SD to HD with Final Cut Pro
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Converting SD to HD in Final Cut Pro with Topaz Enlarge
This tutorial will explore the process of using Topaz Enhance in Final Cut Pro to convert interlaced 720x480 29.97 fps footage into progressive 960x720 HD. Please download the original video and/or project file to follow along.
Topaz Enhance works differently in Final Cut Pro than in After Effects or Premiere Pro, especially the Topaz Enlarge filter. This is why we urge users to read the Final Cut Pro section of the Topaz Enhance User’s Manual, which contains important information pertinent to the correct operation of Topaz Enhance in Final Cut Pro. Here is the User's Manual.
Overview: In order to convert SD to HD with Topaz Enlarge in Final Cut Pro you must use two separate sequences. One sequence, src, will include the footage at its original size, matching the footage’s frame rate and interlacing. The sequence src will be nested in a second sequence called enlarge. We apply the Topaz Enlarge filter to src and get our result in enlarge. More detailed steps follow:
First, open up Final Cut Pro. Go to Final Cut Pro → Audio/Video Settings. It should look like this:
Set the Sequence Preset to whatever format you’d like your output video to be. Make sure that the frame rate matches perfectly with your footage. In this case, because we’re converting from 480i SD to 720p HD, we’ll select the DVCPRO HD 720p30 preset. Click OK.
Create a new project by selecting File → New Project.
Import your footage (cheer.avi) into the project. Note that the Field Dominance is “Lower (Even)”:
Rename “Sequence 1” to “src” and change its Field Dominance to match your footage by right clicking on it. In this case it will be “Lower (Even)”:
Drag cheer.avi into the src sequence. Click “No” when Final Cut Pro asks you to match formats. Double click the cheer.avi footage in the timeline to open it up in the Viewer. On the Motion tab in the Viewer, make sure the Scale is set to exactly 100, not 150:
Now make a new sequence called enlarge. This time make sure that its Field Dominance is set to None:
Double click enlarge to bring it up on the timeline and drag src into it. Click No when prompted to change sequence settings. Go to Effects → Video Filters → Topaz Enhance → Enlarge and apply it to the sequence. The video will immediately enlarge to fill the sequence.
To change the filter settings, bring up src in the Viewer by right clicking on it and selecting “Open in Viewer”. We’ll use the default settings for now, but feel free to experiment with the settings on your own:
And that’s it. To pan the image make sure you pan the original footage rather than the sequence src.
Render enlarge and you’re done.
If you have any questions about this tutorial or Topaz Enhance in general, please visit our Support page and we’ll get back to you fast. Thanks.
Converting SD to HD in Final Cut Pro with Topaz Enlarge
This tutorial will explore the process of using Topaz Enhance in Final Cut Pro to convert interlaced 720x480 29.97 fps footage into progressive 960x720 HD. Please download the original video and/or project file to follow along.
Topaz Enhance works differently in Final Cut Pro than in After Effects or Premiere Pro, especially the Topaz Enlarge filter. This is why we urge users to read the Final Cut Pro section of the Topaz Enhance User’s Manual, which contains important information pertinent to the correct operation of Topaz Enhance in Final Cut Pro. Here is the User's Manual.
Overview: In order to convert SD to HD with Topaz Enlarge in Final Cut Pro you must use two separate sequences. One sequence, src, will include the footage at its original size, matching the footage’s frame rate and interlacing. The sequence src will be nested in a second sequence called enlarge. We apply the Topaz Enlarge filter to src and get our result in enlarge. More detailed steps follow:
First, open up Final Cut Pro. Go to Final Cut Pro → Audio/Video Settings. It should look like this:
Set the Sequence Preset to whatever format you’d like your output video to be. Make sure that the frame rate matches perfectly with your footage. In this case, because we’re converting from 480i SD to 720p HD, we’ll select the DVCPRO HD 720p30 preset. Click OK.
Create a new project by selecting File → New Project.
Import your footage (cheer.avi) into the project. Note that the Field Dominance is “Lower (Even)”:
Rename “Sequence 1” to “src” and change its Field Dominance to match your footage by right clicking on it. In this case it will be “Lower (Even)”:
Drag cheer.avi into the src sequence. Click “No” when Final Cut Pro asks you to match formats. Double click the cheer.avi footage in the timeline to open it up in the Viewer. On the Motion tab in the Viewer, make sure the Scale is set to exactly 100, not 150:
Now make a new sequence called enlarge. This time make sure that its Field Dominance is set to None:
Double click enlarge to bring it up on the timeline and drag src into it. Click No when prompted to change sequence settings. Go to Effects → Video Filters → Topaz Enhance → Enlarge and apply it to the sequence. The video will immediately enlarge to fill the sequence.
To change the filter settings, bring up src in the Viewer by right clicking on it and selecting “Open in Viewer”. We’ll use the default settings for now, but feel free to experiment with the settings on your own:
And that’s it. To pan the image make sure you pan the original footage rather than the sequence src.
Render enlarge and you’re done.
If you have any questions about this tutorial or Topaz Enhance in general, please visit our Support page and we’ll get back to you fast. Thanks.
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