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Strange question: Combine Fullscreen and Widescreen sources?

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This is a question for you video editing/compositing wizards:

Is there a good way to combine letterbox and fullscreen sources into a single video clip in higher resolution that has better detail in the fullscreen-area?

I have an idea for an algorithm that could do it, but I think there would be a bit of work to realize it and I would like to know if it would be worthwhile before I continue.
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I don't know. I'm sure there's a project out there waiting to occur that would find something like this useful. However it's been pointed out that for Star Wars at least it wouldn't be worthwhile. There are just too many different releases with different colours, etc.

You probably want input from the more technical people on the board though.

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It's not impossible, but I think even the laziest eye would be able to delineate the "boundary" between the letterbox and P&S segments. I think the best bet would be using the Faces VHS set, since those two transfers would be the closest in terms of color, mastering, timing, etc, but who wants a VHS transfer to begin with?

It's an idea that is wrought with practical problems.

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Someone mentioned using Fullscreen to help repair specific scenes in the 2004 SW dvd's. On the theory that the P&S region would often be where the eye would be drawn. I know there was some work done, but I haven't had the chance to dig it out and evaluate it, yet. Perhaps the P&S region's contribution could be de-emphasised on a gradient, to make it less obvious?

You mention an algorithm... at the risk of taking it on a tangent, which I will... The P&S & Widescreen, taken together, would contain information that falls "between" the pixels scanned for either. But perhaps of more benifit - I have wondered if an algorithm could be used to pull extra detail out of the combination of PAL and NTSC widescreen? (Or fullscreen tv shows, for that matter). Assuming, that is, that the PAL and NTSC versions were telecined independantly. It wouldn't work if the PAL was upconverted from the NTSC. On the other hand, it might work if the PAL and NTSC were each downconverted from a high-rez master. Might be a way to get approaching-Anamorphic-quality out of letterbox... Am I rambling? Thought so.

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Originally posted by: Jaiman Tuckuh
The P&S & Widescreen, taken together, would contain information that falls "between" the pixels scanned for either.

Yes, matching the two images is difficult. It has to take film wobble, lost details and artifacts into account.
When the match is done, the letterbox image would be upscaled using the fullscreen image as 'hint', color correction could be done automatically and the fullscreen "window" could leave high-res details behind when it scans left and right. These extra functions would contribute to mask the borders of the fullscreen image, but they all depend on the initial match having been done right.

If the match was done badly, then there would be visible artifacts, especially when the camera (or even just the fullscreen image) is panning ... and those are only the problems that I have thought of so far.
It is possible that this automatic approach would be a total waste of time, and not produce a better result than manual compositing. I don't know much about manual compositing. That is why I ask.
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Originally posted by: Darth Lars
It is possible that this automatic approach would be a total waste of time, and not produce a better result than manual compositing. I don't know much about manual compositing. That is why I ask.


I have no knowledge, whatsoever, of compositing. I have ambitions, but not much time, lately.

ocpmovie talked about FS/WS compositing in his Classic Editions threads. A link, another link, and this link, here. Perhaps some other threads, too, you could do an advanced search on his name.

Sorry I can't do better, but I haven't even had time to read, here, much, lately.

Let's see, where's my thesarus? I need another word for "lately"... nah, I don't have time.

Uh, anyway, you can search his name at MySpleen, in the "Other-misc" catagory, to download examples of his work.

One day I found... 10 years had got behind me. Next day was worse.

 

Download  shows from Cable DVR (Updated! Yes, it needs a rewrite, but it's worth slogging through, anyway).

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Ok, double-posting once was funny. This is just stupid.

One day I found... 10 years had got behind me. Next day was worse.

 

Download  shows from Cable DVR (Updated! Yes, it needs a rewrite, but it's worth slogging through, anyway).