Poor image quality after burning with idvd

I used Final Cut Express to make a 45min movie. When I preview the finished product as a Quicktime file it looks great. BUT when I burn it with idvd, the quality of the video is terrible! Jagged diagonal lines, some color loss, some dancing pixels,...
I have been trying to find the solution to this problem for days on end, I have burned about 20 dvd's now, all in different settings and so on, but the quality is not improved.
First I thought it was my tv, but then I put the dvd in my mac and compared the same scene from my quicktime file with the scene on the dvd, and the difference in quality is staggering! For instance, diagonal white road markings are crisp on the quicktime file, but jagged on the dvd.
What is idvd doing with my movie????? Help me!

My Final Cut Express movie (.mov file) is crisp, and interlaced.
You are missing the point - your CRISP FCE movie is mpg-2 compressed by iDVD - that's what DVDs are - mpg-2 compressed video content. Unfortunately, mpg-2 is a very low quality CODEC compared to modern CODECs like h.264.
The best image quality out of iDVD will result in using the 'Best Performance' mode of encoding - this requires your content be under 60 minutes for a single-layer disc.
'Best Performance' encoding uses fixed bit-rate encoding that produces a DVD with about as high playback bit-rate as can be supported by set-top DVD players.
You have three choices: (1) live with the mpg-2 compression on a DVD because you can't do anything about it, (2) use the h.264 CODEC out of FCE and create a data DVD with the file that can be played back in computers, (3) make a Blu-ray disc if you have the equipment and buy the software.

Similar Messages

  • Poor image quality after DVD is burned.

    Hi,
    Project is fine in FCP and in iDVD before burn but when the burned dvd is played some of the images have lines or large pixels. The large pixels are very obvious in bright or white shots. Haven't had any other problems with the Mac for 4 years.
    Any suggestions or solutions?
    Thanks

