Exporting Video from After Effects CS3 quality issues
by CaMareo Waller
on
Feb 20, 2008 at 6:13:59 pm
Hey all,
I've imported a video from FCP 4.5 into AE CS3 for color grading and effects work. However, every time I try to export the video, the video quality declines sharply. Which conversion/export options and codecs should I use to maximize quality of my video?
As a bit of specific information relevant to my issue, I've included my post in the FCP forum, describing what I used to film and the options I used to export the video initially from FCP.
I'm trying to export a video from Final Cut Pro 4.5 to After Effects CS3. I was wondering which settings should I use to maximize the quality of my video.
For starters, I shot the video using the Canon XH-A1, 30 FPS SD, Widescreen (I placed a 2:35:1 matte on it in FCP).
Should I export using Quicktime Conversion or just as a Quicktime movie? Also, it says the video resolution is 853x480 or something of the sort, as opposed to the 720x480 standard.
I've exported the video once using quicktime conversion, h.264 codec, best quality. I've tinkered with a bunch of size options, but I don't know the best to use. The video quality using these options has a fairly noticeable drop from how it appears in FCP and the original footage.
Re: Exporting Video from After Effects CS3 quality issues by Dave LaRonde on Feb 20, 2008 at 8:27:22 pm
[CaMareo Waller]"For starters, I shot the video using the Canon XH-A1, 30 FPS SD, Widescreen (I placed a 2:35:1 matte on it in FCP)."
The camera you used in an HDV camera. I presume you have the option to record in DV, and you shot DV.
"Should I export using Quicktime Conversion or just as a Quicktime movie? "
Just as a quicktime movie. With no effects. By reference (i.e. NOT self-contained). And lose the 2.35:1 matte -- it'll be better to add it in AE.
"...it says the video resolution is 853x480 or something of the sort, as opposed to the 720x480 standard." Don't trust the quicktime player for accurate information. It's like trusting George Bush's "mission accomplished" statement.
"I've exported the video once using quicktime conversion, h.264 codec, best quality. I've tinkered with a bunch of size options, but I don't know the best to use. The video quality using these options has a fairly noticeable drop from how it appears in FCP and the original footage."
H.264, along with mp4 and mpeg2, are just about the WORST codec choices you could make. But if you export by reference from FCP, you sidestep the issue: it comes into AE as it was shot -- non-recompressed DV.
If you shot DV widescreen, you need to use AE's DV Widescreen comp preset. Just drag the footage onto the Make Comp icon at the bottom of the project window and life will be good.
As you work in AE, you'll want to know about the Pixel Aspect Ratio Compensation switch at the bottom of the comp window. Know that even though things look ugly and aliased in AE when it's turned on, it will render nice and smooth as it looks when the switch is off.
Then know that AE now has color management capabilities. You'll want to use the one that best fits your situation.
But all this begs the question. How are you going to DELIVER your final product? And DON'T say a film-out! If you do, you'll have some very complicated hoops you'll have to jump through.
Re: Exporting Video from After Effects CS3 quality issues by CaMareo Waller on Feb 25, 2008 at 3:57:19 am
Yes, I shot in Standard Definition DV.
Could you or anyone list some good codecs that comes with FCP and AE to use, or ones I can download?
Also, it may be a slightly dumb question, but how would I go about exporting by reference from FCP?
For the final product, I was just planning on having it as a self contained video file so I can keep it in my external hd for archival purposes, as well as to burn it on dvd's.
Re: Exporting Video from After Effects CS3 quality issues by CaMareo Waller on Feb 26, 2008 at 1:56:36 pm
So I tried something different. I Imported my FCP video into Premiere Pro CS3 and exported it from Premiere as a quicktime video. The quality of the image was preserved in that it's identical to my FCP video. I took the Premiere video and then placed that into After Effects CS3.
The video image has been preserved a bit better, BUT my video now has something of a vectorized look to it. It looks like this in the AE timeline as well as when I export it to video. I used the Photo-JPEG codec when exporting from Premiere to AE and from AE to my desktop.
