Is there an effect to correct pixelation?

[Matthew Max]

I intentionally shoot certain footage in low light. When I render it, it may be pixelated. Is there an effected to correct this?

[Peru]

I use the NeatVideo plugin for Premiere Pro:
http://www.neatvideo.com/

Converting to black & white sometimes helps, too.

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

You might also like to write a short section of the file to a re-writable DVD to see what it will look like when displayed on a TV.

[Matthew Max]

Peru, what exactly is the visible result when you use that effect? I think you're referring to the $200 software to fix pixelation, right?

[Bob]

Matthew,

Could you grab a frame and post it here so we can see it. Generally, you will get noise in low light shooting rather than pixilation. Noise can be in luminance and look grainy and in the chroma and look splotchy. A noise reduction program like neat video can improve both of those somewhat. I'm not sure what program you're referring to at $200. Neat Video comes in a $50 home version and a $100 pro version. If you're using 1920x1080 you'll need the pro version.

[Matthew Max]

Here it is, Bob.

sample for muvipix - pixelation or noise.jpg

[Peru]

On my monitor it looks like neither pixelation nor noise, but just not enough light. I'm not sure that it can be corrected (unless I'm not seeing it well enough on my monitor).

[Matthew Max]

The previous frame was raw footage. Here's a frame of the mp4. It has the B&W effect to it.

wild-pink-piggy-001.mp4.Still.jpg

[Bob]

Yes, that is definitely noise. Try the Neat Video Demo plugin for Premiere and see how that works for you. The demo plugin will only clean up a portion of the frame, but you should be able to tell how well it will work for you. Be sure to check out how to use it.

[Matthew Max]

Thanks, Bob. I went through the tutorial. When the guy is explaining the improvement that the effect makes, I can hardly see any improvement. How do you and Peru feel about NeatVideo? Is this a Communist psychological plot?

[Peru]

I have used the NeatVideo plugin in Premiere Pro both successfully and unsuccessfully. It will usually work. It depends upon the clip. Sometimes it works better if you convert your clip to black & white first.

Do as Bob suggests and try the demo version.

[Bob]

It is really difficult to see the noise reduction in the tutorial. You really should install the demo plugin and try it out on your own footage.

Here's a rough before/after comparison using the screen grab you posted. I increased the brightness considerably to make it easier to see the noise. The noise sample was taken from just above the cow. I left it at the default results -- I could have increased the smoothing. It didn't get rid of all the chrominance noise, but the luminance noise was much improved. It will probably do better on your actual footage as it can use preceding and following frames to further reduce the noise.

noise_reduce.jpg

[Matthew Max]

Well, this is interesting, then, because the audience for this really popular piggy is not going to care -- if that's all the difference there is, or anything close to that difference. I think a person must need an eye for it. This is supposed to be a dark scene. However, on a TV the difference might be important. I only watch on computer screens, so I don't know. I will follow through and see. Thanks so much, Bob. You are such a great help...the way you detail things. It's an immense help.

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

.....I went through the tutorial. When the guy is explaining the improvement that the effect makes, I can hardly see any improvement..... Is this a Communist psychological plot?

I, too, have used NeatVideo for a few years now and I'm still waiting for "the reds" to reveal themselves.

It is a useful addition to one's library of video support tools so, like Bob and (Peru) Bob I can also recommend it.