picture quality isn't as perfect as the source

[messengerman475]

I use cladDVD to rip a DVD. When that process is complete I use virtualdub to save it as an avi file. Only problem is that it seems that some portions of the movie aren't as great quality as the source DVD. In the background (if it is black), it isn't smooth as it should be and during the movie, sometimes faces will be a little smudged (not as clean as the original). I'm just wondering if this has to do with not using the appropriate filters in the virtualdub program or does this have to do with perhaps the file size that I choose when I convert it to a DIVX avi file. I use the deinterlace, null transform, and the resize filters on the virtualdub program as per instructions from the cladDVD.net's website. Can anybody share a little expertise on this subject as I do like working with these programs.

[lordsmurf]

Every time you re-encode a file, you lose a little bit of quality. Sometimes you notice, sometimes you don't. You noticed this time.