DVD resolution - text very ropey

Duncan H wrote on 7/22/2014, 8:48 PM

Have just completed a 10 min project and everything looks fine in H.D (1920 X 1080 p) mp4.

Client has asked for DVD version. No problem, although haven't delivered DVD for some years. Rendered mpeg 2 (PAL widescreen format) and matching AC3pro audio file using Vegas templates, created DVD in DVDA ver 5.2. Plays fine, video images look fine, but title text and a couple of included bitmaps look truly ordinary. Text was generated using "Legacy text" inside Vegas (& looks fine in HD), but in DVD this text has really poor "definition", very poor antialiasing (although given it's a vector originated text in a progressive project, I can't really understand). I'm off to check that my render settings for the mpeg 2 video file were in fact set to "progressive" (although maybe DVD's expect interlacing??). Can I create a progressive DVD ? Any other thoughts on what is going on with included text when rendering to an mpeg 2 video file using progressive video footage?? Help appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation

Comments

OldSmoke wrote on 7/22/2014, 8:52 PM

There is a script, something like "Resize Generated Media". First set your project settings to DVD, apply the script and reset the project settings to match the majority of your clips on the timeline, render to DVD format. After applying the script you can check the Text Event's Properties to confirm hat it has been set to DVD format, 720x480 usually. Text generated in a HD project usually doesn't render well to DVD.

Duncan H wrote on 7/22/2014, 8:59 PM

Thanks Old Smoke, that was quick and helpful. I'll find teh script and give that a try.

Kimberly wrote on 7/22/2014, 11:43 PM

The Help in DVD-A gives the specifications for DVD (and Blu-Ray too). According to the specs provided in DVD-A, PAL DVDs are interlaced, not progressive, yes?

Maybe check your project properties and choose a standard render template to PAL DVD which would be 50i or 25i or whatever (not at my computer so I cannot lookup the specs).

Good luck!

Kimberly

Duncan H wrote on 7/23/2014, 12:11 AM

Thanks Kimberly,

Yes, call me a little slow, but that dawned on me as I was selecting a suitable DVDA compliant template from the list within Vegas Pro mpeg2 render option. So I've gone back to my project, changed properties (as both you and Old smoke have suggested) and am now rendering a 50i version (after running resize script). Seems a bit counterintuitive to produce an interlaced render from a progressive footage, to feed into a DVD player who will then effectively create a progressive view from the interlaced stream!! Surely we are close to chucking out all DVD's and moving to progressive mp4's ??

Thanks for your prompt help. no wonder I don't burn too many DVD's, its just too challenging.

Regards.

Duncan H wrote on 7/23/2014, 12:13 AM

& then also pondering levels, footage probably requires a cRGB to sRGB filter for the DVD player & TV display, but of course footage is mixed with both 0-255 and 16-235 footage. Can we have some agreed, universal global format standards to simplify all this please.

Arthur.S wrote on 7/23/2014, 3:27 AM

You can create a progressive DVD. If you start with the 'normal' DVD template in Vegas, and just change field order to to 'none' DVDA will not recompress. Try a small test. The problem I have is text in a menu. DVDA of course always renders a menu, and I haven't found a way to get nice clean text yet. The answer is probably to use very basic text without slopes/angles etc. Bit of a shame. :-(

Richard Jones wrote on 7/23/2014, 4:45 AM

As a separate point you also need to choose a clear, preferably sans serif, typeface such as Aerial etc. Sometimes the little twirly bits (technical term) on individual letters can make the words look pretty awful.

Richard.

Grazie wrote on 7/23/2014, 5:30 AM

It might not pickup FM, but I prefer Arial.

G

Arthur.S wrote on 7/23/2014, 6:30 AM

Grazie......grooooaaaaann......

Grazie wrote on 7/23/2014, 7:36 AM

What can I say? - it's a talent!

G

Duncan H wrote on 7/23/2014, 6:11 PM

Thanks everyone. Yep, best groan for me too, as I lean heavily towards Arial, steering well clear of Serif fonts of video projects. If I'm really adventurous, I'll go with Franklin Gothic Medium !!

Andy_L wrote on 7/23/2014, 6:43 PM

Just recently had an order for one of my DVD's, so I looked at the format after probably 2yrs working only in HD. DVD wide stinks. Text looks like hell in my opening credits. Aspect ratio looks clearly pinched. I couldn't believe how bad it is. Thank goodness SD and esp. DVD wide is dying a quick death. :)