Thanks, and sorry again for being absent so long. Having a lot of family issues and battling depression. Not always easy, but I am getting better. In a ok spot right now and wanted to share again. More to follow.
Hello community - I am so sorry that I haven’t been around, but I am trying to make up for it.
I’ve got a new workflow and a few modifications, which will allow me to redo the episodes I had already done without much hassle.
So, here we go with DS9 season 1, episode 1/2 “Emissary”.
Image Gallery (with slider): https://imgsli.com/Mzg0OTYz
Images also below (PAL-DVD):
Images also below (1080pHD-Upscale):
Have fun an let me know about the quality!
@hktrooper:
Thanks for the detailed feedback. I appreciate the kind words.
Comparing the upscales with the streaming version is also a point of interest for me, since I do not use any streaming services, strictly comparing the upscales to DVDs.
I have heared, however, from several people, that streaming versions are more “challenged” when it comes to quality - one person even suggested that Paramount+/CBS perhaps simply “blew up” the screen size to service HD-displays but in consequence worsening already existing problems (interlacing, rainbowing, dot crawl and such).
Since I do not have the option to compare to streaming versions, I’d be happy to hear about your experiences.
Hello community - back from my vacation with new stuff:
Season 1, episode 5, “Babel” - is done.
Image Gallery (with slider): https://imgsli.com/Mjk5ODg3
Images also below (PAL-DVD):
Images also below (1080pHD-Upscale):
Have fun an let me know about the quality!
Watched the first episode last night & over all very impressed, there was a couple of weird instances, the first was when Sisko is talking to Jake on the holo deck, Sisko’s left side of his face has got weird lines on it & near the end when the worm hole opens up, there is a weird shot of Dax’s face just appears but overall very good & looking forward to rest of the episode’s.
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the thing about the “ghost face” on Dax happened because the model tried to interpret a face when in fact there was none (or in this case Dax’s face was not in focus), couldn’t be helped.
@vranir:
Thanks, as soon as I get around to season 4, I will have a look. Your help is appreciated.
@Baobab Archiver:
Yeah, close-ups are good, mid-range is still ok, but anything far away or in the background is kinda “hit-or-miss”, but it’s (so far) still the most “tolerable” workflow.
Hello there community, I will be on vacation for the next ten days, so I will not be posting anything during this time.
Please don’t be sad or discouraged, as soon as I am back, I will continue posting (remember: Season 1 & 2 of DS9 are completely done - season 3 has a new workflow that seems to be going well, the first two episodes are done as well).
So, see you soon - perhaps some of you will have had time to watch the already available episode and discuss about the quality.
I am looking forward to reading some stuff around here once I am back.
Regards,
Leland
I always mix Dax and Invasive Procedures up.
Well, they’re both centered around the character, so it’s understandable
Yes, in my own upscaling attempt I was shocked by how bad Dax was. I thought for sure that I must have done something wrong when I saw how blurred the end credits were.
I guess something went wrong during the transfer from the tapes to DVD … since it’s present in both the NTSC and PAL version.
Season 1, episode 4, “A Man Alone” - is done.
Image Gallery (with slider): https://imgsli.com/MjkzNjg3
Images also below (PAL-DVD):
Images also below (1080pHD-Upscale):
Have fun!
@zombiedog:
Yeah, the source material (PAL-DVD) had a “slight” quality increase as the episodes went on, unfortunately not much. The worst episode (visually speaking) is episode 8 titled “Dax” - the source (both PAL and NTSC) looks like a very badly recorded vhs-tape: It’s soft-focused, blurry and generally has a sort of “misty/gloomy” appearance.
Season 1, episode 3, “Past Prologue” - is done.
Image Gallery (with slider): https://imgsli.com/MjkzNDc2
Images also below (PAL-DVD):
Images also below (1080pHD-Upscale):
@zombiedog:
No worries, you didn’t sound disrespectful or dismissive - everything’s good.
And I totally understand what you meant - many times in the past I thought about stopping or investing in the project, but I am to stubborn to stop 😉
But I wouldn’t call it a “lost cause”, possible a “difficult task” - but I am persistent.
@zombiedog:
Well, it’s been a long time since I have been reading up about the way DS9 and Voyager were produced, worked on and stored on DVD - yeah, I think you are correct about the episodes all being composited on tape (post production was done on tape, adding the vfx and such).
I was also aware about the Grain option in Topaz, but for me it was kind of a mixed bag - I guess I’ll stick with my workflow so far. But I will have a look on season 3, possibly adjusting it, since the quality was slightly better there and would perhaps need “less aggressive work”. Season 4 onwards certainly will need modifications and I will have to do some trial and error again.
On a side note: Seasons 1 & 2 of DS9 are now finished and I am uploading - episodes will be available to those who ask and after each example post in the open topic is done.
Thanks for the advice. I have also noticed the upscaler still not being “consistent enough” - it can’t hold on to fine details, sometimes even in the close-ups. Still the best I could come up with so far.
I’ve not watched it yet but I have a feeling that seasons 1-3 are going to be harder to upscale than 4-7 because the source videos are lower quality on the 1-3 DVDs. I think they used higher quality tape to edit from season 4 on as there is a noticeable increase of quality from season 4 onwards.
Unfortunately that’s true. Watching the DVDs, you can see noticeable quality differences as follows: Seasons 1 & 2 are visually just bad (some more than others), season 3 is better, but still not good, a markable improvement is season 4 (image is sharper, more grain is present and details are clearer) and from season 5 onwoards it’s good DVD-quality.
I think the reason is that (if I remember correctly) they used tapes for seasons 1-2 and went digital around the time season 3 came along, switching over completely in season 4.
It’s similar with Voyager, the first digital models were used during season 3 (the first completely digitally rendered Voyager model was used in the episode “Unity” I believe).
Thanks for the advice. I have also noticed the upscaler still not being “consistent enough” - it can’t hold on to fine details, sometimes even in the close-ups. Still the best I could come up with so far.
Hello there community - Season 1, episodes 1&2 “Emissary” now available!
@rgstammer:
Just right click on my profile/name, then start a private topic.
@zombiedog:
PM me for access 😉
Season 1, episodes 1&2, “Emissary” (Pilot) - is done.
Image Gallery (with slider): https://imgsli.com/MjkyOTAz
Images also below (PAL-DVD):
Images also below (1080pHD-Upscale):
More to follow - stay tuned!
STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE - AI-Upscaling Project (DVD to 1080pHD)
This project started back in March 2020 during the first Covid-related lockdown as a sort of “little thing on the side”, but has since become a serious “work I feel passionate about”; now, after many years of trial and error (and previous attempts at posting my results), I feel confident enough to try again.
Be aware: This version is a downsized/compressed version of my original 1080pHD-Upscales and intended for everyone who has to be mindful of his/herr HDD-space! The episodes have about 1 GB per standard episode.
And now, for the details:
1.) The Person Behind The Project
2.) The Reasons & Goals For The Project
3.) Details On The Source Material
4.) Technical Specifications Of The Upscaled Episodes
5.) The Technology Involved In Realizing The Project
6.1.) Workflow (short)
6.2.) Worflow (detailed)
7.) The Benefits Of This Project
8.) Rules Of Conduct Regarding This Project
9.) How Can I Access Materials From This Project?
10.) Questions And Answers Regarding This Project
So, that’s it - Have fun with the project!
Regards,
Leland