Unable to render interlaced footage in AE without artifacts

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
March 27, 2019
1 reply
4724 views

I've been having issues problems with exporting interlaced footage - even with no effects or adjustments applied - through After Effects.

I'm working with 720x480 DV AVI files (I know, small, but that's the source and I need to be able to work with them).

They seem to render fine through Media Encoder, but I need to be able to use the Render Queue. (Render Queue is able to handle slight upscaling without quality loss whereas Media Encoder seems unable to do so.) However, when I do export these files through the Render Queue, I get aliasing/jagged lines in the image that appears to be an issue with how it is handling interlacing.

I've made sure the field order matches between the footage and interpretation (lower field first) and when they do, I get the aliasing. I've tested it with the field order set to 'off' in interpretation and also with it left on 'lower field first' there and set to 'lower field first' in the render settings, and both of those options result in the slashed lines in motion of visible interlacing.

I'm not sure how to avoid either type of artifact in exporting interlaced footage through the Render Queue.

This topic has been closed for replies.

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vintageshtuffAuthor

Known Participant

I forgot to note that when I change the field order and get the slashed lines/visible interlacing, it fixes the jagged lines/aliasing issue. I wind up with either issue, though not both simultaneously.

Dave_LaRonde

Inspiring

Add your comp to the Render Queue. Go to the Render Settings. Make sure the field order in them is also set to lower field first. You should be fine then.

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vintageshtuffAuthor

Known Participant

Separate fields in After Effects using File Interpretation from the Menu. Put your non-square interlaced footage with the fields separated in a square pixel equivalent comp. Do the work you need to do. Add the comp to the render cue and, as I said before, unless the client or a broadcaster specifically requires you to deliver interlaced content, DO NOT add fields or interlacing when you render. Just render a suitable visually lossless Digital Intermediate (DI) to use in your production. Do not render an h.264 compressed file as a DI. You'll just add compression and motion artifacts to the final render.

"Separate fields in After Effects using File Interpretation from the Menu. Put your non-square interlaced footage with the fields separated in a square pixel equivalent comp. Do the work you need to do. Add the comp to the render cue and, as I said before, unless the client or a broadcaster specifically requires you to deliver interlaced content, DO NOT add fields or interlacing when you render. Just render a suitable visually lossless Digital Intermediate (DI) to use in your production. Do not render an h.264 compressed file as a DI. You'll just add compression and motion artifacts to the final render."

I'm not sure I fully follow this answer.

My original footage is 720x480 AVI NTSC DV and I'm going to that same format. The original is interlaced, lower field first. The fields are separated, I believe. I may have misunderstood you before, but when I render, to not add fields, do I make sure Field Render in Render Settings is turned off? Or is that done elsewhere? I'm unfamiliar with what DI means and how to make sure I'm rendering as you said.

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