Zoom quality on images poor in VS 11 vs MSP 7

PeterG · Post by **PeterG** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:20 pm

I have been working with Media Studio Pro for a number of years. Often I take digital images and place them in my videos. I apply zoom and pan filters to the images. All looks good . . .

Recently I purchased Video Studio 11 because I want to cut down on my "production time" when creating short videos. I'm impressed by all the features and ease of operation. However, when I import digital images and apply zoom and pan filters (like I do in MSP) I noticed that the images are blurry (zoomed) and not as crisp as in MSP.

All my settings for the projects are identical for both VS11 and MSP 7. Just wondering if anyone else noticed quality issues with zoomed images in VS11.

Thanks

Peter

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 12:57 am

I haven't used other Video Editing software to make a comparison but what I do anyway is that I make sure I scan my images to at least 600dpi if I plan on zooming in too much.

With images straight out of the camra I leave it in it's native dpi.

The only times I experience conditions like yours are on jpegs I have set-up for websites (75dpi) but look fine on the screen (also 75dpi) as long as I don't zoom in.

PeterG · Post by **PeterG** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:11 pm

Thanks Clevo . .. . however, I do zoom in with MSP without problems. Looks to me that VS just can't handle zooming like MSP. The quality of the zoom in VS is blurry and soft. Too bad . . .

Peter

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:30 pm

Could be an issue with v11 (?). I have v10+ and my Pan & Zooms are nice and clear.

PeterG · Post by **PeterG** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:59 am

"Could be an issue with v11 (?). I have v10+ and my Pan & Zooms are nice and clear." Really? too bad I can't go back to v10 and try it. What are your image specs if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks

Peter

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:06 am

This might be so in the preview window but in the finished DVD they look crisp and superb.

PeterG · Post by **PeterG** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:21 am

Thanks Clevo,

I did make some test videos out of both, and there is still a difference. I must be missing something in my setup. Just can't image VS11 having less quality than MSPro. At least I hope I'm missing something since I like the work flow in VS11 much better than MSPro.

Peter

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:48 am

PeterG wrote:Thanks Clevo,

I did make some test videos out of both, and there is still a difference. I must be missing something in my setup. Just can't image VS11 having less quality than MSPro. At least I hope I'm missing something since I like the work flow in VS11 much better than MSPro.

Peter

It's a little troublesome for me when someone is wearing a jersey with thin horizontal lines. But I think that's just an interlacing issue that cannot be avoided as far as I know.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 12:55 pm

As with Clevo, I just import them straight from a digital camera - I do nothing to them. I'm away from that computer so can't check the specs.

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:22 pm

Or I scan pics at minimum 600dpi. Just do a quick auto colour adjustment which I can do using Photoshop CS2 "actions" and go from there.

On a LCD TV my DVD's have loooked excellent...

PeterG · Post by **PeterG** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:15 pm

Black Lab wrote:As with Clevo, I just import them straight from a digital camera - I do nothing to them. I'm away from that computer so can't check the specs.

Thanks,

My pictures are from my 6 megapixel Pentax ist. The native dpi is 75. The original dimensions are very large, so I should be able to get a sharp zoom. Maybe I should apply a bit of sharpening before using in VS . . .

Peter

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:49 am

Peter, 75dpi is website/tv monitor standard. It's the lowest dpi setting for viewing on PC monitors and TV.

Are you sure about this being the native dpi straight from the camera?

I'm sure mine is much much higher than that and my Camera is a 5megapixel.

At 75dpi sharpening the image will not solve the problem as 75dpi is pretty much the lowest you can go and it's definately the reason you are getting blurry/pixilated images when zooming in.

Is there a resolution setting on your camera? Usually Low/medium/high. Check that and set to high.

If you have pixel width to play with your stills are saveable (to zoom in with without blurring that is) by reducing the pixel width but upsampling the dpi. Even at 150dpi it gives you some room to zoom into without pixelation.

Do you have photoshop?

I auto adjust colour balance because Photoshop does a pretty good job after I have scanned pictures in (I need to calibrate scanner with photoshop and monitor)

PeterG · Post by **PeterG** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 10:47 am

Hi Clevo,

Thanks for all your efforts.

The specs are correct for the camera with images 3008 x 2000 in dimension. All my photos are taken at the highest quality setting.

I burned a DVD and the video looks okay. Close up on zoomed portions it's not as sharp as with MSPro, but still quite viewable and other people seeing the video think it's great. Likely I'm suffering from "looking too close to my work when no one else does" syndrome.

Sharpening the image in ACDSEE does help somewhat along with sharpening the zoomed portion in VS using VS filters.

Appreciate all the feedback!

Have a great weekend.

Peter

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:20 pm

Thanks for reporting back. Was keen to know how things worked out.

I'll take your word on MSPro. I have never used that program and it has now got me curious.

I've recently finished a stills project for a 60th birthday from photos I scanned in. The finished DVD looked great on the Plasma and I certainly know about looking too closely at one's work as I still have the soundtrack in my head and the stills in a rather fiddly complicated transition appear in my daydreams daily.

VS11+ is more than enough for my needs. There are some aspects I am learning and I find it a joy to work with.

Good luck with your projects

Cheers