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Why does my video look like it was exported in a lower quality than expected?
Video resolution refers to the amount of pixel data in a video frame, measured in width x height (like 1920x1080 for Full HD).
A lower resolution means fewer pixels, which can make the video look less sharp.
Compression artifacts occur during the encoding process when video files are compressed to reduce size.
This can lead to noticeable errors, like blurriness or blockiness, particularly in areas with fine detail or motion.
The bitrate of a video directly impacts its quality.
A lower bitrate means less data per second is used, leading to a lower quality appearance.
You might find that exported videos at a rate of 1-2 Mbps look significantly worse than at 10 Mbps or higher.
Export settings in editing software, such as choosing the wrong codec or format, can drastically affect video quality.
Common codecs like H.264 are efficient but may degrade quality if set to a low bitrate.
Interlacing is a technique used in some older video formats where odd and even lines of the frame are transmitted separately.
This can cause flickering and reductions in clarity compared to progressive scans, where all lines are displayed simultaneously.
Monitor calibration can alter your perception of video quality; an uncalibrated monitor might display colors or contrasts inaccurately, impacting how you see the exported video.
The frame rate of your video, typically 24, 30, or 60 fps, affects motion clarity.
A mismatch between the export frame rate and the source frame rate can lead to motion artifacts or stuttering motion.
Transcoding is essential if you’re changing file formats.
If not done correctly, it can introduce quality loss, especially if the settings are not optimal.
Color profiles, like Rec.
709 or sRGB, govern how colors are interpreted.
If your video’s color profile doesn’t match your display’s, it can result in a dull or washed-out appearance.
Chroma subsampling reduces the color information in videos to save space.
Techniques like 4:2:0 or 4:2:2 compress colors more than luminance, which can cause color inaccuracies if viewing conditions change.
Streaming services apply their own compression when you upload.
This may reduce quality by applying settings to videos without your control, even if you export it in high quality.
Video editing software sometimes applies rendering options that may impact quality during export.
For instance, using “maximum render quality” or “use previews” can yield different results.
Your hardware during export can limit quality; older CPUs or GPUs may take shortcuts or less intensive processing, affecting the final output quality.
Some cameras use line skipping or pixel binning methods to capture video, leading to lower quality when outputting at higher resolutions compared to true full sensor readout.
The quality of the source footage itself plays a crucial role; if the original video is shot in poor lighting or with inadequate resolution, post-processing won’t fully rectify these issues.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) exporting requires compliant devices to deliver an enhanced viewing experience.
If a display lacks HDR compatibility, the quality may be downgraded to standard dynamic range.
Background noise in videos can be more noticeable with compression.
As data is reduced, noise can become prominent in the final output, diminishing perceived quality.
The use of variable frame rates (VFR) from recording devices can cause issues during export, making the video look jerky or out of sync if not addressed properly.
Editing in a color space that differs from the output can lead to inconsistencies in color reproduction when the video is exported, causing discrepancies in how it looks across devices.
Crowdsourced corrections to video quality settings via forums or shared findings can reveal industry secrets or lesser-known tricks that enhance quality, helping identify best practices among users.
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