Hi,

I am having a problem that's killing me (no sleep for ages!).

Basically when I import a graphic sequence from 3ds max into After Effects the edges are slightly jagged.  This doesn't matter on all shots but some animations have some quite thin lines in it and it really kills the whole look of it.

I have tried every export setting from max and every import option in avid (many times) to no avail.

The Avid project is 25i, widescreen 16:9 PAL.  When I look at the video/sequence exported from Max, in say windows media player, it is perfect.  But once I bring into Avid I get these slight jagged lines around any edges.

I am sure it's most likely a basic settings/pixel problem but I really can't find any answers.  Any help most appreciated.. deadline looming and I neeed to know if I need to re-render all my 3d sequences.

My export settings from Max are generally: 1024x576 (pal 16:9) square pixel.  Although I have tried various other setups but to no avail.

Thanks

What resolution and compression are you using in Avid? It seems like you are seeing aliasing or field errors. Do you have the proper field dominance setting in the import window?

Usually I tend to just leave it on: 601/709, non square - or - maintain and resize, square.

Even (lower) field if it's an uncompressed AVI and no fields if it's a tiff sequence.

These ones causing me problems are uncompressed AVI's.  Although I have tried tiff sequences as well to no avail.

Resolution I generally don't mess around with once the project is setup but I have tried various options there.  At present the project is set to: DV 25 420 OMF.

Thanks for looking into it.

1. Since you are using square pixels to export, you should also indicate that in import in Avid.

2. Field dominance is dictated by the codec you used. What is the exact codec you are using? You may want to switch the field dominance in import to check.

3. If using DV, are you seeing the jaggies using a broadcast monitor?

1. Since you are using square pixels to export, you should also indicate that in import in Avid.

    I am pretty certain that I do.. (rendering at the momenty so can't check Avid)

2. Field dominance is dictated by the codec you used. What is the exact codec you are using? You may want to switch the field dominance in import to check.

    Uncompressed AVI out of Max.  Have tied all three field settings.

3. If using DV, are you seeing the jaggies using a broadcast monitor?

    Yes, is like it on broadcast TV monitor.

    My workflow is pretty much as follows.  Most of these are greenscreen shots so..

    Footage was shot on HDV.  Then hook up HDV deck to Digibeta and captured via SDI (gives smoother edges when keying) in a 25i project.

    Exported from Avid as 1024 x 576 Tiff sequence.

    Imported into After effects and keyed.  RGB and Alpha channel then exported as unompressed     AVI.

    Import RGB and Alpha AVI into Max and placed in a scene.

    Rendered from Max.

    Checked in Windows Media Player.. usually looks PERFECT!  Really cool.

Import into Avid... jagged lines.

Thanks again for the help.  I know it's a toughie but I am sure there is a way to solve this.  Just at a loss right now.

Can you do me a favor and start a new project and import it as uncompressed in Avid?

Can you also post a screenie or 2?

Will do... as uncompressed do you mean 1:1 resolution?

I have to pop out for a meeting in a bit.. please don't go out or anything tonight ok ;)

Yes, 1:1.

 Hi

I am having the same problem that you are.  Did you figure out how to fix it?  I would be very interested to find out.  I have tried all the different setting as well to no avail.

thanks

Simone

Dom is pointing out all the right issues.  i assume the exported frame rate & field-dominance is the same as your project settings.  beyond this & Dom's suggections, i don't know.  last year i lost a large account when the animation house began rendering out all sequences as 30P... which Avid doesn't support.  & sure enough 30i just didn't look clean enough.  i offered to continue assembling for them using a FCP workstation (FCP does support 30P), but the delay was enough to motivate them to move all assembly in-house (they were also getting tired of paying appropriate assembly fees).

if there's a way to import a 30P animation sequence & retain pristiene playback, i'd love to know the formula!

I tried the stuff that Dom pointed out - but no help.

Bumped..

I've never solved this problem.  What I have had to do as a work around (and it's VERY limiting and very time consuming) is to do an edit in Avid, then export as a QTref and import that into After Effects, then insert any graphics (AVI's from Max) in the After Effects timeline (painful painful job). I can then export as an M2V from AE and import into DVDit and hey presto, much much better graphics.  Not perfect but totally acceptable.

However, I still 100% believe it is something I am doing wrong or not figured out yet.  I cannot and do not believe it's just an Avid problem, although I know when we have done the same on FCP or Premiere (yes we used to use it!) I never encountered these problems.  So it's definitely something in the Max to Avid workflow that's causing me the problem.  WHat surprises me most is that there are not 100's of posts about this, which leads me to conclude that it's definitely something I (or my system/setup) is doing wrong.

Just to recap..  I make an animation in Max.  Export as uncompressed AVI.. looks stunning played straight through WMP etc.  But once I bring it into Avid I get unaceptable jagged edges.  I've pulled my hair out (what little I have) for days, weeks, months on this one, hence the above workaround and I have never found the answer.

Any help appreciated as I am just going to move into a fairly big edit where I'd love to use Max as well.

Thanks

bumped!!!

Bumped - I still never solved this problem and as less and less of my work is purely video capture/edit to tape then finished Avid's becoming a major problem in the workflow.

I've been using Avid on and off for nigh on ten years now and I really don't want to consider other edit options but seriously, this has stumped me!

ANY ADVICE MOST APPRECIATED.

Thanks

Did you ever export out of Avid to see if the jaggies were present outside the application.  I ask because I have had issues with rough edges inside Avid when importing elements I created in Livetype.  It looks horrid inside Avid, but my final exported product looks pristine.