How to properly upscale footage? (And other questions)

[GregSmack]

Hey! I am using a Canon 6D withe the latest build for it and I have a few questions:
1)  I tried to use the 1x3 preset "5496x1960". When reviewing it at home the video looks not sharp and kinda blurry. Any ideas why this happens?
2) When I shoot in 1x1 with 5x crop i can get a resolution of 2560x1440. I need to upscale this but which is the best way to do this?
3) When I am trying to shoot in 1x3 I can choose the preset "4896x2160" but then there are only magenta, pink lines across the Live View. Any ideas why?

Thanks for your help!

[theBilalFakhouri]

Hello

1- 5496x1960 in 1x3 isn't real "5496x1960" it's actually 1832x1960 de-squeezeed to 5496x1960 to get a correct aspect ratio (that's how 1x3 mode works).

You should compare 1832x654 3x3 vs 1832x1960 (5496x1960 after correction) 1x3, now you would notice the more details in 1x3 mode (in addition to no aliasing, less moire).

1x3 mode is the sweet spot between 1:1 and 3x3, if you want the absolute sharpness you need to use 1:1 modes, cropping 1x3 footage in post isn't a good idea, it's more like cropping 1080p footage.

2- Upscale it directly from MLVApp --> in Export settings --> resize. You need to take care of aspect ratio, if you have exactly 2560x1440 MLV and you want to upscale it to UHD, set 3840x2160 in "resize" settings, But if you have for example 2560x1280 footage, and you want to upscale it to UHD, putting 3840x2160 in "resize" would result in correct width, but the height would be stretched from 1280 to fit 2160 resolution (Taller aspect ratio which isn't correct)

You need to calculate the AR manually 2560x1280 upscaled to UHD would be 3840x1920. Not sure why MLVApp doesn't calculate AR automatically, it isn't implemented.

3- Provide a picture how LiveView look like, give a short Sample MLV (you can shorten it in MLVApp from "Cut in & Cut out" tab, 2 frames is enough).

[vstrglv]

2. Try "Topaz Video Enhance AI v2.0.0" for upscaling. But it takes a lot of time.

[masc]

You need to calculate the AR manually 2560x1280 upscaled to UHD would be 3840x1920. Not sure why MLVApp doesn't calculate AR automatically, it isn't implemented.

MLVApp calculates AR automatically since a very long time! Just enable the lock symbol in export dialog and type your wanted width. Now the height is calculated automatically. Also works for all types of auto-stretching!

[GregSmack]

Hello

1- 5496x1960 in 1x3 isn't real "5496x1960" it's actually 1832x1960 de-squeezeed to 5496x1960 to get a correct aspect ratio (that's how 1x3 mode works).

You should compare 1832x654 3x3 vs 1832x1960 (5496x1960 after correction) 1x3, now you would notice the more details in 1x3 mode (in addition to no aliasing, less moire).

1x3 mode is the sweet spot between 1:1 and 3x3, if you want the absolute sharpness you need to use 1:1 modes, cropping 1x3 footage in post isn't a good idea, it's more like cropping 1080p footage.

2- Upscale it directly from MLVApp --> in Export settings --> resize. You need to take care of aspect ratio, if you have exactly 2560x1440 MLV and you want to upscale it to UHD, set 3840x2160 in "resize" settings, But if you have for example 2560x1280 footage, and you want to upscale it to UHD, putting 3840x2160 in "resize" would result in correct width, but the height would be stretched from 1280 to fit 2160 resolution (Taller aspect ratio which isn't correct)

You need to calculate the AR manually 2560x1280 upscaled to UHD would be 3840x1920. Not sure why MLVApp doesn't calculate AR automatically, it isn't implemented.

3- Provide a picture how LiveView look like, give a short Sample MLV (you can shorten it in MLVApp from "Cut in & Cut out" tab, 2 frames is enough).

Thank you! 
I will try the Upscaling! Which would be the best codec option to export for best quality and for using it with Premiere Pro and Blender? Apple ProResHQ?

Here is a picture of the Display of My Canon 6D when trying to shoot at 4896x2160.
I photographed it with my smartphone if thats alright.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ExgdsEpff43ce1Ny8

[GregSmack]

2. Try "Topaz Video Enhance AI v2.0.0" for upscaling. But it takes a lot of time.

Thank you! Do you know if its using GPU to calculate?

[vstrglv]

Yes.

[theBilalFakhouri]

Thank you! 
I will try the Upscaling! Which would be the best codec option to export for best quality and for using it with Premiere Pro and Blender? Apple ProResHQ?

Here is a picture of the Display of My Canon 6D when trying to shoot at 4896x2160.
I photographed it with my smartphone if thats alright.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ExgdsEpff43ce1Ny8

I personally use Apple ProRes 4:4:4, and edit in Premiere Pro and this works perfectly for me (NVMe SSD, on Ryzen 3900x), I have no experience in Blender, can't answer that question.

You need to use "Framing" preview in that case (in "4896x2160" preset which Canon preview here is broken) from mlv_lite submenu --> "Preview" setting --> set it "Framing" and make sure ML Global Draw in ON.

[GutterPump]

A simple solution is to switch to Resolve, right click on the clip then "Clip attributes" then at the bottom you can make your scaling adjustments : 2x 4x.. It's work very well and fast

[theBilalFakhouri]

MLVApp calculates AR automatically since a very long time! Just enable the lock symbol in export dialog and type your wanted width. Now the height is calculated automatically. Also works for all types of auto-stretching!

Ah, Nice! I thought MLVApp couldn't do it, because the height value isn't being updated when locking AR via lock symbol and increasing width resolution.

[masc]

Ah, Nice! I thought MLVApp couldn't do it, because the height value isn't being updated when locking AR via lock symbol and increasing width resolution.

The height value can't be updated, because this is a session setting. And in a session you could have clips with different AR. The "lock" button has a tooltip which explains its function. So you just setup a desired width and while exporting, MLVApp calculates the corresponding height.