Bad Artifact Problem-Help!

I'm having these artifacts in FCP, Motion, in all my monitors, and printed in my final product.
Any clues on how to get rid of them?

Thanks,
Ken



Dual 2ghz Power Pc
5.5 gig ram
OSX 10.4.6
FCP 5.0
Motion 2.0
QT 7.0.4
Ata Radeon X800 XT

Drives are all less than 60% filled

Have you tried a different monitor because as i look at this i see that this is also in the grey areas too?

by the way updating your os to 10.4.11 isn't a bad thing for fcp5. i would also look for a universal upgrade it has a lot of fixes in it.

""" What you do with what you have, is more important than what you could do, with what you don't have."

> > > Knowledge + Action = Wisdom - J. Corbett 1992 """"

Are you having the same problem displaying images from any other application besides Motion?

If its a monitor problem you should see the same problem in other applications. Sorry for stating the obvious but check all of your cables and possibly try a different monitor.

Although this appears to be a display issue with the defect in the menu as well as the image, this probably isn't the solution, but check to make sure that you aren't using any eval filters that might place a watermark because the license expired.

It occurs in Motion and Final Cut Pro. It is also being outputted to files, tapes, and DVDs, so the artifacts show up on totally separate systems.
There were no filters used on the example.

I'm not clear on just what the artifacts are. Is the blue haze the real image, and the checkerboard stripes the artifacts, or is the blue haze part of the problem? If it's the checkerboarding, is it possible that they represent areas of partial transparency? They wouldn't show up as checkerboards on output, though. Is this a single track of video, or are you superimposing tracks? Does this happen only in one project/sequence, or everything you have? Without more details, we're pretty lost.

Scott

The artifacts are the checkerboarding.
Checkerboarding artifact is not representing transparency.
Artifact happens both single tracks and compositing.
Even shows up when only video is a black slug.
Happens on all projects and sequences.

Thanks,
Ken

open up fcp and take a screen shot then post that.

if you look at the picture posted you will see that this artifacting is not just in the viewer area. it is all over the entire screen shot. no program will cause this.

this is in either the video card, system settings or the monitor. my best guess is the monitor or video card.

1. does this happen only when you place an element into the canvas?
2. do you have external video output?
3. does the artifacts always match the color of the element?
4. what happens when nothing is in the canvas?

if question 2 is yes then check your video output settings. as a long shot it could be that it is set to desktop cinema and the option is having problems.

""" What you do with what you have, is more important than what you could do, with what you don't have."

> > > Knowledge + Action = Wisdom - J. Corbett 1992 """"

Thanks for the details. I'm still lost .

Have you tried trashing preferences? If you change the way transparency is represented (to not checkerboard) does it change what the artifact looks like? I know you said it's not transparency related, but since we don't know what it is, this might give a clue. You said it also happens on a slug, but I can't see any artifacting in the black area of the clip you posted. What does it look like on a slug? Does it move at all when you play the timeline?

Another universal question - what have you installed or upgraded recently? When did you first notice this happening?

Scott

I'll try all these suggestions later when I have time.
I've trashed prefs no change.
I reloaded FCP Studio about 4 months ago, no change.
I do suspect the video card or monitor...BUT could this affect my output to tape too?
I'm outputting by firewire to a sony dsr-11

Ken

Have you tried this project on another computer. Perhaps bad memory on your video card?
-V

Hi Ken

Are you running any form or software or hardware accelerator for your ATI X800? Such as ATIccelerator?

If you are then disable it. If you're not sure check your system preferences for the ATIcelerator Control Panel.

It could also be overheating of the Video card due to dust - open up your G5 and clean all the dust CAREFULLY from all the internal parts especially the GFX card. You could use a duster/blower for camera lenses or a small computer vacuum.

Another thing to do would be to reseat your video card - take it out and clean it then clean the PCI slot and then put it back in.

Take precautions to earth yourself before handling the card or cleaning inside your G5.

Clean the fans as well as you may find the G5 runs a little quieter after a good clean...



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