Hi,
Imported images / vector layers that move fast in my animation, somehow leave a trace behind. It's more of an outline really of that particular imported image/vector layer. I'm not using motion blur, but it's similar to that.
Does anyone know what they are, and how to get rid of them?
Thanks in advance.
Images leave a strange trace
Moderators: Víctor Paredes, Belgarath, slowtiger
Try exporting an image sequence (PNGs for example) instead of a video...maybe you're seeing compression artifacts from the video encoding?
I wonder if it has something to do with your Frame Per Second settings for your project vs. your export settings? I'm not sure how AS deals with frames which fall between exported frames.
An easier thought: if you do a single-frame render (Cmd-R, or Alt-R in Windows I think) on one of the problematic frames, does the problem show up? If so then I strongly suspect that some layer in your project is causing the problem, but your display settings for editing aren't showing them. Something like a Vector setting, a blur, a shadow, a layer you didn't realize was still visible...
Cheers,
Muffy.
I wonder if it has something to do with your Frame Per Second settings for your project vs. your export settings? I'm not sure how AS deals with frames which fall between exported frames.
An easier thought: if you do a single-frame render (Cmd-R, or Alt-R in Windows I think) on one of the problematic frames, does the problem show up? If so then I strongly suspect that some layer in your project is causing the problem, but your display settings for editing aren't showing them. Something like a Vector setting, a blur, a shadow, a layer you didn't realize was still visible...
Cheers,
Muffy.
If they aren't in single-frame renders or in the exported PNG files, then the only thing I can think of is that you're seeing compression artifacts from the codec. Such things should be extremely rare in a relatively simple or moderately-paced project, but if complex objects move quickly then a compressed video might show odd lines, blocks, etc.
I don't have Anime Studio in front of me, and I'm using 6.1, but since you can export PNG files I assume you've got other exporting options as well. Can you increase the quality to the highest setting? Try changing any options that are available...a higher-quality video should show fewer artifacts.
Also, maybe you need to update your version of Quicktime (if you're exporting to an MOV file) or whatever AVI codec you're using.
Finally, try to distance yourself from the output and ask "Would anybody else notice this?" Some video artifacts are impossible to remove -- rolling text is notoriously bad for this kind of thing -- and casual viewers tend not to even see the problems. If you're paying very close attention to one part of your output, maybe you're seeing something nobody else would see.
Or maybe not. You could post the output to Vimeo or YouTube, but that would probably introduce additional compression problems.
Cheers,
Muffy.
I don't have Anime Studio in front of me, and I'm using 6.1, but since you can export PNG files I assume you've got other exporting options as well. Can you increase the quality to the highest setting? Try changing any options that are available...a higher-quality video should show fewer artifacts.
Also, maybe you need to update your version of Quicktime (if you're exporting to an MOV file) or whatever AVI codec you're using.
Finally, try to distance yourself from the output and ask "Would anybody else notice this?" Some video artifacts are impossible to remove -- rolling text is notoriously bad for this kind of thing -- and casual viewers tend not to even see the problems. If you're paying very close attention to one part of your output, maybe you're seeing something nobody else would see.
Or maybe not. You could post the output to Vimeo or YouTube, but that would probably introduce additional compression problems.
Cheers,
Muffy.
I export using the Animation codec at its highest setting, so that can't be it -- just for the hell of it I changed the setting to 91, and that somehow worked. That's a kind of logic only AS can follow.
I've had so many problems with that piece of software, it's not funny: output too bright; an annoying white line to the left of the exported video when I haven't checked the "alpha channel" thingy; all codecs looking pretty atrocious except Animation; when I already have exported a movie and then want to replace it, 9 out of 10 times the exporting won't start (I have to throw the old movie in the trash first); "source image" doesn't work most of the time which means closing and restarting the app -- on and on and on. It's full of holes, and I don't expect 6.1 to be much better. No chance I'll find out though, as I think it's seriously over-priced.
I've had so many problems with that piece of software, it's not funny: output too bright; an annoying white line to the left of the exported video when I haven't checked the "alpha channel" thingy; all codecs looking pretty atrocious except Animation; when I already have exported a movie and then want to replace it, 9 out of 10 times the exporting won't start (I have to throw the old movie in the trash first); "source image" doesn't work most of the time which means closing and restarting the app -- on and on and on. It's full of holes, and I don't expect 6.1 to be much better. No chance I'll find out though, as I think it's seriously over-priced.
