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Output to 1080p, 4k footage. Edit 1080 or 4k sequence?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
May 22, 2019
4 replies
10225 views

I was having a discussion with another editing friend of mine and here's the situation.

When editing 4k footage with the intention to export a project in 1080; he prefers to edit in a 4k sequence and then export a 1080 project. He'll scale the 4k up to essentially "digital zoom" in the 4k sequence, because "The downsampling at the end should negate the scaling in 4k."

My preference is to edit the 4k footage in a 1080 sequence. I'll do the same "digital zoom" stuff but my sequence is just 1080. I then export in 1080.

Thinking about it, it sounds like the same process, just done in a different order. I "scale down" early and he "scales down" at the end. Does this actually effect the quality of the final piece or would they turn out to be the same?

Thanks in advance!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer SAFEHARBOR11

shootalexander
"downsampling at the end should negate the scaling in 4k"

Not true technically. If you scale the 4K clip in 4K sequence, you are losing quality. That quality is NOT reclaimed when outputting at a lower resolution, damage is already done.

As Ann stated, if it's a few percent fine, but don't think you can scale 20%, 50% and not suffer the resulting loss.

Thanks

Jeff

Ann Bens

Community Expert

If significant upscaling the footage before export is involved I would edit the 4K in 1080 sequence.

If slightly scaling is required like 110% I would pick a 4K sequence and export to 1080.

Might want to do some testing before hand.

S

SAFEHARBOR11Correct answer

Participating Frequently

shootalexander
"downsampling at the end should negate the scaling in 4k"

Not true technically. If you scale the 4K clip in 4K sequence, you are losing quality. That quality is NOT reclaimed when outputting at a lower resolution, damage is already done.

As Ann stated, if it's a few percent fine, but don't think you can scale 20%, 50% and not suffer the resulting loss.

Thanks

Jeff

M

Matthew23202776x5xr

Known Participant

I've actually never had this question fully answered before can someone please help? I always film everything in 4K. I will put this footage in a 4K timeline sequence and export both 4K and a 1080 version out of that one sequence. I've never visually seen any loss of quality when exporting a 4K timeline Into a 1080 file. Is this true? Or should I always create a separate 1080 sequence in addition to the 4K sequence for two separate videos?

Averdahl

Community Expert

In my experience the output footage looks better if it is edited on a 4K timeline when exported to 1080. Besides that both methods has it´s advantages and disadvantages so one needs to decide what method suits the editing process itself.

R

rodneyb56060189

Legend

I don't use adobe cc ..only have cs6..so I use Resolve 15 now. Once in blue moon I open cs6 to do some stuff ( make dvd from encore, see what options are there to help some people here with export settings, or whatever ). So I don't know how CC works now.

I have 1 primary eizo color calibrated pro sumer monitor, a junk HP computer monitor for 2nd. A pro video monitor via SDI card out of THE PIG (edit computer) for reference and help determining proper color comparisons ( between primary and video) in the rec 709 gamma 2.4 space.

I edited some source stuff from a friend who shot S log 4k using resolve last xmas. I put it into a 1080 timeline cause I wanted to be able to UPSCALE to reposition frame and zoom in. And STILL BE below the 4k source in resolution.

all my monitors are 1080p.. I don't have any 4k monitor.

all my exports are 1080p.

So the only basic thing I gain from the 1080 timeline is I can SEE it OK on my monitor ( which is 1080p). I can zoom in and reposition (change frame composition). And NOT lose any quality due to being above 100% of 4K.

All NLE's are basically the same, but I like being able to assign a color space to source, timeline, and export using the NLE I now use.

Without LUTS and so on.

I don't see why anyone would shoot 4K just because they CAN... when one knows it's going to go out as full HD. The ONLY reason I can think of is that you can adjust composition and zoom in.

ulyssesa99983051

Participant

I usually take my 4K footage into a 1080p timeline if I'm exporting 1080p. The scaling in that project size would give me a better idea of how good or bad the quality is with my sizing alteration. In the end, I guess you'll get the same result, it's just how your brain is wired. Aside from all that, I try to edit in the resolution my final delivery will be. If my final delivery is 4K - I think I would be sure I'm working with some 6K footage if possible (that's thinking way ahead of time). Downsampling all day!!

Now that I think about it. It doesn't matter which order but if you have a screening within Premiere (for whatever reason) your scaled clips will look like crap to a client. In addition, you don't know how far to go, in terms of scaling the 4K footage in a 4K project until you export 1080. At least in a 1080p project you have a numerical representation in the motion properties. Going beyond a scale of 100% is going to cause some degradation. Of course, you could be a math wiz and the numerical properties won't be much trouble for you in a 4K project.

B

Byron Cortez

Community Expert

I would do what your friend does for several reasons, among those that having a sequence in 4K I can also export in 4K (if needed) without losing quality. I could mention some reasons why I would edit it in 4K and then lower it to 1080. The quality will be the same, the editing dynamics also, the weight of the clips also whether you work with proxies or with the original footage, but The possibilities of output that you will have will be greater.

Regards!

Byron.

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