Deinterlacing - why do it and which method?

[Xoanon]

I'm read a few sites about deinterlacing but I'm not so clear as to the reasons for doing it. I think I know _what_ it does, but my question is why would you wish to do it? Don't you get smoother video with interlaced video?

Also, in TMPGEnc, there are various settings for deinterlacing: odd field, even field, double, double, double (field), double (adaptation), etc. Which is the best one to use, or is most recommended?

Thanks people.

[lordsmurf]

DO NOT DO IT.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/capture/interlace.htm

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO !!!!!!!

[bugster]

If it can be avoided, avoid it.

When it can't be avoided is when making VCD from DVD source and when converting interlaced PAL source to NTSC, thats about it.

[Xoanon]

OK. So if there is an option to use it, why is it not recommend? Why should anyone need to deinterlace?

[lordsmurf]

If your output format is not an interlace-capable format.
This includes VCD, WMV, Real, MOV, etc.

If your viewing device is not interlace-capable. (Note: most computers can deinterlace during playback, no need to butcher the file.)

DVD, SVCD, CVD, XVID, some DIVX ... all interlaced-capable.

Deinterlacing throws away video data. It leave artifacts. Read the INTERLACING guide I linked in an earlier post.

[Xoanon]

Thank you

[thecoalman]

why would you wish to do it?

One reason is for playback strictly on a computer but your better off leaving it interlaced and let the software take care of it. Most media players compensate for it, PowerDVD does a great job.

[solarfox]

So if there is an option to use it, why is it not recommend? Why should anyone need to deinterlace?

Because like any tool, it can be useful or even necessary to accomplish certain tasks. The trick is in knowing what jobs it is the right tool for, and which jobs it is not.

For instance: If you're trying to put together an MTV-style music video in ULead Media Studio Pro, you may need to de-interlace the video clip before applying certain F/X filters to it. Altering the playback speed of a video clip to achieve a slow-motion or hyper-speed effect, for example, can produce strange results if you don't de-interlace first.

[adam]

But I've yet to find a software player whose real time bob and weave routines can beat what I can do through a software deinterlacer. If the footage is solely going to be played on a pc, then yes deinterlacing is a good idea.

[ronnylov]

If you are encoding interlaced source to very low bitrates like SVCD then deinterlacing can improve the quality even if it's played on a TV but with the price of less fluid motion.

[Slim_Jim]

Argh, I just read an article about how GOOD de-interlacing was and how it makes your home-movies look much more professional... now I'm confused...?`Maybe it was just crazytalk? Hmm perhaps some color correction would make them look more "movie-like"...