Scanned articles text at DVinfo.net

Niels Neeskens · November 27th, 2008, 04:09 AM

Hey everyone,

I scanned some articles from a newspaper and the file is about 1,2 mb now. If I use this file in Final Cut and transfer the project on a DVD, the text of the articles are bad and you can't read them. Transferring text into a JPEG and read it out as a video file probably makes the text quality go bad. Is there anyway to make the text readable, without having to rescan it in higher quality? Thanks in advance.

Cheers Niels

Martin Mayer · November 27th, 2008, 07:36 AM

You're trying to put newspaper text on a video screen? :eek: SD video or HD video?? SD can only have 480(NTSC) or 576(PAL) pixels height - and that's filling the screen for your text.

How many lines of text are you hoping to appear on a single video screen at one time?

Shaun Roemich · November 27th, 2008, 08:26 AM

As well, different codecs will handle fine line detail better than others. Realizing you need to end up as MPEG-2 for DVD, you MAY still be better off using the Animation or another high quality, less lossy codec for editing than say DV which is notoriously bad for fine line detail, like text.

Niels Neeskens · November 27th, 2008, 10:03 AM

Thanks for the reactions guys.

It's for an SD project Martin, I told the client that you are not able to read the text if you put it on a DVD. But for them it has to be readable or removed. Probably going to be the last one. I suggested to put it on the DVD as a normal file and make a reference where to find it, so they can download it from the DVD and read it on a computer screen or something. At least it's something.

Shaun, thank you for the advice, I am going to experiment a little bit with it.

Cheers Niels

Shaun Roemich · November 27th, 2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niels Neeskens

I suggested to put it on the DVD as a normal file and make a reference where to find it, so they can download it from the DVD and read it on a computer screen or something.

I place PDF files on the DVD-Rom portion of "video" DVDs all the time. An elegant solution if the readability is paramount.

Peter Kraft · November 30th, 2008, 04:19 AM

Niels, still at it?
Here is a solution I prefer in such cases.

Fade in - Scan of original article very close.

Zoom out and defocus at the same time until
complete article or main chapter is barely visible.

Overlay text with one or two core sentences
(animate if approriate).
Voice (off): Read these lines, complete article
in the DVD-ROM section of this DVD.

Plus: Link from Menu to article.

Niels Neeskens · November 30th, 2008, 07:22 AM

Good advice Peter, sounds like a good solution for it, going to suggest that to the costumer. Thanks a lot for that!

Cheers Niels

Peter Kraft · November 30th, 2008, 10:44 AM

No worries :-)

November 27th, 2008, 04:09 AM	#1
Niels Neeskens Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Almelo Posts: 119	Scanned articles text Hey everyone, I scanned some articles from a newspaper and the file is about 1,2 mb now. If I use this file in Final Cut and transfer the project on a DVD, the text of the articles are bad and you can't read them. Transferring text into a JPEG and read it out as a video file probably makes the text quality go bad. Is there anyway to make the text readable, without having to rescan it in higher quality? Thanks in advance. Cheers Niels

November 27th, 2008, 07:36 AM	#2
Martin Mayer Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 360	You're trying to put newspaper text on a video screen? :eek: SD video or HD video?? SD can only have 480(NTSC) or 576(PAL) pixels height - and that's filling the screen for your text. How many lines of text are you hoping to appear on a single video screen at one time? __________________ Martin at HeadSpin HD now on Blu-ray

November 27th, 2008, 08:26 AM	#3
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 2,109	As well, different codecs will handle fine line detail better than others. Realizing you need to end up as MPEG-2 for DVD, you MAY still be better off using the Animation or another high quality, less lossy codec for editing than say DV which is notoriously bad for fine line detail, like text. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Freelance Video Professional - Vancouver, BC "Telling your stories since 1999" www.gearheadvisual.com

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November 27th, 2008, 10:03 AM	#4
Niels Neeskens Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Almelo Posts: 119	Thanks for the reactions guys. It's for an SD project Martin, I told the client that you are not able to read the text if you put it on a DVD. But for them it has to be readable or removed. Probably going to be the last one. I suggested to put it on the DVD as a normal file and make a reference where to find it, so they can download it from the DVD and read it on a computer screen or something. At least it's something. Shaun, thank you for the advice, I am going to experiment a little bit with it. Cheers Niels

November 30th, 2008, 04:19 AM	#6
Peter Kraft Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Europe Posts: 245	Niels, still at it? Here is a solution I prefer in such cases. Fade in - Scan of original article very close. Zoom out and defocus at the same time until complete article or main chapter is barely visible. Overlay text with one or two core sentences (animate if approriate). Voice (off): Read these lines, complete article in the DVD-ROM section of this DVD. Plus: Link from Menu to article.

November 30th, 2008, 07:22 AM	#7
Niels Neeskens Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Almelo Posts: 119	Good advice Peter, sounds like a good solution for it, going to suggest that to the costumer. Thanks a lot for that! Cheers Niels

November 30th, 2008, 10:44 AM	#8
Peter Kraft Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Europe Posts: 245	No worries :-)