    Hi
    a. Can it be so that Your movie is in PAL (25fps) and iDVD in NTSC (29.97fps)
    No good way to do it - I use JES_Deinterlacer to convert
    b. I do from FinalCut Pro 6
    • Export out as a QuickTime .mov file
    • Not selfcontained (not important but saves time and space)
    • NO QUICKTIME CONVERSION - IMPORTANT !
    This file I import into iDVD
    Else read my list on DVD-Quality
    1. iDVD 08 & 09 has three levels of qualities.
    iDVD 6 has the two last ones
    • Professional Quality (movies up to 120 min.) - BEST
    • Best Performances (movies less than 60 min.) - High quality on final DVD
    • High Quality (in iDVD08 or 09) / Best Quality (in iDVD6) (movies up to 120 min.) - slightly lower quality than above
    2.Video from
    • FCE/P - Export out as full quality QuickTime.mov (not selfcontaining, no conversion)
    • iMovie x-6 - Don't use ”Share/Export to iDVD” = destructive even to movie project and especially so
    when the movie includes photos. Instead just drop or import the iMovie movie project icon (with a Star on it) into iDVD theme window.
    • iMovie’08 not meant to go to iDVD. Go via Media Browser or rather use iMovie HD 6 from start.
    3. I use Roxio Toast™ to make an as slow burn as possibly eg x1 (in iDVD’08 or 09 this can also be set)
    This can also be done with (Apple) Disk Util tool.
    4. There has to be about or more than 25Gb free space on internal (start-up) hard disk. iDVD can't
    use an external one as scratch disk (if it is not start-up disc).
    5. I use Verbatim ( also recommended by many - Taiyo Yuden DVDs - I can’t get hold of it to test )
    6. I use DVD-R (no +R or +/-RW)
    7. Keep NTSC to NTSC - or - PAL to PAL when going from iMovie to iDVD
    8. Don’t burn more than three DVD at a time - but let the laser cool off for a while befor next batch.
    iDVD quality also depends on.
    • HOW much free space is there on Your internal (start-up) hard disk. Go for approx 25Gb.
    less than 5Gb and Your result will most probably not play.
    • What kind of movie project You drop into it. MPEG4 seems to be a bad choice.
    other strange formats are .avi, .wmv, .flash etc. Convert to streamingDV first
    Also audio formats matters. I use only .aiff or from miniDV tape Camera 16-bit
    strange formats often problematic are .avi, .wmv, audio from iTunes, .mp3 etc
    Convert to .aiff first and use this in movie project
    • What kind of standard - NTSC movie and NTSC DVD or PAL to PAL - no mix.
    (If You need to change to do a NTSC DVD from PAL material let JESDeinterlacer3.2.2 do the conversion)
    (Dropping a PAL movie into a NTSC iDVD project
    (US) NTSC DVDs most often are playable in EU
    (EU) PAL DVDs most often needs to be converted to play in US
    UNLESS. They are plabacked by a Mac - then You need not to care
    • What kind of DVDs You are using. I use Verbatim DVD-R (this brand AND no +R or +/-RW)
    • How You encode and burn it. Two settings prior iDVD’08 or 09
    Pro Quality (only in iDVD 08 & 09)
    Best / High Quality (not always - most often not)
    Best / High Performances (most often my choise before Pro Quality)
    1. go to iDVD pref. menu and select tab far right and set burn speed to x1 (less errors = plays better) - only in iDVD 08 & 09
    (x4 by some and may be even better)
    2. Project info. Select Professional Encoding - only in iDVD 08 & 09.
    Region codes.
    iDVD - only burn Region = 0 - meaning - DVDs are playable everywhere
    DVD Studio pro can set Region codes.
    1 = US
    2 = EU
    *unclemano wrote*
    What it turned out to be was the "quality" settings in iDVD. The total clip time was NOT over 2 hours or 4.7GB, yet iDVD created massive visual artifacts on the "professional quality" setting.
    I switched the settings to "high quality" which solved the problem. According iDVD help, "high quality" determines the best bit rate for the clips you have.
    I have NEVER seen iDVD do this before, especially when I was under the 2 hour and 4.7GB limits.
    For anyone else, there seem to be 2 places in iDVD to set quality settings, the first is under "preferences" and the second under "project info." They do NOT seem to be linked (i.e. if you change one, the other is NOT changed). take care, Mario
    Yours Bengt W

  • Poor Image Quality In FCE With Photoshop Imports

    I'm using scans created in Photoshop in my current FCE project, and am extremely disappointed with the image quality. All scans are 72 pixels/inch, 720x534 pixels (changed to 720x480 for import), sharpened with Unsharp Mask. In Photoshop, they look terrific. Imported into FCE and viewed in the viewer, they look terrific. When dropped onto the canvas to add to the timeline, suddenly they look like crap. The sharpness is gone, the edges are pixelated, and most are rendered unusable. What happened? Can I fix it? Thanks in advance.
    Dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5   Mac OS X (10.4.5)   FCE 1.0.1

    Really!? I'm surprised, as those numbers come from the Apple Pro Training Series book on FCE. But ok, I'll redo my images at 720x540. I should still make a version at 720x480 for import, to avoid "squeezing" the image, right? Should I avoid sharpening the image at all, or just cut back on the amount (or does this depend on the image)? When you say "the canvas is a reduced display output," do you mean that this reflects the compression that occurs with the DV format? Thanks, Tom, for your help.
    Dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5   Mac OS X (10.4.5)  

  • Problems with the interlaced Fields after burning with iDVD

    The original quicktimes have interlaced frames and once I burn them with iDVD seams that there is a problem with the fields, like they are in ht ewrong order or something.
    Is there something I'm not doing right?
    Anyone?
    jd

    I Have a similar problem my apple health app hasn't worked from day one - I use my fitness pal and no matter what I do it just doesn't communicat or pass information to apples app - ive even tried a different steps app and that doesn't communicat either. Even running on ISO 8.2 hasn't  rectified connectivity issues.
    I Wonder if apple is aware of these issues lol

  • Poor Image quality/Slideshow/iMovie to iDVD

    I placed about 150 jpegs as clips in iMovie HD (v.5.0.2). I made them all 3.25 seconds long and gave them all a short overlap transition. I set them to music and exported to iDVD (v.5.0.1). Once the DVD was burned, I viewed it with disappointment. Briefly, during the transitions the images are of great quality. But the actual image clips are very poor quality. I'm new to this and I find all the many options for making quicktime movies a little overwhelming. But, exporting to iDVD doesn't have any options. I thought it was supposed to maintain the quality.
    What did I do wrong or what can I do right?

