[request] Cube 2: Hypercube (now in the 'In Progress' subforum)

[spoRv]

OK, here you are the screenshots of the first test:

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/107719
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/107720
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/107723
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/107725

I took four frames jedeitor provided, from 1080i (with logo) and 720p (without); I mixed them together, to get rid of the logo, and added a grain plate; final result has a bit less image details on both side, but quite a bit more on top; it's brighter to hide the logo - not perfectly hidden, but not bad at all... it could be noted some logo remaining, plus not perfect color blend of the top slice - but hey, this only a first test! I tried to decreas the contrast, but doing so whites were not so white; maybe I should tweak the gamma instead... take also in account I've done it using only png images...

I think it's better to leave out the top slice, but I should make a test with an actual clip. Opinions?

[jedeitor]

I think that if you manage to solve the logo problem, the upper slice will match too.

I guess the 1080i needs to have darker blacks.

[spoRv]

it's impossible to have better quality for the top slice, because it's from the 720p that doesn't match exactly the 1080i - and never will, sadly... so, the two options are to have more details on top slice, with some color problems (that should be determined if small or big) or do not use it...

About blacks, I agree with you... I'll try to make some other tests tweaking gamma this time.

But, do you like the logo removal quality? It's pretty good, don't you think?

[jedeitor]

For the slice, I think the quality is fine. I don't notice less quality in that zone, just that the colors (or tones, specially the dark ones) don't match. But if the colors were the same I don't think it could be noticed.

The logo removal is amazing. It's absolutely invisible for me except in the first frame, where the line crosses through the black zone. Exactly as in the upper slice, I think the logo will be noticeable with dark backgrounds, and if that problem can be solved for the logo, it will automatically solve the slice problem too.

Thank you for all this tests, you are mastering this processes and the results are truly amazing!

[spoRv]

Test 2 finished: a lot of work done... this time I tinkered the gamma, and decided to lower it a bit, because seemed better to me - but be aware, I'm using a non-optimized old lcd display, so it could be also completely wrong... I adjusted the script used, so now there are also more details on both sides (not present on test 1)...

Reassuming: now the image (in comparison to 1080i) has more details on top side (left and right sides are back now) - and it's seemless; logo removed; grainplate added to let the image more "organic" and to hide somehow the compression artifacts of the original HDTV source.

Here you are the screenshots:

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/107922
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/107921
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/107924
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/107927

The only visible problems I noted are the one on frame 1 ('cause logo removal is not pefect) and a tiny bit remain of the logo on the extreme right side, near the top corner... it's impossible to remove completely - I could use a rectangle of the same area from left, up or top as patch and copy it over there, but it's so tiny that I think it's not worth the time...

Feedbacks are really welcome, because now I'd like to do the whole project!

If you can, please send me a 30sec untouched version of both 1080i and 720p - I use TSmuxeR to remux into m2ts of desired time because it just remuxes and doesn't recompress; 1 or 2 sec difference before/after is good enough; choose a part with as much shot changes as possible - avoiding the almost white shots, even if I assume it will be an hard task!

[jedeitor]

Wow, the upper slice looks fantastic. So fantastic it's not a slice anymore, is part of the frame.

If I understand the process, you match the 2 frames perfectly, lay the 1080i over the 720p (thinking a little "photoshop-like" here, and "cut out" the logo and the black slice from the 1080i and let the 720p image in that 2 areas. Then I don't understand 2 things:

* Shouldn't the perfect color match of the slice be the same for the logo? I mean, if you match the colors in the slice doesn't it apply to the logo part? I mean in frame one, why the remaining of the logo is darker than the same black in the slice?

* I get that the little part of the logo that is visible on the right side because the 720p frame doesn't cover the right slice, but as far as I know the right and left parts of the upper slice neither are covered by the 720p frame, so how those parts have image while the rest of the logo is not covered? Not sure if I explained correctly. ^_^U

[spoRv]

1) you are right, but logo cover is taken "as is" from test1... further investigation is needed!

2) for the upper corners, I simply copied two small "boxes" right beside them... maybe I could do the same for that little logo remain... I'll do that with the next test

[spoRv]

Test 3 ready - now colors are the same of 1080i (even if I must admit I still prefer the contrast of test 2); logo removal is near perfect... or not?

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/108002
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/108003
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/108004
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/108005

Now I think it's time to test it with the actual clip... stay tuned, I'll post result ASAP!

[jedeitor]

I also prefer the contrast of test 2.

Logo is almost perfect. It can still be seen, maybe because we know it's there, but it's very close to perfect.

The grain adds a sensation of more detail to the image.

[spoRv]

The Test 3 clip is ready:

https://mega.co.nz/#!S9ECHRCR!B5DZySEO51...ngqccS6DjQ

it seems perfect - don't count the first 4 frames... it's just a test, after all!

Now I'd like to have another clip, possibly without black or white background... I know, it will be quite hard, but it's quite difficult to discern if the logo is really wiped out and the top slice has good colors...

What do you think?