I had never used the letterbox mode until yesterday...and what I found is the footage (shoot in 24P Normal with Med line resolution) exhibits a lot of vibrating artifacts, especially along the line that the camera inserts for the black letterbox. The letterbox itself (the black bars) really, really vibrate and "flicker" along their edge, especially if the picture is showing something bright (like a sky) against the edge of the black letterboxing. Makes me think I should only ever use letterbox as a post effect (my Avid allows me to add the black bars as an effect).
artifacts in letterbox mode
- Thread starter sean90291
- Start date
Well, you're right that letterbox mode is pretty much useless, because it makes so much more sense to add the bars in post . . . but it shouldn't behave like that.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Actually it should. What you're seeing is the effect of interlaced display. Try viewing your footage on a progressive-scan monitor and you won't see any of that "vibrating" whatsoever.
It's especially noticeable on the sky because you're seeing the highest contrast there -- bright white against dark black. Interlace hates that, and that's why it's flickering/jittering/vibrating.
It's especially noticeable on the sky because you're seeing the highest contrast there -- bright white against dark black. Interlace hates that, and that's why it's flickering/jittering/vibrating.
Thanks. And so, can anybody suggest what the best route would be to reduce such flickering, given that most will view my footage on a regular NTSC TV ((until everyone has a plasma screen TV)? Would shooting 24P Advanced and burning true 24P progressive DVDs play better even on a regular NTSC TV? (I have not had any luck making a true 24P DVD yet...much more involved than anyone makes it sound...though I've shot 24PAdvanced and edited on 24P timelines).
Barry_Green
Moderator
If you're using Vegas, making a 24P DVD is extremely simple. Can't speak for other programs, but in Vegas it's practically done for you.
As far as minimizing the flicker, the best you can do is try to add a gray line (or maybe a couple of gray lines) at the transition point from black to white. Ideally not true gray, they should be something like black 50% overlaid.
As far as minimizing the flicker, the best you can do is try to add a gray line (or maybe a couple of gray lines) at the transition point from black to white. Ideally not true gray, they should be something like black 50% overlaid.