    Karl Peterson said,
    "If there are unrendered clips in the Timeline when we tell iMovie to Share (Export) a project to iDVD, iMovie will ask permission to render those clips. (Rendering converts the clips to video clips.)
    These may include still photos, photos imported with the Ken Burns checkbox turned OFF. Photos imported with the Ken Burns checkbox ON are rendered by Ken Burns; iMovie won't ask to render them again.
    If we grant permission to render clips, iMovie will render them with very poor quality, adding lots of "jaggies" to the photos. It's a bug.
    To avoid the bug, do NOT grant permission to render when iMovie asks. Then iDVD will render them for us, which it does with good quality.
    So, to avoid the bug do any ONE of these:
    1. Import all photos with the Ken Burns checkbox ON.
    2. If iMovie asks permission to render when exporting the project, do NOT grant permission.
    3. Instead of sharing from iMovie to iDVD, drop the iMovie project into the iDVD project window.
    Karl"

  • I have a few wedding projects(1-2 hours)I am trying to export at full hd quality,than burn in idvd.After rendering for 8hrs I receive error code that states "file is too big". Please help? compressing tips without losing quality?

    I have a few wedding projects(1-2 hours)I am trying to export at full hd quality,than burn in idvd. After rendering for 8hrs I receive error code that states "file is too big". Please help? compressing tips without losing quality? or any other exporting alternatives?

    Hey Z,
    Thank you for the tip on exporting by media browser (large) from imovie. But of course, if it's not one thing it's another. Now that I figured how to export a large file from imovie, I have an idvd issue. I followed the instructions for burning from idvd and changing the encoding to professional quality and the burn speed to x4, but I am receiving an error that states the following,
    Your project exceeds the maximum content duration. To burn your DVD, change the encoder setting in the Project Info window.
    Project:
    - total project duration: 79:04 minutes
    - total project capacity: 4.327 GB (max. available: 4.172 GB)
    Menus:
    - number of menus in project: 1 menus
    - total menu duration: 0:39 minutes
    - total menu capacity: 37.370 MB
    Movies:
    - total movies duration: 78:25 minutes
    - total movies capacity: 4.291 GB
    I have searched in the idvd forum for similar issues and I am stumped at this point. I have tried deleting the encoding assets and re launching idvd with the changed preferences, and still the same error. I know you mentioned something about free hard drive space available, and I have very little left. 4GB to be exact due to massive hours of non-edited footage. I am not sure if this is why, but I do not recall ever needing free space to burn memory onto a separate dvd. I would be more than happy if I am wrong, and it would be a quick fix. Otherwise, the technical nightmare continues. It's all a learning process and your expertise is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

  • Has anyone had issues with poor image quality when using lightroom to process raw images from Canon 7dmk2

    Hi everyone..
    ..I have been having image quality issues when using Lightroom to process raw files from a 7d mk2... They are all soft with poor clarity.....tonight in despair I tried processing them  using  canon's software and they are totally different..."much better"
    anyone else had similar problems....Andy

    I have a 7D2 and have not had what I interpret as poor image quality that has anything to do with the camera.
    Can you post a screenshot of what you’re seeing and what specifically you don’t like?  Maybe there is something you can do differently or at least there may be an explanation for what you’re seeing.
    And if you have a raw image that you wouldn’t mind sharing in a public forum, upload to http://www.dropbox.com/ then post a public share link to it in a reply, here.
    In other words post a screenshot of what you see in LR, another of what you see using DPP, and a link to the raw file you’re processing.

