Pro X5: JPEG images pixelated in playback and DVD

[Slideshow Bob]

I'm trying to accomplish the most basic task in VideoStudio Pro x5--making a slideshow with still images and burning that project to DVD. Prior to starting, I decided to do a "screen test". I scanned 3 photographs of varying quality. 2 are professional studio photos that are 3.5" x 5" and one is a candid shot that's a bit grainy at 3.5"x4.5". I scanned all of them with my Epson Perfection V300 to JPEG at 300, 600 and 1200dpi each. I then took the 3 versions of the three images and placed them in the timeline as still photos and then again with a pan/zoom. I noticed a slight difference between the actual photos and the photos when played in the timeline. However, once burned to DVD and watched on my Sony 40" BX42 LCD, the images are pixelated much worse than appears in the timeline. However, the same photographs are much more acceptable once a pan/zoom is placed on them. What am I doing wrong? I don't understand how these images could look fine with pan/zoom, but pixelated when still.

For example, one picture I used is 300 dpi (900x1356,1356 height, 24 bitdepth, .99mb).
Resampling Option: Keep Aspect Ratio
Project settingS are Burn to DVD
24 bits 720x480, 29.97fps
upper field first
dvd-ntsc, 16:9
variable video data rate
encoding mode base line

The above example looks pixelated on DVD, but not as pixelated when pan/zoom is added. The 600dpi (1787x2712, 3.78mb) version of the same photo is not as pixelated as the example, but not as clear as the timeline view or the actual image.

I did the exact same screen test in Pinnacle Studio 11 and received better overall results. Can someone help me with my settings so that I can do a basic slideshow? My images are being scanned with a decent quality scanner and look far superior than what I'm seeing once the images have gone through VideStudio. I'm not looking for exteme detail or expecting HD from a DVD, I just find the amount of pixelation unacceptable. I MUST be doing something wrong! Thanks for any help!!!

[Ken Berry]

First off, since you are making a slideshow from still images, I would change from using Upper Field First to Frame Based. Since each photo is a single frame, you don't need the interleaving of Upper Field First. That could also improve image quality too.

[Slideshow Bob]

Thanks for the feedback Ken. I will switch to frame based and give it another go this evening. However, I do plan to incorporate VHS footage (that's already been transferred to DVD) to future slideshows. So in that case, changing to frame based will not be an option and I'll be in the same predicament. This evening I plan on installing x5 Pro on another computer to compare results.

[lata]

Hi

I am not sure what you expect in taking a 5”x 3.5” photograph and expanding it to view as 40” as that is what you are doing.

The original image will view the best at 5”x 3.5”, it will print out at full quality at 5”x 3.5” size
Try to print the scanned image at A3, in fact try at A4, I think you will find the quality pretty poor.

If you keep increasing the scanning DPI then yes you will get larger document sizes in px but the image will become softer, out of focus.
Each time you increase the size you are effectively zooming in to the original. Eventually you will see the pixels.

Scanners are good at what they do but scanning paper based images may also reveal the grain of the paper, although photographic paper should be high quality with little grain it may still be picked up by the scanner.

I guess what I am saying is that I think your original images are just to small.

Consider reducing the image size on the video, maybe adding 2 images to the same frame. Use the overlay track.
Investigate the Instant Projects options, these can give you some nice effects, Your images do not have to fill the screen to get the best effect

Images should be the same if not larger than the video frame size, as you mention a large TV I assume HD, that would be 1920 x 1080, that should be the minimum image size.