Scaling using Transform effect vs Motion Scale

[default5lczb6vsr4kp]

This may be obvious, but when editing a 4k file in a 1080 timeline my motion scale is at 50.  I then add the transform effect which has scale at 100.  By using the transform effect over 100 is this sizing the image over 100% or does it still have the 50% resolution from the motion scale before hitting the limit?

Or is the proper way to set motion scale up to 100, then add transform effect and scale that down to 50 to give you full resolution when using transform? 

(hope this makes sense.  Just want to make sure I'm not reduing the quality...)

[MyerPj]

I take it you have a reason for adding the Transform effect?

[default5lczb6vsr4kp]

Yeah, I like the motion blur I'm able to create when using the transform effect.

[Richard van den Boogaard]

Me too. And the Transform Effect is the best tool to create this.

My advice is to use one tool at a time, so as not to cause confusion to yourself or any other editor that you may have to hand your project to. Doing a 50% zoom and then a subsequent transform is such confusion. So, if you intend to use Transform, stick with zooming in that effect...

Hope this helps.

[Ann Bens]

Transform effect will scale in the same way as Motion would do.

[default5lczb6vsr4kp]

Right, but my question is regarding a 4k file in a 1080 timeline.  When using transform, motion is set to 50 to fit the video to screen.  I then add transform, which comes in at 100 scale.  When I then use transform at a scale over 100 am I scaling past 100% of the image resolution?

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi,

This is a pretty good question because you have two kinds of scale going on - one is an intrinsic effect, the other a separate video effect, either of which can degrade footage unnecessarily if you aren't systematic in your approach as to how to best use them in tandem for a video effect.

I don't have 100% verification on this one, but, in general, and for best quality, I think you would want your oversized source footage to be at 100% scale in this sequence with these settings and leave the scale set at that level for the intrinsic scaling (Motion > Scale). Reserve animating the scaling as an effect for the Transform effect, not the intrinsic one.

With the 4K clip set at 100% scale (and "zoomed in/scaled up"), and after Transform is added, that would allow you to scale up the clip to full frame with the Transform effect beginning from 50% without a drop in quality until the Transform effect moves beyond 100% scale. After that point, you will probably see the image degrade in quality. Most editors would probably avoid going beyond 120% scale for Transform before quality starts falling off, if you can abide by that.

I hope the advice helps.

Thanks,
Kevin

[default5lczb6vsr4kp]

I appreciate the response, thank you!!

I was hoping that wasn't the answer...Ha!  Only because when I do that it creates another issue that takes a few more steps to resolve (I won't get into it...ha!).

I have tried it both ways though (with motion set at 50 and 100) and when using transform with motion at 50 it doesn't seem to degrade it when transform goes up to 200...  I wonder if there is something else going on where it still uses the full resolution of the source?

[Richard M Knight]

You could use 'set to frame size' to get the 4k into HD then use the transform effect.

[MyerPj]

I don't know how well this test is, but I worked on it for a bit and it does show that transforming on the additional 2nd transform is not the best, at least with a vector graphic from AE. The 3 transforms, the graphic's itself, the Motion PP adds and using a 2nd transform. Not much difference until the last 3 test when the scale goes up.

[Ann Bens]

Might be right that there is a slight difference in image quality.

I tested both. Superimposed the two clips, set top clip Blending Mode to Difference and saw a slight difference.

[Richard M Knight]

Could the difference be because the Transform effect is not 32 bit colour?

[default5lczb6vsr4kp]

Thanks so much for doing this!!

[default5lczb6vsr4kp]

Thanks for making this visual, I appreciate it!