qp_ChromaSubsample

  • Compatibility After Effects
    Please check exact version compatibility under the "COMPATIBILITY" tab below
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Quick Overview

Simulates chroma subsampling in order to make CG slightly less than perfect. This plugin has been designed to simulate the chroma subsampling process to help better integrate perfect CG renders into video backplates.


Please note that this plugin is not compatible with CS6 or above

qp_ChromaSubsample

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Simulates chroma subsampling in order to make CG slightly less than perfect. Chroma subsampling is the process used to literally throw away chroma information when encoding video in order to reduce its size without drastically affecting the result - often referred to as being visually lossless. This plugin has been designed to simulate this process to help better integrate perfect CG renders into video backplates.  It can also be used for a retro stylistic effect (especially the VHeSque mode)

There are five sampling rates:

  • 4:2:2 for simulating Digibeta and Rec.601/709
  • 4:2:0 for PAL DV, 4:1:1 for NTSC DV and DVCPro
  • 3:1:1 for HDCAM, and 2:1/4:1/4
  • A digital approximation of VHS quality (hence the name VHeSque)

Instructions:

  • Add the plugin to a CG element in your final comp. It has been designed to be applied post grain and colour correction.
  • Select the back plate layer as 'Input 2' - this will subsample the plate along side the CG element to help integrate it further
  • Choose the appropriate sample rate from the dropdown
  • Choose high-or-low quality sampling. This has an effect on processing speed - high quality produces much better results but is subject to complex low-pass filtering
  • Generally, leave Output as RGB, however you can see what the plugin is doing to the chroma components by choosing YCbCr
  • Image Bounds are there to assist the plugin - please leave this setting at its default.

Alternatively, you can apply the effect to any footage to simulate the effect of chroma subsampling.

Important:

With the exception of 2:1/4:1/4 - VHeSque, this plugin is designed as an integration tool, rather than a stylise effect. The results are quite subtle, especially at the higher quality settings. It is meant only to bring your CG to the same level as the video backplate you're compositing into. If you are lucky enough to be compositing onto film plates, RED, or HDCAM SR at 4:4:4, you don't need this plugin!

Installation:

To install the plugin, copy the qp_ChromaSubsample.pbg file into your plugins folder for After Effects CS4 or CS5 (earlier versions don't support Pixel Bender plugins I'm afraid). Please  try out the included demo project (AE CS5) to see an example of the effect being used to integrate into a 4:1:1 plate.

After Effects CS5.5, CS5, CS4
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