How do you handle footage shot with a somewhat smudgy or dirty lens? at DVinfo.net

James A. Davis · May 18th, 2005, 09:14 PM

When I played the footage on the TV, You really have to look hard to see it. On the PC however you can see them better (though I don't want to see it). Is it because of the TV being a bit darker in brightness. If so do i darken the footage. Any suggestions. I need this footage and it would be hard to reshoot.

J. Stephen McDonald · May 21st, 2005, 08:27 PM

I would re-record over it and salvage the tape. Unless it was footage of Bigfoot or a Tasmanian Wolf, barely viewable video wouldn't have much use to me. You could always re-stage the action with actors, greenscreen and multi-layered editing.

Laurence Kingston · May 22nd, 2005, 12:28 AM

I've got some footage that had a lot of camera shake and dirt on the lens (my wife's uncle shot it). I applied Deshaker in VirtualDub and now the image is wonderfully stable, but the dirt spots shake around madly! I tried getting rid of it by dubbing another part of the screen into that area. It worked on a couple of clips where the dirt was in an area of the sky that was empty, but on most of the clips I was stuck with the dirt spots.

If it's an area of empty sky or ground, you might try copying a similar area of the screen into that spot. If there is anything moving across that area though you'll be stuck with it. Live with it and be more careful in the future.

James A. Davis · May 23rd, 2005, 10:43 PM

I heard you can photo shop the images frame by frame. It's not for all of the footage but for some.

May 18th, 2005, 09:14 PM	#1
James A. Davis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 90	How do you handle footage shot with a somewhat smudgy or dirty lens? When I played the footage on the TV, You really have to look hard to see it. On the PC however you can see them better (though I don't want to see it). Is it because of the TV being a bit darker in brightness. If so do i darken the footage. Any suggestions. I need this footage and it would be hard to reshoot.

May 21st, 2005, 08:27 PM	#2
J. Stephen McDonald Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 909	How I Handle Footage Shot With a Dirty Lens I would re-record over it and salvage the tape. Unless it was footage of Bigfoot or a Tasmanian Wolf, barely viewable video wouldn't have much use to me. You could always re-stage the action with actors, greenscreen and multi-layered editing. __________________ Steve McDonald https://onedrive.com/?cid=229807ce52dd4fe0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos

May 23rd, 2005, 10:43 PM	#4
James A. Davis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 90	Photoshopping I heard you can photo shop the images frame by frame. It's not for all of the footage but for some.

May 22nd, 2005, 12:28 AM	#3
Laurence Kingston Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Clermont, FL. Posts: 941	I've got some footage that had a lot of camera shake and dirt on the lens (my wife's uncle shot it). I applied Deshaker in VirtualDub and now the image is wonderfully stable, but the dirt spots shake around madly! I tried getting rid of it by dubbing another part of the screen into that area. It worked on a couple of clips where the dirt was in an area of the sky that was empty, but on most of the clips I was stuck with the dirt spots. If it's an area of empty sky or ground, you might try copying a similar area of the screen into that spot. If there is anything moving across that area though you'll be stuck with it. Live with it and be more careful in the future.