Isochroma
15th July 2005, 03:28
Since anime contains many duplicate frames, and the dup() filter is only so accurate (it tends not to remove all the duplicates at reasonable settings), and also since the dup() filter has no was to tell which frame is psychovisually better than another...
I decided some time ago to take anime source video (only Telecide() to replace the odd hard-interlaced frame), and using Vegas 6.0, split the entire movie/episode into individual frames.
Then, I manually edited frames by checking their neighbors for differences. It was easier than I thought to find frame groups (frames which differ only in quantization noise). What I found to be harder (and more time consuming) was choosing the best frame to replace the inferior ones.
Nevertheless, I proceeded to edit my first (upcoming) release: Perfect Blue. Currently, I am at frame 50,322 of just over 116,000. My record had been 6526 frames replaced in a single day of continuous work; however, a typical day sees about 4000 frames of average difficulty completed.
The results have been visually stunning: both the complete elimination of all noise, and the quality increase due to replacement of inferior frames with superior ones are immediately apparent upon inspection of the final product at full framerate.
What's more: a 48% decrease in filesize with precisely the same encoding parameters. Delta compressors output virtually no data when they parse identical frames.
By avoiding smoothing and denoising filters, I have been able to retain the original detail without in any way modifying the contents of each frame.
By combining this source technique with the MP4 format (currently created with x264), I have already achieved results that far surpass my expectations; even exceeding the quality of other releases of the same videostream size.
The combination of factors allowing for such an efficient packing of the videostream mean that there will be plenty of room in each file for the original audio stream(s), usually AC3.
Completion time for the first publicly-released video is estimated at 4-6 more days. The name is Noir, and the episode is 1.
My goal is to reach 10,000 frames edited per day, while maintaining reference quality (ie. no more than one judgement error per 300-500 output frames).
I will be establishing a website shortly to explain my techniques in still and motion graphics in an easy-to-understand way. It is my hope that others will also adopt these techniques, though they are extremely labor intensive.
Finally, it should be noted that in order to inspect frames with acceptable accuracy, the workstation's display size should be at least 21". Considering the time required, it is also very prudent to optimize the ergonomics of the system in use (refresh rate, resolution [preferably 1600x1200 or above]), as sitting in even a good position for 8-hour stretches is hard on the body.
I decided some time ago to take anime source video (only Telecide() to replace the odd hard-interlaced frame), and using Vegas 6.0, split the entire movie/episode into individual frames.
Then, I manually edited frames by checking their neighbors for differences. It was easier than I thought to find frame groups (frames which differ only in quantization noise). What I found to be harder (and more time consuming) was choosing the best frame to replace the inferior ones.
Nevertheless, I proceeded to edit my first (upcoming) release: Perfect Blue. Currently, I am at frame 50,322 of just over 116,000. My record had been 6526 frames replaced in a single day of continuous work; however, a typical day sees about 4000 frames of average difficulty completed.
The results have been visually stunning: both the complete elimination of all noise, and the quality increase due to replacement of inferior frames with superior ones are immediately apparent upon inspection of the final product at full framerate.
What's more: a 48% decrease in filesize with precisely the same encoding parameters. Delta compressors output virtually no data when they parse identical frames.
By avoiding smoothing and denoising filters, I have been able to retain the original detail without in any way modifying the contents of each frame.
By combining this source technique with the MP4 format (currently created with x264), I have already achieved results that far surpass my expectations; even exceeding the quality of other releases of the same videostream size.
The combination of factors allowing for such an efficient packing of the videostream mean that there will be plenty of room in each file for the original audio stream(s), usually AC3.
Completion time for the first publicly-released video is estimated at 4-6 more days. The name is Noir, and the episode is 1.
My goal is to reach 10,000 frames edited per day, while maintaining reference quality (ie. no more than one judgement error per 300-500 output frames).
I will be establishing a website shortly to explain my techniques in still and motion graphics in an easy-to-understand way. It is my hope that others will also adopt these techniques, though they are extremely labor intensive.
Finally, it should be noted that in order to inspect frames with acceptable accuracy, the workstation's display size should be at least 21". Considering the time required, it is also very prudent to optimize the ergonomics of the system in use (refresh rate, resolution [preferably 1600x1200 or above]), as sitting in even a good position for 8-hour stretches is hard on the body.