Do You Blow It Up? at DVinfo.net

Kevin Spahr · November 12th, 2011, 09:56 AM

I was watching this Walter Murch (Boston Super Meet) video:

Walter Murch at the Boston SuperMeet - YouTube

He was talking about being able to blow up shots 240%

Now I know there is a big difference between an Arri Alexa and HDCAM EX output, but does anyone here blow up EX shots to reframe them? Even just a little?

I would guess it would have to be progressive video, but that's all I ever shoot.

Any tips for doing this and maintaining quality?

Peter Rixner · November 12th, 2011, 10:16 AM

Sure, I do that fom time to time. But more in the +20%max region.

240% seems a little too much ... or so to say a little too Murch :)

Sometimes a tasteful amount of unsharp-mask can help.

BTW: I really love that Video of Walter Murch. Very interesting info and full of great humor :)

Peter

Craig Seeman · November 12th, 2011, 10:47 AM

I have to watch that again but he might be referring to using 4K in a 1080p timeline (or actually a timeline specific to fill which is slightly different aspect ratio).

Kevin Spahr · November 12th, 2011, 11:50 AM

It was a bit vague, and 240% seems unbelievable to me, but who am I to question somebody like Walter?
4k down to 1080 - yeah, that seems a bit more possible. I thought he was talking about the Alexa and I thought that was 1080 ProRes 444...

Peter Rixner · November 12th, 2011, 02:17 PM

They used Alexa with the Codex-Raw recorder. But Still it's 1920 x 1080. I can't believe it looks ok with 240%.

He later says that they went even further as they intercut the material with historic footage that had heavy grain anyway.

Peter

Bart Walczak · November 13th, 2011, 02:17 PM

We occasionally blow up at 140% max with some sharpening added later, but it's for DVD/Broadcast, not for theatrical release, so I'm not sure it really counts, especially since final delivery on DVD is SD.

Mark OConnell · November 13th, 2011, 02:34 PM

I sometimes blow my 60fps footage up to 1080. It actually holds up pretty well. But 240% sounds crazy.

Chuck Fishbein · November 16th, 2011, 10:16 PM

The max I push it is 10-15%, unless I'm using HD to make and SD finished product in which case I have pushed as far as 80% to create a zoom-like move from a static shot.

November 12th, 2011, 09:56 AM	#1
Kevin Spahr Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carlisle, PA Posts: 451	Do You Blow It Up? I was watching this Walter Murch (Boston Super Meet) video: Walter Murch at the Boston SuperMeet - YouTube He was talking about being able to blow up shots 240% Now I know there is a big difference between an Arri Alexa and HDCAM EX output, but does anyone here blow up EX shots to reframe them? Even just a little? I would guess it would have to be progressive video, but that's all I ever shoot. Any tips for doing this and maintaining quality?

November 12th, 2011, 10:16 AM	#2
Peter Rixner Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: near Munich, Bavaria Posts: 139	Re: Do You Blow It Up? Sure, I do that fom time to time. But more in the +20%max region. 240% seems a little too much ... or so to say a little too Murch :) Sometimes a tasteful amount of unsharp-mask can help. BTW: I really love that Video of Walter Murch. Very interesting info and full of great humor :) Peter

November 12th, 2011, 10:47 AM	#3
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Re: Do You Blow It Up? I have to watch that again but he might be referring to using 4K in a 1080p timeline (or actually a timeline specific to fill which is slightly different aspect ratio).

November 12th, 2011, 11:50 AM	#4
Kevin Spahr Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carlisle, PA Posts: 451	Re: Do You Blow It Up? It was a bit vague, and 240% seems unbelievable to me, but who am I to question somebody like Walter? 4k down to 1080 - yeah, that seems a bit more possible. I thought he was talking about the Alexa and I thought that was 1080 ProRes 444...

November 12th, 2011, 02:17 PM	#5
Peter Rixner Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: near Munich, Bavaria Posts: 139	Re: Do You Blow It Up? They used Alexa with the Codex-Raw recorder. But Still it's 1920 x 1080. I can't believe it looks ok with 240%. He later says that they went even further as they intercut the material with historic footage that had heavy grain anyway. Peter

November 13th, 2011, 02:17 PM	#6
Bart Walczak Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warsaw/Poland Posts: 716	Re: Do You Blow It Up? We occasionally blow up at 140% max with some sharpening added later, but it's for DVD/Broadcast, not for theatrical release, so I'm not sure it really counts, especially since final delivery on DVD is SD. __________________ Creative Impatience - The Solace of Simple Solutions. A few useful plugins for Adobe users, and my remarks on the tools and the craft in general.

November 13th, 2011, 02:34 PM	#7
Mark OConnell Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 420	Re: Do You Blow It Up? I sometimes blow my 60fps footage up to 1080. It actually holds up pretty well. But 240% sounds crazy. __________________ http://www.markoconnell.org

November 16th, 2011, 10:16 PM	#8
Chuck Fishbein Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Weehawken New Jersey Posts: 210	Re: Do You Blow It Up? The max I push it is 10-15%, unless I'm using HD to make and SD finished product in which case I have pushed as far as 80% to create a zoom-like move from a static shot.