried rendering and burning a project with them blurred like this yet, but perhaps I should.

Other than the anti-flickering checkbox in the project setup, and the one in the DVD burn properties, is there another checkbox I'm missing?

Am I correct that a project with both digital video and still files needs to be in lower field first and not frame based?

My project and Video file settings are:
MPEG
24 bits, 720x480, 29.97 fps
lower field first
DVD-NTSC, 4:3
Quality: 100
Video data rate: Constant 8000
Audio: Dolby digital, 256
Perform non-square pixel rendering
Apply anti-flickering filter

Any advice/input is welcome.

One random thought I had is that when saving a .png image in photoshop you have an option to save it "interlaced". It's probably not related to video editing, but I thought I would mention it in case anyone knows about it. I currently have not been saving my images like this.

Thanks,
Laurie

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:17 am

IMHO, interlaced PNGs should work correctly in your project because the video elements of it are interlaced (using lower field first). Still photos by their nature are not naturally interlaced. (One reason I use Frame Based for my slideshows -- though people also successfully use LFF.)

Anyway, try it and see. Use an RW disc so you don't create another drink coaster if it does not work.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:58 am

What resolution / frame size are your images? Still images often display a distinct flicker, especially if these have horizontal lines or small detail. It is caused by the interlacing of the TV picture. The horizontal lines may jump to alternating fields, causing the flicker. I usually add a small vertical motion blurr, 1 or 2 pixels is enough.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:57 pm

Use Frame based and apply the anti-flicker filter.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:07 pm

Hi Laurie

I have used a lot of *.png images with great success. (not interlaced-haven¡¦t tried the other option.)

After creating my slide show I needed the files in Avi format, to backup to camcorder.
So I rendered the files to Dv-Avi, using the same settings as my captured video¡¦s

I then rendered the Avi files to DVD-Pal, (you would of course use Ntsc-Dvd.)

The results were very good.

In fact I have started to use this workflow for all my slide shows, it takes longer to render but the quality is good.

If you use this option please give feed back as to any quality changes you see

Regards

Trevor