Freeze Frame creates very low resolution image

JakC

Newbie Joined: Feb 08, 2023 21:00 Messages: 4 Offline

Solved by

Feb 09, 2023 21:20

Hi,

After completing my latest video, and the first big one I did in PowerDirector I noticed that everywhere I had used Freeze Frame the resulting Snapshot.jpg it created was very low quality

My original video was a 4k video, and the JPS was 3840x2160, but unbeleivably low quality

After tearing my hair out quite a lot, I found that almost no settings made a difference

One google suggested changing the Timeline preview quality to Ultra HD, and while this massively slowed me down, the snapshots were still low quality

Accidentally I found that if I did "Render Preview" first, the the snapshot was a perfect match of the last frame of the video.

But this takes 10+ minutes, and as soon as you do Freeze Frame the green line disappears for the rest of the video (presumably as the timeline just changed), and the next time you do Freeze Frame it will be low quality again

In the end I managed to fix this specific video, but it required me to:
0) Render preview for the entire video
1) find each low quality snapshot
2) find the video it was created from in the timeline, and select it
3) go to the timeline preview for that specific clip
4) find the right timestamp to snapshot
5) select Snapshot in the preview
6) save this in a new folder
7) locate it in the media library

drag it over the original snapshot and do Replace

I had to do that loop for 45 snapshots - took near 2 hours

Am I missing something obvious? It cant be that you have to have a slow timeline preview (Ultra HD) and a full Render Preview before snapshot will generate one tat matches the video it was clipped from????

Jak

JL_JL

Senior Contributor Location: Arizona, USA Joined: Oct 01, 2006 20:01 Messages: 6091 Offline

Feb 09, 2023 21:51

So far, the only way to really enforce getting same quality pic resolution as video is to take the snapshot from the video clip in the Media Library, not the timeline. The increased display resolution works sometimes, but not always. If the snapshot you want has other nonnative video features, one has to use the Produce Range feature to produce to your desired resolution and then take a snapshot from this produced video clip in the Media Library.

If you like, do a search, it's been discussed multiple times dating back multiple releases, like: https://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/50730.page#267348

Jeff

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Feb 09. 2023 22:01

JakC

Newbie Joined: Feb 08, 2023 21:00 Messages: 4 Offline

Feb 09, 2023 22:30

Quote So far, the only way to really enforce getting same quality pic resolution as video is to take the snapshot from the video clip in the Media Library, not the timeline. The increased display resolution works sometimes, but not always. If the snapshot you want has other nonnative video features, one has to use the Produce Range feature to produce to your desired resolution and then take a snapshot from this produced video clip in the Media Library.

If you like, do a search, it's been discussed multiple times dating back multiple releases, like: https://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/50730.page#267348

Jeff

Thanks Jeff

Unfortunately its no good doing it from the library as in the timeline it is zoomed in, and I need the zoomed frame to be captured (otherwise it isnt a freeze frame)

It's weird, the feature as it is just isn't usable :S

optodata

Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline

Feb 09, 2023 22:53

There are quicker methods. First try using PNG instead of JPG for the timeline snapshot. You may also need to switch to the UHD preview setting to get the highest quality PNG, but by all means drop back to a lower quality when you're doing any other kinds of edits if you want to save your hair.

If PNG snapshots don't work, use the Range Select tool and then us Produce Range to only produce a second or 2 of the video, then get your snapshot from that.

Generally speaking I'd stay far away from the Render Preview tool as that typically causes problems with later editing, plus it takes much more time to do that than to simply Range Produce the sections you need.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Feb 09. 2023 22:53

JakC

Newbie Joined: Feb 08, 2023 21:00 Messages: 4 Offline

Feb 09, 2023 23:24

Quote There are quicker methods. First try using PNG instead of JPG for the timeline snapshot. You may also need to switch to the UHD preview setting to get the highest quality PNG, but by all means drop back to a lower quality when you're doing any other kinds of edits if you want to save your hair.

If PNG snapshots don't work, use the Range Select tool and then us Produce Range to only produce a second or 2 of the video, then get your snapshot from that.

Generally speaking I'd stay far away from the Render Preview tool as that typically causes problems with later editing, plus it takes much more time to do that than to simply Range Produce the sections you need.

