Imported Photoshop gradients look chunky at DVinfo.net

Matthew Johnston · September 11th, 2007, 06:12 PM

I am importing gradients from photoshop and overlaying them on my footage in FCE. I am obviously doing something wrong. Instead of the smooth gradient I see in photoshop, I get stair steppy blocky gradients in FCE. See attached png for a screenshot.

What am I doing wrong here? I create the grad in PS using the HD/HDTV 720p present, and save as working profile SRGB. Import into FCE, set overlay to "darken"..

Emre Safak · September 11th, 2007, 06:14 PM

What file format and settings did you use to save the file?

Edward Carlson · September 11th, 2007, 07:08 PM

Try zooming in all the way in the viewer. I noticed that you are only at 50%. Sometimes things look different if you are zoomed out.

Matthew Johnston · September 11th, 2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emre Safak

What file format and settings did you use to save the file?

Photoshop .PSD maximize compatibility turned on

Jim Fields · September 12th, 2007, 01:17 AM

Tiff w/transparencies turned on works for me a little better than PSD files.
You could also try a little blurring on the gradient before you export from PS.

Cannon Pearson · September 16th, 2007, 07:27 AM

Blurring the gradient will make it worse. Try adding a little bit of noise to the gradient in Photoshop. I would start with something like 3-5% uniform noise.

Daniel Ross · September 16th, 2007, 09:19 AM

I doubt much of that will help. Noise would just... add noise.

First, see what it looks like at full resolution. Downsizing like that, on the fly, won't really be accurate, and could easily make something look blocky.

Second, it *might* be your color mode in FCP. See if you can increase color depth.

I've seen that frequently, though, with gradients, even within PS. There just aren't enough colors to display definition between the parts. You may be stuck with that, or it might just be how your monitor is displaying it. What mode are you running on that? Then again, doesn't seem to be an issue in PS, so probably not. However, you might want to try an export (to tape/dvd) and see what happens.

Increasing the bitrate would be a good idea, too, if possible.

Matthew Johnston · September 16th, 2007, 12:36 PM

Still happens at 100%

It does not happen if I generate the gradient in Final Cut, only when I use an imported photo. So I must be doing something wrong in photoshop. Hmm.

Robert Lane · September 16th, 2007, 01:42 PM

Matt,

FCE works best with either JPEG or PNG files. Don't use any preset from PS, simply create your image - layered or not - and output a standard JPEG file with a maximum horizontal res of 1200 pixels. If that doesn't work there's something else amiss.

September 11th, 2007, 06:12 PM	#1
Matthew Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: grand rapids michigan usa Posts: 54	Imported Photoshop gradients look chunky I am importing gradients from photoshop and overlaying them on my footage in FCE. I am obviously doing something wrong. Instead of the smooth gradient I see in photoshop, I get stair steppy blocky gradients in FCE. See attached png for a screenshot. What am I doing wrong here? I create the grad in PS using the HD/HDTV 720p present, and save as working profile SRGB. Import into FCE, set overlay to "darken".. Attached Thumbnails __________________ www.mattjohnstonrally.com

September 16th, 2007, 12:36 PM	#8
Matthew Johnston Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: grand rapids michigan usa Posts: 54	Still happens at 100% It does not happen if I generate the gradient in Final Cut, only when I use an imported photo. So I must be doing something wrong in photoshop. Hmm. __________________ www.mattjohnstonrally.com

September 11th, 2007, 06:14 PM	#2
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	What file format and settings did you use to save the file?

September 11th, 2007, 07:08 PM	#3
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	Try zooming in all the way in the viewer. I noticed that you are only at 50%. Sometimes things look different if you are zoomed out.

September 12th, 2007, 01:17 AM	#5
Jim Fields Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Worth Texas Posts: 247	Tiff w/transparencies turned on works for me a little better than PSD files. You could also try a little blurring on the gradient before you export from PS.

September 16th, 2007, 07:27 AM	#6
Cannon Pearson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 123	Blurring the gradient will make it worse. Try adding a little bit of noise to the gradient in Photoshop. I would start with something like 3-5% uniform noise.

September 16th, 2007, 09:19 AM	#7
Daniel Ross Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Marin & Davis, CA, USA Posts: 418	I doubt much of that will help. Noise would just... add noise. First, see what it looks like at full resolution. Downsizing like that, on the fly, won't really be accurate, and could easily make something look blocky. Second, it might be your color mode in FCP. See if you can increase color depth. I've seen that frequently, though, with gradients, even within PS. There just aren't enough colors to display definition between the parts. You may be stuck with that, or it might just be how your monitor is displaying it. What mode are you running on that? Then again, doesn't seem to be an issue in PS, so probably not. However, you might want to try an export (to tape/dvd) and see what happens. Increasing the bitrate would be a good idea, too, if possible.

September 16th, 2007, 01:42 PM	#9
Robert Lane Go Go Godzilla Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA Posts: 2,825 Images: 15	Matt, FCE works best with either JPEG or PNG files. Don't use any preset from PS, simply create your image - layered or not - and output a standard JPEG file with a maximum horizontal res of 1200 pixels. If that doesn't work there's something else amiss.