Stabilizing Color Footage

[TruthOverFacts]

I'm working on some color projects from material transferred from film and need to stabilize the footage. I've only ever used Stab() which I understand can only be applied to black-and-white footage, so I'm looking for the best approach for color material.

Any tips or example scripts would be much appreciated! Thanks

[poisondeathray]

Originally Posted by TruthOverFacts

I've only ever used Stab() which I understand can only be applied to black-and-white footage

Stab is not limited to black and white

[johnmeyer]

You can look at the long threads about film restoration started by VideoFred. You will find scripts there fore doing all sorts of film restoration, including stabilizing camera shake and gate weave. His scripts use Depan. It's an old technology, but works really well.

I had to adjust this to make it standalone and hopefully I didn't break anything. Here is code to show how it's done:

source=Avisource(film)
stab_reference=source.tweak(cont=0.6).MT_binarize(threshold=80).greyscale().invert()
mdata=DePanEstimate(stab_reference,trust=1.0,dxmax=10,dymax=10)
stab=DePanStabilize(source,data=mdata,cutoff=0.5,dxmax=10,dymax=10,method=1,mirror=15)

[TruthOverFacts]

Originally Posted by poisondeathray

Stab is not limited to black and white

Oh I assumed it couldn't. I saw this on the wiki:

"This filter may not be suitable for color footage; apply with caution."

That scared me away from it.

[TruthOverFacts]

Originally Posted by johnmeyer

You can look at the long threads about film restoration started by VideoFred. You will find scripts there fore doing all sorts of film restoration, including stabilizing camera shake and gate weave. His scripts use Depan. It's an old technology, but works really well.

I had to adjust this to make it standalone and hopefully I didn't break anything. Here is code to show how it's done:

source=Avisource(film)
stab_reference=source.tweak(cont=0.6).MT_binarize(threshold=80).greyscale().invert()
mdata=DePanEstimate(stab_reference,trust=1.0,dxmax=10,dymax=10)
stab=DePanStabilize(source,data=mdata,cutoff=0.5,dxmax=10,dymax=10,method=1,mirror=15)

I'm confused. This script has greyscale in it? I'm working with color.

[johnmeyer]

Originally Posted by TruthOverFacts

I'm confused. This script has greyscale in it? I'm working with color.

It's a mask.

[VideoMilk78]

Originally Posted by TruthOverFacts

I'm confused. This script has greyscale in it? I'm working with color.

To elaborate on what John said: the grayscale is part a mask used as the Stab Reference, which in turn results in better stabilization