The Produce range may be a quicker way to amnually fix it - thanks for that suggestion

But it sort of leaves the Freeze Frame function as entirely useless unless - the ability to right click, Edit Video, Freeze Frame means a freeze takes manbe 20 seconds and can be done as I match voice to clips to titles etc

Manually adding the same snapshots after took me more time than the entire time I spent in PowerDirector to create the original video

Warry

Senior Contributor Location: The Netherlands Joined: Oct 13, 2014 11:42 Messages: 853 Offline

Feb 10, 2023 06:27

Although I am sure that this has been done before, but maybe not with PD version 21.1.2401.0, I have done some tests with snapshots with some options available.
I have done the tests both with NTSC and PAL set in the preferences, as they appeared to show a small difference. And I have taken the shots with the various preview quality display settings. In addition I have taken a snapshot from the clip in the media room (no clip in the timeline), and I have produced the clip both NTSC and PAL with AVC 4K quality and taken a snapshot from the produced clip with VLC.
Next to the PNG setting in preferences as Optodata suggested, I have taken one shot in JPG for comparison.
Just to be sure I have also taken a shot with a larger preview by making the timeline and the media room smaller. But there was no difference in the results.
I have taken all shots from the Skateboard 02 . mp4 file (1920:1080) from the sample library 04:15 into the clip. See the results below.
A conclusion may be that a snapshot taken by PD 21.1 with preview setting UHD and PGN as format might give the best results given the amount of bytes used.

Warry

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Feb 10. 2023 06:31

JL_JL

Senior Contributor Location: Arizona, USA Joined: Oct 01, 2006 20:01 Messages: 6091 Offline

Feb 10, 2023 07:43

Quote Although I am sure that this has been done before, but maybe not with PD version 21.1.2401.0, I have done some tests with snapshots with some options available.
I have done the tests both with NTSC and PAL set in the preferences, as they appeared to show a small difference. And I have taken the shots with the various preview quality display settings. In addition I have taken a snapshot from the clip in the media room (no clip in the timeline), and I have produced the clip both NTSC and PAL with AVC 4K quality and taken a snapshot from the produced clip with VLC.
Next to the PNG setting in preferences as Optodata suggested, I have taken one shot in JPG for comparison.
Just to be sure I have also taken a shot with a larger preview by making the timeline and the media room smaller. But there was no difference in the results.
I have taken all shots from the Skateboard 02 . mp4 file (1920:1080) from the sample library 04:15 into the clip. See the results below.
A conclusion may be that a snapshot taken by PD 21.1 with preview setting UHD and PGN as format might give the best results given the amount of bytes used.

Warry

I believe we are trying to maintain resolution of the source video for a snapshot, not upscale, so using a 1920x1080 video as source provides little guidance other than providing PD's upscale capability.

With 8k (7680x4320) source video, High, HD and Full display resolutions all yield a 1920x1080 resolution snapshot.
Ultra display, a 3840x2160 snapshot.
The only way to maintain source video resolution of 8k is with a snapshot in the media library which yielded 7680x4320 resolution pic.

As I had mentioned initially, if you've done something to the video in the timeline, use Produce Range at desired source resolution and take snapshot in the Media Library to guaranty source quality.

Jeff

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Feb 10. 2023 07:53

JakC

Newbie Joined: Feb 08, 2023 21:00 Messages: 4 Offline

Feb 10, 2023 17:04

Quote

I believe we are trying to maintain resolution of the source video for a snapshot, not upscale, so using a 1920x1080 video as source provides little guidance other than providing PD's upscale capability.

With 8k (7680x4320) source video, High, HD and Full display resolutions all yield a 1920x1080 resolution snapshot.
Ultra display, a 3840x2160 snapshot.
The only way to maintain source video resolution of 8k is with a snapshot in the media library which yielded 7680x4320 resolution pic.

As I had mentioned initially, if you've done something to the video in the timeline, use Produce Range at desired source resolution and take snapshot in the Media Library to guaranty source quality.

Jeff

Yeah - the resolution is fine on Free Frame - it's a 4k image (jpg or png) - it just seems that PowerDirector samples it from the preview window which it will be rendering at a low quality

Just seems weird that it doiesn't use the original video to sample from - I really like PowerDirector, but am considering switching to an alterantive just for this one feature, I am making coding tutorials so I want to zoom into particular windows or code segments and then hold them while I explain the bit of code being focused.

Last project that was 40 FF in a 10 min video - and an additional 2hrs work

optodata

Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline

Feb 10, 2023 22:34

I spent 20 minutes typing up a response only to have it completely disappear after I though it was successfully submitted

Post attempt #2:

On my system using the freeze frame tool works exactly as expected. Maybe it's because I've assigned a hotkey and can execute it directly from my keyboard. You can set it up from Edit | Preferences | Keyboard Hotkeys | Customize...

