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XilburQost
Inspiring
December 15, 2025
Answered

Strange color artifacts in rendered video

  • December 15, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 373 views

I'm seeing strange color artifacts and blurriness in a CGI video exported by Premiere Pro 25.6.3 under Windows 11, export format H264 (see short video clip below). The scene features a gradual lighting change that goesfrom green to red while the camera is in motion. However, when rendered the video's colors appear blotchy and steppy with intermittent blurriness overall.

 

I've examined the individual CGI frames and they show no such artifacts, as well as when previewing the video in Premiere. Any suggestions? Thanks.

https://vimeo.com/1146661155/708d6171e8?fl=pl&fe=cm 

Correct answer Averdahl

Yes, that looks great! 🙂

 

quote

I think I've resolved the issue by exporting the video as HEVC (H.265) instead of H.264.


By @XilburQost

3 replies

R Neil Haugen
Legend
December 15, 2025

Watching that, I was seeing some macro-blocking going on especially in some of the 'general' shadow areas, those place with a smooth surface. That's due to the way long-GOP compression works.

 

It looks at blocks of pixels, something like four, six, nine, whatever ... and if they are all pretty close ... say something like 25/29/42, 25/27/43, 23/29/44 ... it will probably 'simplify' data keeping by making them all just 25/29/42.

 

So slight gradients get lost, and you get adjacent pixel blocks of slightly different tone.

 

Which is where Averdahl's suggestions save your bacon ... and your pixels!

Everyone's mileage always varies ...
XilburQost
Inspiring
December 15, 2025

I think I've resolved the issue by exporting the video as HEVC (H.265) instead of H.264.
https://vimeo.com/1146681233?fl=pl&fe=cm

Averdahl
Community Expert
AverdahlCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 15, 2025

Yes, that looks great! 🙂

 

quote

I think I've resolved the issue by exporting the video as HEVC (H.265) instead of H.264.


By @XilburQost
Averdahl
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 15, 2025

You don´t provide the setting you use, but i say use a higher bit rate, for Bitrate Encoding use CBR, under Advanced Settings check the box and change the value from the default 72 to match the frame rate you export to. If you export to 30 fps, set this value to 30.

 

How does it look if you export the same scene to Apple ProRes LT?

XilburQost
Inspiring
December 15, 2025

@Averdahl Thank you for the suggestion. I've got plenty to learn when it comes to bit rates, etc. I'm heartened that switching to H.265 made a dramatic improvement.