Blurred image of map when running project

[terry dennis]

I have downloaded a map from the internet , done a 'Printscreen' and pasted the image into IrfanView. I have saved the clear image as a bitmap file and loaded it into VS. When I run the project , the image blurs.

Any ideas or suggestions ?

[terry dennis]

......... I forgot to say that ticking the 'Apply anti-flickering filter in image clips ' doesn't appear to make any difference.

[Ron P.]

What resolution is your monitor running? I ask that because that is the best resolution you will get for any screen-shot you do. For instance my laptop uses 1280 x 800, so If I do a screen-capture of the entire screen my photo will be 1280 x 800. Next what resolution is your video, SD at 720 x 480 (720 x 576 for PAL), or one of the HD resolutions, 1440 x 1080 or 1920 x 1080? If it's one of those your screen-capture will have to be at least that size, and should be double that if you're going to use a pan/zoom effect.

Try taking a series of screen-shots, zooming the map that your grabbing the images from. If you want to show horizontal movement, instead of relying on VS to pan/and zoom into 1 image, use a series of screen-shots, where you have the best resolution for each. One of the better ways to ensure you have the highest resolution is to use a high-quality map that you actually download, or if you have a physical map, scan it into your computer and use it.

[terry dennis]

Thanks for coming back on this one , Ron.

My monitor is 19in. LCD with a max.resolution of 1440 x 900. The video properties are set at PAL 720 x 576 and I screen-captured the map image of the entire screen.

I'm afraid that my understanding of this sort of thin is a bit weak so by giving you the answers , I am afraid that I am still as vague as to why the image should go blurred when I play the project and also , is there a way to avoid the blurring ?

[Ron P.]

Ok, I added to my previous post, about the time you replied. I have a bad habit of that, as I think of more things after I initially post..

Where did you grab the screen-shots, from Google Maps? I don't do many like this, but I have just done a couple of shots. I also don't use Print screen, mainly because the way my laptop is setup, it uses a special function key in combination with the prt-scrn button, and doesn't always work, and by using a screen capture program ( I use FastStone Capture), I can select the area I want to grab.

I'll try playing around with some screen-shots to see if I can recall how I get a good clear one. It takes some trial and error.

[terry dennis]

Ron

That was quick !

I have used Google Maps before without a great deal of success. The map I am using at the moment is from

http://www.nztourmaps.com/north_island_ ... l_map.html

I am still playing around with the 'moving toute map' to try and start my NZ DVD which goes back to my trip down-under a few years ago !

I will have a look at 'FastStone capture' but it is probably 'PaytoGet' software which makes things a bit uneconomic when one is only likely to need it once.

I await your trials with interest

Thanks again in the meantime , Ron.

[terry dennis]

Ron

I have downloaded a trial version of 'FastStone Capture' and I must say , it is pretty good.

I have transferred various images created from FSC into VS but when I run them as a project , I get blurring particularly of the text.

I will await your response.

[Black Lab]

Don't take it as "what you see is what you get" from the Preview Window. That is a low res "preview". Try rendering it out to a video file and see how it looks.

[terry dennis]

Jeff

Thanks for that input ; I forgot the 'wysiwyg' effect !

I tried what you said and it made a noticeable difference but there is still a little bit of blurring sufficient to make words in lower font very difficult to read. I tried creating files in .jpeg and .bmp but there was no noticeable difference.

Is that the end of the line ?

[Black Lab]

It may be.

[terry dennis]

I found that FastStone Screen capture (which Ron suggested a while ago) has a 'video' option which has allowed me to trace the outline of a route on a map on the screen with a cursor with super results. A .wmv file is produced which when played as a project through VS gives a great result - Clear definition , no picture shake.
However , when I come to render the project , you can see the picture in the monitor shaking and the resultant .mpeg file is correspondingly shakey and not worth having.

What is happening ? I have ticked the 'Apply anti-flickering filter in image clips ' and it doesn't appear to make any difference.

I thought that I had cracked the 'Moving Map' technique but the inability to get from 'No shake project' to 'No shake video' is driving me nuts ! HELLP !

[terry dennis]

....... sorry ! when I say 'monitor' in the previous message , I meant the Preview Window in VS !!

[rwernyei]

Terry,

Do not apply anti-flickering filter it just softens the image, render out frame type as frame-based. No fields upper or lower. Should do the trick.

[terry dennis]

My hero !

It certainly does do the trick ! Many , many thanks !

I hope that that is the end of weeks of trial and error starting with Ron suggestion about using 'FastStone' Thanks to one and all for your help !