Export artifacts

[Ax209]

Hi everyone, thanks in advance. I've got a problem I've been trying to figure out for a few days now and I've spent far too many hours trying to find the right settings or looking online but I just can't seem to find the answers.

Basically, I'm importing my own raster images (they're pixel art but this has nothing to do with resolution as it also happens with larger images) which I then would like to export. The canvas/project is the same resolution as the imported images (at 0, 0 position, no rotation, no scaling) so it's not an issue there.

The issue is with the exported images. They're full of little imperfections, "artifacts" if you like. Every few lines down, I'll find that there is a pixel that is slightly more to the right than the rest. I'll attach a link to an image to show you.

https://imgur.com/a/IJwO8ZX

Now this is more obvious when I've turned off anti-aliasing, but it's still visible with anti-aliasing still on.

I installed Pro 13.5 just to check whether it was the same there, and it is (I heard there was a new engine built for 14 so I figured it'd be worth checking).

The above image is high-res so it's less noticeable than the lower-res images I tend to work with. But regardless, with an industry-standard piece of software like this, I can only assume there is something I'm doing wrong, and there is a fix for it.

Many thanks in advance!

Dan

[slowtiger]

Which image format do you import them in? If JPG: save that same image as PNG, import and export and check.

[Ax209]

Thanks for getting back to me.

I use lossless PNG as it allows me to use a clear background (which works amazingly in Moho about from this export issue).

I have also tried with GIF. It seems to be any raster image I import.

[slowtiger]

OK, I'm at loss here. Haven't seen this one before.

[Greenlaw]

That is so weird. Like slowtiger, I have never seen this before either, and I use Moho nearly every day.

Can you share a project file that has this artifact? Just the simplest setup to only show the artifact will do.

Also, just to be sure, this render is from a final output render and not the Preview window, correct? I ask because the Preview window isn't completely accurate compared to the final render output. Sometimes this has to do with the Preview window's scale, and resetting it by clicking the button will fix this. Regardless, I've seen artifacts with the Render Preview render that are baked into the image, but I just ignore them because they don't appear in my final renders.

[slowtiger]

I wonder if this happens from other programs as well. Just a guess here, but could it be a faulty GPU?

[Ax209]

Thanks guys/gals. I'm also at a loss, but I do appreciate you both taking the time to reply.

Okay so it's good that you peeps havn't had the same issue, and sharing a project could hopefully shed light on the problem if it's my computer causing the havok.

So I've created a new project, this time I've put a pixel-perfect square in the middle, and I checked that the issue is showing (both in the preview and the final render). You can see the little pixels popping out at the side.

https://imgur.com/a/q8nHMYl

The I saved the project and put it on my Onedrive here. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsnyrzE3xnQMmplEav8 ... g?e=bTfoAV

So, if this ends up being an issue on my machine, what do you guys think the issue could be? Does Moho use the GPU in things like the rendering of raster images? Or do you think I should upset my motherboard chipset if it's CPU based?

Let's just blame Win11, right? hah.

Okay, seriously, thanks again for having a look at this for me. Not sure what else I would have done.

[slowtiger]

One more thing to check: after importing images to Moho, see if their Z value is truely 0.

[Greenlaw]

Moho doesn't use the GPU for rendering, only for display previews.

I'll take a look at the file later today.

[Greenlaw]

Hi,

I saw the image you posted on imgur of Moho's Preview window and I can see that the zoom level is set to 264%. When you reset it to 100%, does it look any better?

As mentioned earlier, Moho's Preview window is not 100% accurate and it can display artifacts when an odd zoom level is used. If the artifact appears only in the Preview window when the zoom level is not 100%, I wouldn't worry about it. This means it's just a Preview window display artifact, not a render artifact, and it should not appear when a final render is created.

If you're still uncertain, use Export Animation or Moho Exporter to output a final quality render. You only need to render one frame, not the entire sequence. If the artifact is still visible in a final quality render, then we may have a problem. Otherwise, it's all good!

Let me know how it goes. (I'll still check the file later today.)

[slowtiger]

That zip only contains the Moho file, not any image.

[Maestral]

+1
Either pack the whole folder (moho and other file/s) or use Gather media to have it all in one place / and then zip it.

Could this be just some "trace" from the sw in which the image was created?
As in pixel alignment setting, setting for selection, fill or shape creating tool, some of the export settings...

Pretty odd one...

[Ax209]

I just wanna thank everyone so far as I really appreciate all the help I can get, and I'm sorry for not getting back sooner (kids n family n stuff is exhausting).

Okay so I'm also sorry for not exporting the project properly. I've made a new folder containing the project, the file used in the project, some other, relevant images too. Also within there I've used the "gather media" function and there is that file, in there. I know it all sounds messy, but I'm trying to pack as much into it as possible so you guys have all of the necessary info you need (and so I don't waste any more time).

Here is the new folder: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsnyrzE3xnQMmplO8Pc ... g?e=zAdXhr

Just to clarify any questions again:

• X, Y and Z values are all 0. Same with rotation and scaling (well, not rotated or scaled).

• The exported files have the issue, just the same as the previews.

• The imported images are perfect. I've included those original images within the zipped folder.

• Setting the preview to 100% doesn't look any better. Unless you squint enough that you can't see the problem.

Thanks again in advance. Hopefully this will determine whether the issue is with my machine or not.

[slowtiger]

I think I've found a solution.

There's lots of tweaking points after an image is imported to Moho, I've tested them all. First, these are the ones that make no difference:
Image tab: Warp using bones
Image tab: Nearest neighbour sampling
Image tab: Higher quality rendering
Layer tab: Scale compensation
Project window: Scaling
These all give the same result with a dithered border of the square, and artifacts in the anime girl image (and it makes no difference if I turn that one 90°).

The one that makes a difference:
Project settings: Antialiasing - must be checked.

This gives a clean outline of the black square, albeit not a sharp black/white border on all sides. Which is something we have to live with, and in today's HD environment and in motion nobody will notice anyway.

[Maestral]

Perhaps this could be informative to someone...

The image above is a test with no Antialiasing where
"provided" and "with transparency" are the same (156x156 black rectangle on transparent bgd 256x256) / had to try it with my own export
"157x157 with transparency" is still 256x256 but the rectangle is 157x157
"no transparency" is just 156x156 png.

However, the thing that we all have the same artefacts, especially on the coloured image, is rather odd to me.