People look like paintings/animation after capture

[Z-C]

Hi everyone.

I'm currently working on PAL footage captured from VHS through composite connection. I'm using Canopus ADVC 110 and the new digital format is PAL DV.

It seems that after capturing(without applying any filters/any editing), the people look sort of like paintings. I was wondering if anyone knows what's causing this?
I would prefer avoiding filtering because this video is already at high quality. But I was wondering if the problem lies with the playback or something of the sort that can be fixed.

I've attached a sample frame to make things easier to understand.

With Regards,
Guy.

[jagabo]

Noise filtering on your VCR?

[guns1inger]

If you desktop set to 16 bit display ?

[Z-C]

I doubt my VCR has noise filtering. It's quite a basic one .

I tried playbacking the movie on TV without capturing and it seems that the source also looks somewhat 'smudged' and 'painted'. However, after capturing it looks worse. Or could that be because my PC-LCD screen is much sharper and clear than my old TV-CRT screen so that what's making the difference?

My father told me that this is normal because when analog footage is duplicated several times - You get the side effect of smudged colors, which tend to make people look like they are painted. I wonder if this is true and my capture only makes it more noticeable?

[steveryan]

Do a capture from your DVD player to your capture card, then you'll know if the problem is your card or the original VHS tape.

[Z-C]

Thank you

All other sources seem to work ok.

I tried changing the composite cable and now the results are somewhat better - more or less like the original VHS tape.

The characters still look like paintings, but the colors are more alive. I am wondering though, is there anything to do regarding the 'people looking like paintings' thing? or there's no way to make it less visible since this is the source I have?

[guns1inger]

You could try adding a small amount of noise to the clip to see if it breaks up the posterising effect.

[jagabo]

Somewhere between the VHS tape and the image you posted there is some very heavy noise filtering going on. VHS is not that noise-free.

Have you tried looking at your DV AVI file with something other than WMP? The video frame in your sample is about 816x628 so it has been resized by WMP and there's no telling what else might have done. I recommend you view your DV AVI file with VirtualDub. It will show you something much closer to what's in the file.

[Z-C]

Thank you both.

Watching the file in Vdub seems more or less the same. for some reason this tape is really pretty much noise free. This is without applying any filtering whatsoever. I think I'd just leave it as is, unless anyone has any other idea. I don't really want to add more noise - I prefer it this way.

As I said earlier - changing the cables helped a little, but I guess the source it to be blamed here :/.

[portrait]

I’m not sure if my words here would matter but you know I have been looking for this kind of player. I’m in need of players that would show up videos of people or any event in as if painted form. I can very much work on my orders from friends and customers with this kind of player. Would you mind telling me where did you get your present player?

John

[guns1inger]

@Portrait - you could look at something like the MSU Cartoonizer plugin for virtualdub, which would give you more control and a predictable outcome. I suspect that the tape is as much a factor in the OP's results as was the player - probably more-so.

You can find it here : http://www.compression.ru/video/cartoonizer/index_en.html