Text perfect on pc screen/prod monitor but not on TV at DVinfo.net

Ian Stark · June 7th, 2008, 11:04 AM

I have some lower thirds with text (Franklin Book in regular and bold, 28 point) and a title (also Franklin but in 36 point).

When I view the timeline output on the PC screen or a production monitor, and when I render (either to AVI or WMV) and view through WM Player, it looks stunningly crisp. However, when I then burn it using DVD-A and view on a TV the text comes out horribly grungy. I've never noticed this happening before and I'm disappointed that it's happening on the most important project of my career to date!

Is this a hangover of first rendering to AVI then further converting to mpeg for the DVD (if so it's the first time I have detected any problems as severe as this) or are there other things I should be looking at in order to render perfect text?

As I say, it is ONLY when I'm viewing the DVD on a TV screen that the text looks so bad.

Project settings are DV PAL widescreen, a mixture of 25p and 50i footage, about 25 stills in various formats, rendering best, 8-bit. There are no effects on the text and it is static over a 35% composite lower third (with a fade up and down). Other effects in use in places on the project are Neat Video, MB Looks 3 beta 6, Color Curves, but none are used on the text.

Any thoughts, anyone?

Many thanks,

Ian . . .

Seth Bloombaum · June 7th, 2008, 02:24 PM

An extremely handy trick is to double the resolution of your text in the now classic text generator. E.g., for PAL, change the Frame Size in the Generated Media dialog to 1440x1152 (1440x960 for NTSC) in an SD project. Same approach in an HD project - double the frame rez.

I've not worked through this stuff in ProTitler, but for the older text generator, which you may well be using on lower thirds, it's a lifesaver.

Edward Troxel · June 7th, 2008, 03:09 PM

Another thing to avoid is very fine lines. Sans Serif fonts are best. If you must use a font with fine lines, make them as large as possible so the lines won't be so thin.

Ian Stark · June 8th, 2008, 02:03 AM

Thank you both.

I had never considered changing the frame size in the generator itself (in fact, after so may years with Vegas, I didn't know you could!). Great tip.

Ian Stark · June 8th, 2008, 11:12 AM

Seth - perfect! That did it. Many thanks.

Ian . . .

June 7th, 2008, 11:04 AM	#1
Ian Stark Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,237	Text perfect on pc screen/prod monitor but not on TV I have some lower thirds with text (Franklin Book in regular and bold, 28 point) and a title (also Franklin but in 36 point). When I view the timeline output on the PC screen or a production monitor, and when I render (either to AVI or WMV) and view through WM Player, it looks stunningly crisp. However, when I then burn it using DVD-A and view on a TV the text comes out horribly grungy. I've never noticed this happening before and I'm disappointed that it's happening on the most important project of my career to date! Is this a hangover of first rendering to AVI then further converting to mpeg for the DVD (if so it's the first time I have detected any problems as severe as this) or are there other things I should be looking at in order to render perfect text? As I say, it is ONLY when I'm viewing the DVD on a TV screen that the text looks so bad. Project settings are DV PAL widescreen, a mixture of 25p and 50i footage, about 25 stills in various formats, rendering best, 8-bit. There are no effects on the text and it is static over a 35% composite lower third (with a fade up and down). Other effects in use in places on the project are Neat Video, MB Looks 3 beta 6, Color Curves, but none are used on the text. Any thoughts, anyone? Many thanks, Ian . . . __________________ www.vit-media.com www.classicmachinefilms.co.uk

June 7th, 2008, 03:09 PM	#3
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Another thing to avoid is very fine lines. Sans Serif fonts are best. If you must use a font with fine lines, make them as large as possible so the lines won't be so thin. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

June 8th, 2008, 02:03 AM	#4
Ian Stark Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,237	Thank you both. I had never considered changing the frame size in the generator itself (in fact, after so may years with Vegas, I didn't know you could!). Great tip. __________________ www.vit-media.com www.classicmachinefilms.co.uk

June 8th, 2008, 11:12 AM	#5
Ian Stark Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,237	Seth - perfect! That did it. Many thanks. Ian . . . __________________ www.vit-media.com www.classicmachinefilms.co.uk

June 7th, 2008, 02:24 PM	#2
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	An extremely handy trick is to double the resolution of your text in the now classic text generator. E.g., for PAL, change the Frame Size in the Generated Media dialog to 1440x1152 (1440x960 for NTSC) in an SD project. Same approach in an HD project - double the frame rez. I've not worked through this stuff in ProTitler, but for the older text generator, which you may well be using on lower thirds, it's a lifesaver.