Re: Stabilization Software

From: Roger Beebe (email suppressed)
Date: Thu Jun 25 2009 - 11:28:34 PDT


Ken,

I don't know if this will be any help, but the NY Times had an article
on Sunday, I think, about some new cheap PC software that is a $50
version of the high-end program that costs $7000 or something. It's
apparently based on the same algorithms as that fancy crime-lab
software that allows them to clean up fuzzy footage to read license
plates. It seems like this could work for stabilization too
potentially, although I'm not 100%. It's unfortunately PC only (so
those of us in the Mac world are left out), but it might be worth a
look. Here's a link to the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/business/21novel.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Good luck,
Roger

On Jun 25, 2009, at 11:09 AM, Ken Paul Rosenthal wrote:

> I extensively tested super 8 HD transfer facilities all last summer
> and finally found a place I was quite pleased with. However, one
> year later--on the cusp of transferring 2400 feet--their super 8
> gate broke and I was compelled to search anew. I suppose providence
> interceded, as my latest test is superior to my former favorite.
>
> My only concern is that the entire image shifts--minimally--up and
> down. So I'd like to investigate the use of stabilization software.
> I imagine that the tiny portion of the frame that stabilization
> software 'grabs' to account for this slight vertical shifting will
> not be an issue, as super 8 transfers traditionally take a tiny bit
> off the top and bottom anyway. Here are my specific questions/
> concerns:
>
> 1) What is the very best software I can use?
>
> 2) Does stabilization software affect sharpness?
>
> 3) Should I apply it to uncompressed files, or will Apple Pro Res
> 422 (HQ) be sufficient? Is the latter a 'lossless' compression
> scheme, or might some of the pixels have different values than the
> original ones did? It's been suggested to me that mistakes caused by
> a codec may be perceived as a loss in sharpness, though more likely
> perceived as a increased noise (not that different from 'grain'
> except potentially more distracting because it is being evenly
> distributed evenly over the frame).
>
> 4) If applying stabilization software to uncompressed files is the
> way to go, is it simple enough to make my compressed files from the
> former (for editing) via Final Cut?
>
> *Please note: I am aware that some overall image movement partially
> contributes to a 'film look'. But to what extent may be subjective.
> In this case, I feel it is distracting and hope to remedy it without
> affecting the image adversely.
>
> Advice?
>
> Thanks, Ken
>
>
> Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.
> __________________________________________________________________
> For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.

__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.