Problem with artifacts/grain at DVinfo.net

Aric Mannion · April 26th, 2009, 08:06 AM

I had a shoot in very low light that I've fixed with levels in after effects. It looks good, but the levels brought up a lot of grain and artifacts. Has anyone successfully limited the amount of grain or artifacts from darker areas in after effects? The footage is HDV (now pro res) so this was to be expected.

Christopher Glavan · April 26th, 2009, 04:20 PM

My first wedding gig I had the same issue- delays made for a very ark outdoor reception, and I was forced to gain up my cam. Unfortunately, there's only so much you can do with grainy/artifacty footage. If there's any way you can go back and re-shoot definitely do it. If not, I'd maybe spend a little extra time color grading- I was able to tweak a bit in Color (mac), then go back to AE and re-adjust the levels a bit and bring the artifacts down- but it didn't make much of a difference.

HTH!

Bob Hart · April 26th, 2009, 08:28 PM

Quick and dirty assist.

If you can live with a smear or light-trail effect, try putting indentical clips on three video tracks. Make the upper two tracks about 33% opacity. Slip the upper or third track two frames late and the middle or second track one frame late. Mute out or delete the sound tracks of these two clips.

Render out or export the layered vision.

You may have to bring up contrast as layerstacking will have the effect of reducing it.

Oren Arieli · April 26th, 2009, 10:57 PM

Get yourself Neat Video's noise reduction plug-in for Adobe (PC, with Mac version released soon). Neat Video - best noise reduction for digital video
Slow to render on HDV...but results are amazing.

Christopher Glavan · April 27th, 2009, 04:37 AM

Didn't know about either of those. Always nice to learn something new from the crew here. Thank you guys!

Aric Mannion · April 27th, 2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Hart

Quick and dirty assist.

If you can live with a smear or light-trail effect, try putting indentical clips on three video tracks. Make the upper two tracks about 33% opacity. Slip the upper or third track two frames late and the middle or second track one frame late. Mute out or delete the sound tracks of these two clips.

Render out or export the layered vision.

You may have to bring up contrast as layerstacking will have the effect of reducing it.

I've been experimenting with the noise reduction effect in After Effects and it's not bad. It's trial and error with insane render time, so any tips on that would be helpful.
There are a couple of shots that I actually wanted a bit of a smear added, so I think I will try this suggestion too. I can't imagine how it would help fix grain, but I'll take a look.

Laurence Scott · May 1st, 2009, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oren Arieli

Get yourself Neat Video's noise reduction plug-in for Adobe (PC, with Mac version released soon). Neat Video - best noise reduction for digital video
Slow to render on HDV...but results are amazing.

I was going to suggest the same thing

Jonathan Massey · May 24th, 2009, 03:07 PM

Just giving my thumbs up for Neat Video. I have the mac version.... the best grain eliminator for digital video!

April 26th, 2009, 08:06 AM	#1
Aric Mannion Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 616	Problem with artifacts/grain I had a shoot in very low light that I've fixed with levels in after effects. It looks good, but the levels brought up a lot of grain and artifacts. Has anyone successfully limited the amount of grain or artifacts from darker areas in after effects? The footage is HDV (now pro res) so this was to be expected.

April 26th, 2009, 04:20 PM	#2
Christopher Glavan Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 260	My first wedding gig I had the same issue- delays made for a very ark outdoor reception, and I was forced to gain up my cam. Unfortunately, there's only so much you can do with grainy/artifacty footage. If there's any way you can go back and re-shoot definitely do it. If not, I'd maybe spend a little extra time color grading- I was able to tweak a bit in Color (mac), then go back to AE and re-adjust the levels a bit and bring the artifacts down- but it didn't make much of a difference. HTH! __________________ Reel Impressions Media - Make it more than a memory GY-HD100- 7D- PSC Promix 3- Lectro/Sennheiser- Zoom H4- MPB- CS6/CC

April 27th, 2009, 04:37 AM	#5
Christopher Glavan Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 260	Didn't know about either of those. Always nice to learn something new from the crew here. Thank you guys! __________________ Reel Impressions Media - Make it more than a memory GY-HD100- 7D- PSC Promix 3- Lectro/Sennheiser- Zoom H4- MPB- CS6/CC

April 26th, 2009, 08:28 PM	#3
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,477	Quick and dirty assist. If you can live with a smear or light-trail effect, try putting indentical clips on three video tracks. Make the upper two tracks about 33% opacity. Slip the upper or third track two frames late and the middle or second track one frame late. Mute out or delete the sound tracks of these two clips. Render out or export the layered vision. You may have to bring up contrast as layerstacking will have the effect of reducing it.

April 26th, 2009, 10:57 PM	#4
Oren Arieli Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 919	Get yourself Neat Video's noise reduction plug-in for Adobe (PC, with Mac version released soon). Neat Video - best noise reduction for digital video Slow to render on HDV...but results are amazing.

May 24th, 2009, 03:07 PM	#8
Jonathan Massey Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands Posts: 28	Just giving my thumbs up for Neat Video. I have the mac version.... the best grain eliminator for digital video!