Will SD stock footage look bad in an HD video? at DVinfo.net

Paul Cascio · November 19th, 2007, 12:58 PM

I'm thinking of buying Digital Juice's stock video set, but it's only SD. If I use it in an HD production, won't it look terrible, even if it's not shown full screen? Is there any way to make it look like HD?

Benjamin Hill · November 19th, 2007, 01:27 PM

It won't look terrible if you are delivering or viewing the project in standard definition, but there will obviously be a clear loss of resolution if you try to scale 720x480 up to an HD timeline, whether it's 720 or 1080.

Otherwise I'm not sure what you mean by making SD "look like HD". If it's not full-screen but rather picture-in-picture, kept close to it's original size, that is one way you can avoid the pixelated look. It doesn't have to look terrible if you are careful in how you use it.

Matt Vanecek · November 19th, 2007, 01:42 PM

There are upconverters, too, that work reasonably well. Cineform's HDLink will upconvert to HD, and to me it looks good. Of course, I don't sit there with a magnifying glass going over each frame. But in playback, it looks fine to me.

Thanks,
Matt

November 19th, 2007, 12:58 PM	#1
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	Will SD stock footage look bad in an HD video? I'm thinking of buying Digital Juice's stock video set, but it's only SD. If I use it in an HD production, won't it look terrible, even if it's not shown full screen? Is there any way to make it look like HD? __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

November 19th, 2007, 01:27 PM	#2
Benjamin Hill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 670	It won't look terrible if you are delivering or viewing the project in standard definition, but there will obviously be a clear loss of resolution if you try to scale 720x480 up to an HD timeline, whether it's 720 or 1080. Otherwise I'm not sure what you mean by making SD "look like HD". If it's not full-screen but rather picture-in-picture, kept close to it's original size, that is one way you can avoid the pixelated look. It doesn't have to look terrible if you are careful in how you use it. __________________ youtube.com/benhillmedia linkedin.com/in/benhillmedia

November 19th, 2007, 01:42 PM	#3
Matt Vanecek Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 334	There are upconverters, too, that work reasonably well. Cineform's HDLink will upconvert to HD, and to me it looks good. Of course, I don't sit there with a magnifying glass going over each frame. But in playback, it looks fine to me. Thanks, Matt