Snapshot misalignment

[fingerbreaker]

I'm using VS Ultimate 2020. If I take a snapshot then put the snapshot in an overlay track, it's misaligned vertically by 1 or 2 pixels. This might not sound like much, but it's visually apparent. See attached pics, with and without the overlay track (I added a circle to highlight one area where the discrepancy is most obvious).

In case it's relevant, here are the project settings (I haven't experimented with other settings or tried this in other versions to know if it makes a difference):

Project format: Blu-ray
Properties:
MPEG Transport-Stream Files
24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 24 fps
Frame-based
(HDMV-NTSC), 16:9
H.264 Video
...

Is this a VS20 bug, a problem with my settings, or just the way life is sometimes?

Thanks,
FB

[lata]

Hi
When we take a snapshot we have 2 options
1 / we can take in Clip mode, that takes a shot from the actual file on the hard drive
2 / take the shot in Project Playback and an image is taken from the timeline view

Clearly these could be different depending on any editing applied to the timeline clip.
You should try taking a snapshot using both methods, I would assume one option will match, otherwise we can look a little deeper into this issue.

Post updated
I had a problem when the project properties were set to 4K and the video was 1920 x 1080
Where the project matched the video properties size I did not have an issue, my snapshots were identical to the source.

What are the properties of your video compared to the Project properties

[fingerbreaker]

Clip mode and Project mode snapshots gave the same result.

My video clip has the same properties as the project, but I think that's irrelevant anyway based on the next experiment I tried:

I was hopeful that I could just reposition the snapshot in a drawing program (not within VS which only has incremements of 1% but something I can fine-tune) but I realized that it's not just a simple translation of the image, it's actually distorted/resized. I downloaded a random grid pattern pic to use as a reference, put that into the timeline (at 100% size, position 0,0 of course), took a snapshot, overlaid the snapshot and masked it with a matrix of six circles to get a better look at the distortion across the image. Attached are the original grid pic I downloaded, the snapshot of that pic in the timeline, the mask frame I used, and a pic of the masked snapshot overlaid on the original.

As you can see, it appears the snapshot is enlarged slightly as the lines are both left/right and above/below the reference lines. If you could try the same experiment it would be interesting to see if you get the same result.

As a workaround, I could conceivably use my drawing program to slightly shrink the snapshot and then center it with some trial and error, but obviously I would much rather have it just be accurate from the start.

Thanks,
FB

[fingerbreaker]

Here are the project and video clip properties in case I'm missing anything.

[lata]

Hi
I completed more tests using 2020 and DO have problems, taking more care than my first tests, I have tried many options in changing project properties and videos but still have this shift when taking the snapshot
Very small and quite difficult to see.

I then tried 2018 and 2019 and did not have any problems, all my snapshots appeared in line.
I will have to repeat those tests

As for your project I do not fully understand what you are trying to achieve when taking the snapshot.
Nor do I understand how you created the shift in the grid but will have to work on that.

If you have an earlier version of Video Studio then I would try that using the grid images.

[lata]

Hi
I checked out Smart Proxy options which I had turned on
Deselecting Smart Proxy has improved things for me as I no longer see a shift after taking the snapshot
I was also aware of a slight shift in colour tone but now without SP that has also improved.

[fingerbreaker]

Through trial and error I determined I can get a pretty good match by shrinking and shifting the snapshot in my drawing program. It's not 100% but it's close enough that no one would notice without very careful analysis. I also still have VS19 so I could potentially use that for snapshots if needed.

I do not have Smart Proxy turned on so that hasn't been the issue for me.

Thank you,
FB

[lata]

Hi fingerbreaker
A new day and another thought on this
I have used the grid images to try to replicate the shift when applying the 6 circle mask and I cannot replicate as your image the Mask Overlaid Grid
I have also tried using the Split Screen Template Creator which effectively creates a mask of half the screen but still looks ok
The Split Screen Template Creator may be something you could try?

I have added a Smart Package using the 6 circle mask on the grid images, I changed the imaged to Jpeg to reduce the size for attachment to the forum
Are you able to provide the same or similar package that shows the shift

6 circles on Grid zip.zip

(184.04 KiB) Downloaded 59 times

As another thought, can you turn off any Hardware Acceleration from F6 Settings – Preferences – Performance tab to see if that affects the screen shots…………

[fingerbreaker]

"I have used the grid images to try to replicate the shift when applying the 6 circle mask and I cannot replicate as your image the Mask Overlaid Grid"

You wrote yesterday that you did see a discrepancy in snapshots in VS20 though, correct? (but not earlier versions) That would show up when you overlay the circle-masked snapshot over the original, but you're saying you didn't see anything?

I haven't tried the Split Screen Template Creator but if it just cuts off half the image then the only place you can compare the two images is down the vertical centerline. The Circles mask I made (which was just arbitrary) lets you see how the two images compare in many places across the image. I tried comparing them with no mask and one image reduced opacity but it's such a small difference you couldn't see it in that context.

I'm not sure what I could provide beyond the attachments I already uploaded yesterday in the "grid_snapshots.zip" file. You asked earlier "Nor do I understand how you created the shift in the grid but will have to work on that." - the only thing I did was take a snapshot; VideoStudio did all the hard work in distorting the image!

My workaround is working fine - it's just one added step in my process. I tried turning off the hardware acceleration and it didn't make a difference. If you think of any other settings that might be out of whack, let me know.

Thanks,
FB

[lata]

Sorry for any confusion here
My first tests used the keyboard images which did show a slight difference when taking a snapshot.
For me Smart Proxy appeared to be the culprit, with you confirming that you did not use Smart proxy

I continued testing using the grid and circle mask but without Smart Proxy was unable to replicate the problem.
However I was using the original grid and taking my own snapshot to add the mask and all worked ok

Today I have used your original and your snapshot + mask and get the same as you, identical results, a shift in the grid.
The problem I have is not been able to replicate that shift using my own snapshots.

I have tried many different settings within Video Studio and also changing my PC monitor size and setting the high DPI Settings and font sizes etc. but all to no avail. My monitor is 1680 x 1050. I cannot say if tweaking a 4K monitor resolution would affect this, I guess its something to consider.

To readjust the snapshot Customise Motion may do the job rather than having to use the image editor?

There must be something different in our setups, I cannot believe its just Video Studio, It would be good if others on the forum could try to replicate this issue.
And that’s where I am at the moment trying to create a bad snapshot?

A thought on something else to tweak --- if you have a 4K monitor that may have been adjusted to display larger fonts / panels etc.