View Full Version : Flicker Correction Software?


Joshua Provost
January 12th, 2006, 09:29 AM
I am working with some footage shot on 16mm and telecined to miniDV. The footage was shot in a location with some overheard flourescents. The DP didn't know to use a 1/60th (144 degree) shutter to avoid flickering from the lights, and went with the normal 1/48th (180 degree).

What can I do about this in post? Are there flicker removal plugins (not the Reduce Interlace Flicker ones, because those are a different animal)? I use Premiere and AfterEffects, but I'd consider other solutions as well.

Thanks,
Josh

Andre De Clercq
January 12th, 2006, 04:00 PM
Joshua,
I don't think there is specific SW to remove interference flicker. If it is really important to correct the flicker you could put the footage on an NLE timeline and try to find the interference (flicker) period. Then put in the overlay track an anti-modulation sequence and take "multiply" as overlay option. The anti-modulation track can be composed from colorclips (gray) sequences with the right duration and graylevel changes, up and down in the right phase with yr footage. Rendering this will remove the flicker.

Joshua Provost
January 12th, 2006, 04:06 PM
I have found Film Fix from Red Giant Software. I downloaded the demo and it gets the job done. However, it costs $2k. If anyone has Film Fix and wants to run eight minutes of footage through it as a side job, please get in touch.

John McManimie
January 13th, 2006, 11:03 AM
Joshua,

You might look at Donald Graft's Antiflicker Filter for VirtualDub at:

http://neuron2.net/flick.html

OR

the VirtualDub MSU Deflicker filter at:

http://www.compression.ru/video/deflicker/index_en.html


If you have access to Avid, you can get FlickerFiX for $80 at:

http://www.3prong.com/

There are others in several plugin suites, but the price will be up there with the Red Giant stuff.

John

Joshua Provost
January 13th, 2006, 11:44 AM
John,

Thanks so much for pointing me in the direction of VirtualDub. I have had that tool tucked away for a long time, and rarely use it.

I found the two deflicker plugins you metioned a little complicated, but tried some other plugins while I was in there. The Temporal Cleaner, when set with the appropriate thresholds and using luma lock not only removed the flicker but most of the film grain/noise as well. It's like brand new footage!

Thanks
Josh