One of the rules of thumb is to try and keep the quality as high as you can, which usually means avoiding compression until the final moment when you have to output from the editor.
If you can import the png stream directly into the editor, you may find you have a better looking result at the end of the day.
I think we all have moments when we want to throw ASP into the bin - backward compatibility is frustrating. Other days its does something cool and we sing its praises. I have the same relationship with Blender, it can be a right pig on occasions. But then it works, wow. I have a swear box and chuck 50c into it every time it provokes a new level of profanity. The nice part is I can afford to go eat out every now and then in style -does the stress levels no end of good.
This forum is one of the best resources ASP has, the combined man-hours of testing the program to destruction is unparalleled. And the exchange of information is free and usually quick.
Hang in there and don't hesitate to ask questions.
Rhoel
If you can import the png stream directly into the editor, you may find you have a better looking result at the end of the day.
I think we all have moments when we want to throw ASP into the bin - backward compatibility is frustrating. Other days its does something cool and we sing its praises. I have the same relationship with Blender, it can be a right pig on occasions. But then it works, wow. I have a swear box and chuck 50c into it every time it provokes a new level of profanity. The nice part is I can afford to go eat out every now and then in style -does the stress levels no end of good.
This forum is one of the best resources ASP has, the combined man-hours of testing the program to destruction is unparalleled. And the exchange of information is free and usually quick.
Hang in there and don't hesitate to ask questions.
Rhoel
Contrary to Debo's experience, I find AS very reliable. But I spent some time to optimize my workflow - otherwise it wouldn't be posssible to do 5 min of animation within a month, or finish a complete 5 min movie within 3 weeks as I do just now.
- Export format: The only ones I use from AS are Quicktime with PNG codec, with or without alpha, and PNG images. Sometimes I do a fast render in half size with MPEG4, but that's just to check timings.
- Import formats: again, only PNG images or Quicktime movies with PNG codec.
- Alpha: earlier I complained a bit about having a thin white line around my visible areas. In the meantime I found this could be helped by checking "do not pre-multiply" when exporting from TVPaint, but in Photoshop there isn't such an option. In PS I cut out all elements with a 1px blurred line, which works nicely in AS.
- Versions: I still build all stuff in v5.6 since I'm so used to it. Right now I use 6.1 to render (it seems to be faster, but I haven't checked), so I can work on a different scene in 5.6 at the same time. Luxury! 6.2 is already waiting to be installed, but I'll finish this movie first (never change versions within a project!).
- Crashes in v5.6: I have them about twice a day now, but it's no big deal since I save every 30 sec. It seems AS chokes on too much interface input, like when I drag an element over 100 frames along the timeline. The files are unaffected from the crashes.
I work on a 7 yr old PPC Mac with OS 10.4.11. A very reliable machine, it doesn't even choke when I have AS, TVP, PS, Final Cut, Audacity and Safari open at the same time ... I only have to take care not to have more than two programs render at the same time.
- Export format: The only ones I use from AS are Quicktime with PNG codec, with or without alpha, and PNG images. Sometimes I do a fast render in half size with MPEG4, but that's just to check timings.
- Import formats: again, only PNG images or Quicktime movies with PNG codec.
- Alpha: earlier I complained a bit about having a thin white line around my visible areas. In the meantime I found this could be helped by checking "do not pre-multiply" when exporting from TVPaint, but in Photoshop there isn't such an option. In PS I cut out all elements with a 1px blurred line, which works nicely in AS.
- Versions: I still build all stuff in v5.6 since I'm so used to it. Right now I use 6.1 to render (it seems to be faster, but I haven't checked), so I can work on a different scene in 5.6 at the same time. Luxury! 6.2 is already waiting to be installed, but I'll finish this movie first (never change versions within a project!).
- Crashes in v5.6: I have them about twice a day now, but it's no big deal since I save every 30 sec. It seems AS chokes on too much interface input, like when I drag an element over 100 frames along the timeline. The files are unaffected from the crashes.
I work on a 7 yr old PPC Mac with OS 10.4.11. A very reliable machine, it doesn't even choke when I have AS, TVP, PS, Final Cut, Audacity and Safari open at the same time ... I only have to take care not to have more than two programs render at the same time.