  • Poor image quality with save for web

    It doesn't matter whether i'm exporting from Ai or Ps or whether it's CS6 or CC. I have changed the raster settings in Ai and i've also tried all optimization options with all different export file types (jpg, png, gif) at all different quality settings. It doesn't matter if I start with an ai, eps, pdf, png... the export result is always poor quality.
    I have tried exporting at 300ppi and that does fix the quality issue and bloats the file size, but this way (the export route) is so time consuming since you have to resize your artwork each time as well as the artboard so that it doesn't cut off pixels. Save for web never used to have these quality issues and it also never used to cut off pixels around the edges. These workarounds prove very time consuming and produce file sizes that are not ideal.
    When i first noticed this issue I was using Mavericks with CS6 and since am using Yosemite and Creative Cloud.
    Steps to reproduce:
    1. Create any bitmap or vector graphic in Ai or Ps, It doesn't matter whether you convert text to outlines or not
    2. Save for web
    3. View image in any application or browser to see poor quality and pixel trimming. Others running the same version and system are not having this issue, but I have checked many forums and found many others that do have this same issue but can't seem to find a solution.
    Results:stair stepping, degradation, pixel trimming, general poor image quality
    Expected results: Previously the save for web feature allowed for a decent quality image

    I thought of that too so I tested on another machine with retina display and the file i saved on my machine looked bad on my machine and on the other comparable machine/display. So I sent them the original vector ai file and watched while they saved it the exact same way on their machine and the file looked fine on both of our machines/displays.
    All of the settings they used appeared the same as what I used but with different results. I don't recall changing anything but does anyone know if there is some setting that could have been changed that is causing this issue?

  • Poor Image Quality on Finished Project

    I've seen similar questions before, but no responses. I put together a movie using still pictures, titles, and audio from iTunes using iMovie. I then export it to a .m4v format and import it into iDVD (the newest version). It looks perfect when I view it on my computer, but when I burn it (which works as it should), I get very poor image quality watching it on my TV. The images have red shadows that stretch and cover the faces. Some of the pictures are just more red than they should be, but others are just terrible. Even using the highest quality encoding, the problem persists. PLEASE HELP. Thank you.

    Hi
    a. make a DiskImage first and test this with Apple DVD-player.
    (File menu and down "Make a DiskImage")
    b. I only use streamingDV - no .m4v or like (may be it works - I don't know)
    else
    *Not knowing the origin to Your problem - General approach when in trouble is as follows.*
    • Free space on internal (start-up) hard disk if it is less than 10Gb should rather have 25Gb
    • Hard disk is untidy. Repair Permissions, Repair Hard disk (Apple Disc Util tool)
    • Delete iDVD pref file - *or rather start a new user/account* - log into this and re-try
    iDVD pref file resides. Mac Hard Disk (start-up HD)/Users/"Your account"/Library/Preferences and is named.
    com.apple.iDVD.plist
    While iDVD is NOT RUNNING - move this file out to desk-top.
    Now restart iDVD.
    • Program miss-match. iDVD 5.0.2, Mac OS X.4.11 AND QuickTime 7.5.5 - is OK - DON’T work under Leopard
    • Program miss-match. iDVD 6.0.4, Mac OS X.4.11 AND QuickTime 7.5.5 - is OK (might work under Leopard)
    • Program miss-match. iDVD’08 v. 7.0.1, Mac OS X.4.11 AND QuickTime 7.5.5 - is OK (might work under Leopard)
    • iDVD (08) v7 Locate theme folder. Move out iDVD1, iDVD 2 and eventually iDVD4 folders to desktop - re-try
    • Try a Cleaning CD/DVD that cleans the laser lens on the DVD burner/player
    iDVD 6.0.4 and iDVD 7.0.1 are compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
    Last resort. from Craig. Solved the problem!! Finally!!
    I deleted every iDVD application and folder from my boot drive,
    emptied the trash and then installed iDVD 08 using the customize option
    and I am up and running.
    If You do a re-install be sure to get rid of all iDVD old parts AND then EMPTY the Trash-basket !
    Yours Bengt W

