Format conversions?
varius
11 Nov 2007 11:22
A couple of months ago I was asked not to submit additional formats of animations any more, because there would eventually be automatic conversions made by the site.
So, I've stopped making them and only uploaded HD1080 animations. However, most of the animations I sell are SD version of older HD animations. I believe I may be missing a couple of sales just because there only is one large and expensive version and no smaller, cheaper version of those newer clips.
So, basicly the question is: Is this conversion feature still in the works/when will it see the light of day? And: wouldn't it be better to at least render PAL-DV / NTSC-D1 versions and upload them instead of downsampling them from HD? After all a 16:9 to 4:3 conversion is bound to be cut of at some place - and a 29,97fps to 25fps conversion can never be as good as a re-render from the original animation.
While I appreciate everyone's opinion here, I'd really like to have an "official" word on the matter. Thanks.
So, I've stopped making them and only uploaded HD1080 animations. However, most of the animations I sell are SD version of older HD animations. I believe I may be missing a couple of sales just because there only is one large and expensive version and no smaller, cheaper version of those newer clips.
So, basicly the question is: Is this conversion feature still in the works/when will it see the light of day? And: wouldn't it be better to at least render PAL-DV / NTSC-D1 versions and upload them instead of downsampling them from HD? After all a 16:9 to 4:3 conversion is bound to be cut of at some place - and a 29,97fps to 25fps conversion can never be as good as a re-render from the original animation.
While I appreciate everyone's opinion here, I'd really like to have an "official" word on the matter. Thanks.
shedli
11 Nov 2007 19:16
Hi Varius,
Yes - downconversion is in the works. However, it's looking like we won't be doing NTSC/PAL downconverts of HD in the first instance. There's issues with field priority and non-square pixels that will require a little more work to iron out. For now, we will be doing 1280x720, 640x480 (for 4:3), 640x360 (for 16:9), and probably a mini version too (320x240 or 180). This will cover most use cases, and will give buyers working in SD the option to letterbox or crop the 720 version of clips, depending on what format their show is in.
So - that means that it might make sense for you to submit NTSC/PAL versions of your animations, assuming that you are doing them correctly (people often ignore issues like non-square pixels, and just render their cropped files out to 720x480 square pixels, which is the WRONG way to do it). So we will accept SD downconverts of clips, assuming they're formatted properly.
That said, it's probably a better use of your time to be making new clips, rather than outputting and uploading the downconverts. Like I said, 720 versions will be more versatile and cover all needs for SD shows.
That's the word for now. We'll keep you updated. Thanks everyone for your patience on this - we know it's a long time coming.
Yes - downconversion is in the works. However, it's looking like we won't be doing NTSC/PAL downconverts of HD in the first instance. There's issues with field priority and non-square pixels that will require a little more work to iron out. For now, we will be doing 1280x720, 640x480 (for 4:3), 640x360 (for 16:9), and probably a mini version too (320x240 or 180). This will cover most use cases, and will give buyers working in SD the option to letterbox or crop the 720 version of clips, depending on what format their show is in.
So - that means that it might make sense for you to submit NTSC/PAL versions of your animations, assuming that you are doing them correctly (people often ignore issues like non-square pixels, and just render their cropped files out to 720x480 square pixels, which is the WRONG way to do it). So we will accept SD downconverts of clips, assuming they're formatted properly.
That said, it's probably a better use of your time to be making new clips, rather than outputting and uploading the downconverts. Like I said, 720 versions will be more versatile and cover all needs for SD shows.
That's the word for now. We'll keep you updated. Thanks everyone for your patience on this - we know it's a long time coming.
varius
12 Nov 2007 18:28
shedli wrote:
So - that means that it might make sense for you to submit NTSC/PAL versions of your animations, assuming that you are doing them correctly (people often ignore issues like non-square pixels, and just render their cropped files out to 720x480 square pixels, which is the WRONG way to do it). So we will accept SD downconverts of clips, assuming they're formatted properly.
So - that means that it might make sense for you to submit NTSC/PAL versions of your animations, assuming that you are doing them correctly (people often ignore issues like non-square pixels, and just render their cropped files out to 720x480 square pixels, which is the WRONG way to do it). So we will accept SD downconverts of clips, assuming they're formatted properly.
Precisely the reason I'd prefer to render them myself. Rendered from the original animation, taking into account the different frame rates and pixel aspect ratios, will always give a better quality then just downconverting HD clips to SD.
shedli wrote:
That said, it's probably a better use of your time to be making new clips, rather than outputting and uploading the downconverts.
That said, it's probably a better use of your time to be making new clips, rather than outputting and uploading the downconverts.
Well, since I'm currently very busy with a non-footage project for a client, I basicly have no time to shoot and five bored PCs waiting for something to do. Perfect time for doing something that needs a lot of render time but little creativity or other work.
duckycards
1 Dec 2007 20:00
shedli wrote:
So - that means that it might make sense for you to submit NTSC/PAL versions of your animations, assuming that you are doing them correctly (people often ignore issues like non-square pixels, and just render their cropped files out to 720x480 square pixels, which is the WRONG way to do it). So we will accept SD downconverts of clips, assuming they're formatted properly.
So - that means that it might make sense for you to submit NTSC/PAL versions of your animations, assuming that you are doing them correctly (people often ignore issues like non-square pixels, and just render their cropped files out to 720x480 square pixels, which is the WRONG way to do it). So we will accept SD downconverts of clips, assuming they're formatted properly.
I've been converting my HDV files to NTSC using MPEG streamclip. Sometimes they are accepted and other times rejected because I'm not doing it right, even when saving them in the same way. Can anyone share what is the right way of doing this, especially in MPEG Streamclip?
dapoopta
7 May 2008 03:42
Agreed, I need help too duckycards.