How Do I Retain Detail? What Settings?

[SilentTweak]

www.tweakanime.net/zackme.png ~ 3800 bitrate
www.tweakanime.net/zackbd.png ~ Original
www.tweakanime.net/zackthora.png ~ 5800 bitrate

My own, BDISO, and another one downloaded.

If you compare the 3, Thora looks a lot closer to the original than mine. I wanted to know if it's simply because of the bitrate difference, or should I be using less deblock. Current deblock setting in my x264 profile is -1:-1, would -2:-2 help? Or should I raise the bitrate higher or both? Or is it good enough and should just keep it instead of re-encoding again?

Also, another question. If I decide to use CRF for say my BD movies I want to digitalize, what CRF should I use for 1080 encode and 720 encode? Like, I heard Scene people use a certain CRF to determine what bitrate to use for a movie (I only heard this, not sure if it's true though).

[jzietman]

I honestly can't see any significant difference without squinting and being one inch from the screen. Where are the major problem areas in the image from your own encode?

[SilentTweak]

Under the ear, and the eye lashes, and the shoulder thingy, and lastly his lips. You'll notice it's smoothed out.

[poisondeathray]

I'm sure the 50% more bitrate helps.


Or is it good enough and should just keep it instead of re-encoding again?


If it's "good enough" for you then that's all that matters

[jzietman]

To reencode is up to you. To my mind, the differences are so small as to be negligible, especially when the image is in motion (i.e. you're actually watching it). But if you can see it when watching the movie, then maybe that's a difference worth reencoding for.

[Chengbin]

Post your x264 settings.

Truthfully, I couldn't see a difference until you pointed them out. It is very good, and you will NEVER, EVER, see that difference when you're watching the movie.

[SilentTweak]

program --pass 2 --bitrate 3800 --stats ".stats" --level 4.1 --ref 8 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --bframes 3 --b-adapt 2 --b-pyramid --weightb --direct auto --deblock -1:-1 --subme 9 --trellis 2 --psy-rd 0.6:0 --partitions p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct --me umh --merange 32 --threads auto --thread-input --progress --no-dct-decimate --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "output" "input"

[Chengbin]

No AQ?

[Dark Shikari]

No AQ?Looks like AQ is on to me. What are you talking about?

[Chengbin]

Looks like AQ is on to me. What are you talking about?

Really? I don't see AQ anywhere in that setting.

[nurbs]

Which means that the default AQ strength of 1.0 is used.

[Forteen88]

I'm sure the 50% more bitrate helps.

If it's "good enough" for you then that's all that mattersI agree, but maybe a slightly lower AQ-strength also (0.8), default psy_rd and deblock -2:-2 (on HD-resolution I use: deblock -3:-3).
If you bitrate-starve, then --no-dct-decimate isn't that good.

[Guest]

My own, BDISO, and another one downloaded. It's a rule 6 violation to discuss downloaded materials. Please don't do it again or strikes can follow. Thank you.