Using this function automatically splits the timeline clips at the point you've selected and inserts the snapshot at the default image duration. Even with my Preview Quality set to HD, I get a full 4K 16MB resolution PNG clip that perfectly matches the video quality. See this OneDrive folder for the Freeze Frame perfect.mp4 and SnapShot.png clips.

However, there is a gigantic asterisk with this approach, and that is that it works great as long as all the edits (and especially any keyframing) have been done in the Pip Designer or similar "Designer" tool.

If you've used something like the Crop/Zoom/Pan tool, ALL of your keyframes in that clip will be thrown hopelessly out of sync when that clip is split and you'll never be able to put them back together unless you use Undo or quit withouit saving. See the Freeze Frame mess.mp4 clip to see how the zoom and pan keyframes completely break and the freeze frame doesn't match anything.

If you've used that tool, you might have to produce the entire project first without any freeze frames to "bake in" all the pans and zooms, then use the produced version to add your freeze frames. You'll then have to deal with the blank spots in the audio, but you're going to have to do that anyway.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Feb 10. 2023 22:37

JL_JL

Senior Contributor Location: Arizona, USA Joined: Oct 01, 2006 20:01 Messages: 6091 Offline

Feb 11, 2023 07:19

Quote I spent 20 minutes typing up a response only to have it completely disappear after I though it was successfully submitted

Post attempt #2:

On my system using the freeze frame tool works exactly as expected. Maybe it's because I've assigned a hotkey and can execute it directly from my keyboard. You can set it up from Edit | Preferences | Keyboard Hotkeys | Customize...

Using this function automatically splits the timeline clips at the point you've selected and inserts the snapshot at the default image duration. Even with my Preview Quality set to HD, I get a full 4K 16MB resolution PNG clip that perfectly matches the video quality. See this OneDrive folder for the Freeze Frame perfect.mp4 and SnapShot.png clips.

However, there is a gigantic asterisk with this approach, and that is that it works great as long as all the edits (and especially any keyframing) have been done in the Pip Designer or similar "Designer" tool.

If you've used something like the Crop/Zoom/Pan tool, ALL of your keyframes in that clip will be thrown hopelessly out of sync when that clip is split and you'll never be able to put them back together unless you use Undo or quit withouit saving. See the Freeze Frame mess.mp4 clip to see how the zoom and pan keyframes completely break and the freeze frame doesn't match anything.

If you've used that tool, you might have to produce the entire project first without any freeze frames to "bake in" all the pans and zooms, then use the produced version to add your freeze frames. You'll then have to deal with the blank spots in the audio, but you're going to have to do that anyway.

CL via PDM post had previously said the resolution of Freeze Frame is a bug,

"* The fact that 4K snapshots are still available in Freeze Frame is a "bug" (it wasn't changed as well). RD and PM are currently discussing revisiting this feature because of this discussion." https://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/15/50730.page#post_box_267348

So I stopped suggesting assuming they'd correct their identified bug. However, now 6 years later and still a "bug" by their own admission.

Jeff

optodata

Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline

Feb 11, 2023 18:31

Bug or not, I've used this tool reliably for years and if it gets OP usable 4K screenshots, that's a win in my book :0

Warry

Senior Contributor Location: The Netherlands Joined: Oct 13, 2014 11:42 Messages: 853 Offline

Feb 12, 2023 06:36

Thanks for the tip, Optodata. It works for me.

Only hope that it does not discourages Cyberlink to fix bugs in their software. A quick scan in this forum will tells them precisely what is hindering their customers and what can be improved for them. There is some low hanging fruit there too!

JL_JL

Senior Contributor Location: Arizona, USA Joined: Oct 01, 2006 20:01 Messages: 6091 Offline

Feb 12, 2023 07:27

Quote Bug or not, I've used this tool reliably for years and if it gets OP usable 4K screenshots, that's a win in my book :0

Of course, my point was, don't get used to it as a workflow as the functionality could or should have already disappeared.

But until then, certainly exploit as desired as I suggested yrs prior, https://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/79574.page#post_box_327094. I've never seen a change from .PNG to JPG, or .BMP as often suggested increase resolution. It can change quality from compression, but I've not seen it change resolution.

Jeff

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Feb 12. 2023 07:36