quick question about compression (in regards to DVDSHrink)

[Dkreaky]

hey guys quick question about compression..
this might actually be a stupid question, but just want to verify rather than assume..

if i have a episodic Disk...

4 episodes per disk..

i use DVD shrink..

on 2 episodes i make them still pictures (compressed 100% or whatever) and on another 2 they can both fit with menus with no need for any kind of compression.

the total of this disk is usually about 4.0 -4.1 gb for the most part.

with that said.. does that mean the uncompressed episodes are exact duplicates as the original?

I only ask because some DVDS i own that i am trying to backup are usually grainy (like i was watching it on tv as opposed to MATRIX on DVD) Buffy, Dawsons Creek are examples of some grainy DVDs i own.

I dont want the graniness to be any worse thus my question. I hope it makes sense..

thanks ahead of time

[jtoolman2000]

If there is no compression used, in other words, if the chosen episode's total file size does not exceed the target size of 4.37 Gig, it will be 1:1 copy. That is it will or "SHOOULD" look identical to the original. Anything larger than the 4.37 Gig target and you will have to compress and so, will loose quality accordingly. It may not actually increase if the so called graininess you reffer to but might develop a slight case of macroblocking artefacts. Sort of, like an over compressed JPG digital image you might see in certain web sites.

[Dkreaky]

thanks man thats what I thought, but i wanted to verify it before i started spouting off knowledge on an assumption

[ddlooping]

Dkreaky, if the originals are very grainy, the smoothing effect that a small amount of compression (15%/20%) can have might actually be perceived as beneficial.
It might be worth experimenting a little.

[poopyhead]

Dkreaky, if the originals are very grainy, the smoothing effect that a small amount of compression (15%/20%) can have might actually be perceived as beneficial.
It might be worth experimenting a little.

isn't that gonna be a trade off though?

smoother, but less resolution

or

higher resolution, but blockier

[ddlooping]

Yes poopyhead, it would be a trade-off.
The more the grain is being smoothed out, the more the loss in sharpness.
But by experimenting, a pleasing compromise could be reach.
I'm not sure it'd be worth the effort though.