Something I found Interesting about THICK vs THIN

mrbimmer

Well-known member
THIN : Details are rendered in thin relief.
THICK : Details are rendered in thick relief.

"V-DETAIL sets details in the vertical direction during shooting in progressive mode. With the THIN setting, normal interlaced TV reproduction generates horizontal and near-horizontal lines. The THIN setting reduces this effect when the image is reproduced in a progressive monitor, while the THICK setting creates a high-resolution image."

An excerpt from the Australian digital book "The Full Power of the Panasonic AG-DVX100" Page 17
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

So we want THICK?

Barry? Help me! Youre my only hope!
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Thick if meant for NTSC.

Thin if meant for film or a progressive viewing.

("No . . . there is another.")
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

:D

Progressive viewing as in.......... ?
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

A digital TV, for example.
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

In progressive mode, of course.
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Sigh.....

I just wanna direct man! :'(
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

The description in that book seems pretty bad--or at least unclear.  In Thin mode, the DVX records in the highest vertical resolution available.  The Thick mode slightly reduces the vertical resolution.  Why would you want to reduce the vertical resolution?  Imagine a very thin horizontal line one pixel wide.  In Thin mode you could resolve a line so thin that it would only be displayed in one 60i interlaced field of a a 60i frame.  So the line would appear and diappear every other 60i field because of interlacing.  This makes for a stairstep or jaggie effect on very thin lines that aren't horizontal and a strobey effect for horizontal lines.  By using the Thick mode, you can no longer resolve a line so thin as to oscillate with alternating 60i fields.  

If you're shooting letterboxed and plan to go for anamorphic output, you should shoot thin because you'll be stretching and interpolating the footage anyway.

I usually shoot thin unless theres a real obvious problem with artifacting.  If I need to I can always add a touch of vertical blur in Vegas.
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

So how does THICK produce a "high-resolution image" vs what THIN creates...? I am still somewhat confused....
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Throw that book away :P. Thin mode creates a higher resolution image than Thick mode.
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

The thing is the book was written by Panasonic.....why wouldn't the product producer be right?
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Frankly, from the quote you posted it's hard to figure what the hell the writer is saying, but you can easily confirm what I've written by trying it yourself :-). Go out and shoot some footage of fine-lined detail in both modes. Play the tape back on your set--you'll see the difference.
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Are you suggesting Panasonic has secret info on the DVX that they impart only to Aussies? :)
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

I really wish you hadn't written that, Terry. Now, we're going to have to terminate your options. Awwwright mates, get 'im!
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

ARG mateys, only one way to see! :o
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Ok I have been doing some testing it does seem that Thick at least to me is sharper and better at displaying an image...it does seem high res..I have the 100a...
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Thin seems a bit on the softer side..
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Well, if you're shooting something that you know is only ever going to be on an NTSC screen, especially if there are a lot of diagonals in the picture (like ceiling lines, etc.), it seems to me you could save yourself a lot of headaches in post if you just shoot thick. Surely, if you're thinking of anamorphic, then shoot thin, but that's not an issue for an NTSC screen, which can't show anamorphic. The screen resolution isn't so much that the slight advantage of thin will be all that apparent. That really only becomes a factor in filmout or progressive displays, IMHO.
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Nutty!  Maybe because you're in the Northern hemisphere?  Thin is noticeably sharper in my time-space continuum.  Also, the U.S. Panasonic DVX100 manual states:

"Thin: The detail is made finer."

"Thick: The detail is made coarser."

"Thin..will enable higher resolution...than Thick"

By all means use the settings that work for you and your workflow regardless of other's preferences.
 
Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Re: Something I found Interesting about THICK vs T

Still we have to acknowledge PANI"s wonderful manuals and text on the subject :p
 
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