  • Very poor video quality after transcoding in Adobe Encore CS5.1

    MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
    I have very poor video quality after transcoding the video file (MPEG) in  Adobe Encore CS5.1. Below you see my used settings in my filmproject.
    The problem exists after transcoding in Adobe Encore CS5.1. I checked all steps and found out that there is no problem until transcoding. My exported file  in MPEG has very good video and audio quality.
    Facts:
    1. Camcorder: Panasonic AG-AC160AEJ
    Operating System : Windows 7, 64 Bit, Ultimate edition
    Source files: MTS files
    Recording settings (clip settings):
    Type: MPEG Movie
    Image Size: 1920 x 1080
    Frame Rate: 25,00
    Source Audio Format: 48000 Hz - compressed - Stereo
    Project Audio Format: 48000 Hz - 32 bit floating point - Stereo
    Pixel Aspect Ratio: 1,0
    2. Sequence settings in Premiere Pro
    Sequence was created from Clip directly with settings above.
    3. Exporting settings in Adobe Premiere Pro:
    Match sequence settings was activated. Now other changes were set.
    4. Exported File:
    Video
    Image Size: 1920 x 1080
    Data Transfer Rate: 25920 kBit / s
    Frame rate: 25
    Audio:
    Bit rate: 384 kBit / s
    Channels: 2 (stereo)
    Frequence: 48 kHz
    5. Transcoding settings in Adobe Encore:
    I used different transcoding settings such as automatic DVD Transcoding, CBR and VBR.I also set “use maximum render quality”. But all results were always the same: very poor quality.
    Why does the encore transcoding cause such bad video quality?
    How can I solve this problem?
    Please help me soon.
    Best regards.

    Hi Ann,
    1) I did not only „Automatic (based on source)“ options in my tests, but also many other customized options.
    The results are very poor. I have done a new test with the following settings. The result is also poor:
    Download link: http://www.klavierlehrer-bayern.de/download/test_mpeg2dvd_1.m2v
    Export Settings:
    Format: MPEG2-DVD
    Preset: Custom
    Codec: MainConcept MPEG Video, Quality: 5
    Frame Rate: 25 fps
    Field Order: Upper
    Pixel Aspect Ratio: Automatic (based on source)
    Render at Maximum Rate: [active]
    Bitrate Encoding: VBR, 2 pass
    Minimum Bitrate (Mbps): 5
    Target Bitrate (Mbps): 9
    Maximum Bitrate (Mbps): 9
    GOP Settings
    M Frames: 4
    N Frames: 12
    Use Maximum Render Quality: [active]
    Multiplexer: None
    2) Why shouldn’t I use the “Match Sequence Settings” in exporting? Because of the big output file size?
    I used it and the results are very good as I expected:
    Download link: http://www.klavierlehrer-bayern.de/download/test_MatchSequenceSettings.mpeg
    Export Settings
    Match Sequence Settings [selected]
    1920 x 1080, 25 fps, Upper, Quality 50
    User Maximum Render Quality: [active]
    3) I tried also Dynamic Link in PremierePro (to Encore).
    The results are also poor.
    4) I will test also LagarithLoslessCodec and frameserving +DGMPGDec. But the video is vertical long drawn-ot.
    I think I did not use it correctly. 
    Regards

  • Aperture Light Table - Poor image quality

    I am using the Light Table function in Aperture (3.4.5.) and I had an issue with the quality of the images on it, when zoomed in or scaled to fit.
    The quality of the (larger spread) images looks poor. As if I zoomed in on a thumbnail.
    I was looking for a discussion on this and saw some (archived) threads. None of them solved.
    However, I think I have found a workaround.
    If you get this situation, you can select the image(s) on the light table and regenerate the preview.
    Option-click Menu => Photos => Generate Previews
    (note: if you don't use the Option key, you will get Menu => Photos => Update Previews and Aperture may say (unjust) that the preview is already up-to-date).
    That solves the poor image quality look.

    I just remade the same book - as a test - in the extra large hardback format (ie. the one I used for the previous publication, last year).
    This time, the pictures are fine.  The images appear to be the same quality in the PDF as the originals - much, much better.  The size of the file has increased massively too > up from just 2.6MB to 52.8MB.
    So does the books production function work well only with the biggest, most expensive option? 
    I'd really appreciate some feedback from anyone who's tried the different sizes, and preferably some brilliant ideas to make them all work equally well.

  • Poor image quality save for web

    It doesn't matter whether i'm exporting from Ai or Ps or whether it's CS6 or CC. I have changed the raster settings in Ai and i've also tried all optimization options with all different export file types (jpg, png, gif) at all different quality settings. It doesn't matter if I start with an ai, eps, pdf, png... the export result is always poor quality.
    I have tried exporting at 300ppi and that does fix the quality issue and bloats the file size, but this way (the export route) is so time consuming since you have to resize your artwork each time as well as the artboard so that it doesn't cut off pixels. Save for web never used to have these quality issues and it also never used to cut off pixels around the edges. These workarounds prove very time consuming and produce file sizes that are not ideal.
    When i first noticed this issue I was using Mavericks with CS6 and since am using Yosemite and Creative Cloud.
    Steps to reproduce:
    1. Create any bitmap or vector graphic in Ai or Ps, It doesn't matter whether you convert text to outlines or not
    2. Save for web
    3. View image in any application or browser to see poor quality and pixel trimming. Others running the same version and system are not having this issue, but I have checked many forums and found many others that do have this same issue but can't seem to find a solution.
    Results:stair stepping, degradation, pixel trimming, general poor image quality
    Expected results: Previously the save for web feature allowed for a decent quality image

    First try the Cleaner. here's the link for CC but there exists one for Cs6 as well Use the CC Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems | CC, CS3-CS6
    Everything I have read says that you kind of have to compromise file-size for quality. Could you post a screenshot of your settings?
    also, if it helps: Creative Suite * Optimizing images

  • Really poor image quality when watching DVDs

    Hi,
    I was just wondering whether anybody else has experienced really poor image quality whilst watching DVDs on their MacBook? For me, the image is really grainy or blurry. I am pretty sure it cannot be the DVDs as this problem is happening with every film I watch!
    Is this a common problem? What can be done (if anything) to resolve this?
    Many thanks,
    John

    Hi John,
    open system preference>display, and check if your color depth is in millions color.
    try other dvd player like VLC for mac:
    http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html
    Good Luck.

  • L7780 poor print quality after not using for 6 months

    Poor print quality after not using my printer for about 6 months.  Ran thru the tools (clean printhead, aligh, etc  . . .) didn't help. Replaced all chartridges, still no help. 
    I'm fairly tech savy, been in IT for 27 years starting with hardware support. 
    Question,  can I manually clean the printheads or should I just replace. I would rather try to clean them manually after just shelling out > $ 170 on new chartridges.
    thanks
    Brent 

    Hi @Brentl 
    Yes, you can clean the printhead and the inside of the printer. The following document will help; 'The Following Printheads are Missing or Damaged, Replace the Printhead' Message Displays on the All....
    I hope this helps.
    Please click the Thumbs up icon below to thank me for responding.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
    Sunshyn2005 - I work on behalf of HP

  • HT201335 Airplay Mirror Poor Image Quality on CBS app - help?

    Airplay mirror from iMac/iPad to HD TV w/Apple TV has a Poor Image Quality when watching network shows via for example the CBS.com site or the CBS app. The image looks dark, not HD at all. My internet speed/performance is obviously not the issue because Hulu, Netflix etc all come in great using Apple TV ~ sorry, not all that savvy in this department, is the poor picture down to it just being a mirror of the iMac or iPad or is there a setting or something I am missing?

    You should use the Acrobat extra menu in word 2010: then edit Preferences and choose Conversion settings : High quality print
    Hope it helps

Maybe you are looking for