Adobe Creative Cloud

One of the big changes brought about by Adobe's transition from the Adobe Creative Suite to the Adobe Creative Cloud is the fact that users now get software updates when they are available without having to purchase a separate software upgrade.

The Adobe Creative Cloud went through some updates recently, in particular, several of the video specific applications received some impressive and long desired new features that will make a video editor smile.

One feature that video editors have longed for and often had to work around, either by avoiding the situation or by purchasing a third-party plug-in, is the ability to upscale an image while preserving image detail.

Often times a video editor is limited because the footage they have on hand is at a smaller resolution than the project they're working on. Think of all the standard definition stock video libraries that became obsolete with the advent of high definition.

A video editor can find a workable solution by upscaling the footage, giving it a heavy color treatment, and then blending it in with some abstract textured footage. This technique often hides the digital artifacts generated by upscaling an image.

Adobe now provides a solution right in Adobe After Effects with the Detail Preserving-Upscale effect.

 

Adobe After Effects: Detail Preserving Upscale Effect

The Detail Preserving-Upscale effect in Adobe After Effects is easy to use and ideal for those moments when a video editor has footage smaller than the size of their comp. The effect is under the Distortion effects in the Effect menu and is applied by the video editor in the same way they would apply any effect in Adobe After Effects.

The video editor can use the effect to automatically scale the clip to either the comp's height or width, custom scale the overall clip, and control how much detail is preserved.

This is a welcome addition to After Effects and one that will revive the stock footage graveyard, be prepared for lots of outdated clips.

Chris "Ace" Gates is a four time Emmy Award-winning freelance writer and video producer.

Chris "Ace" Gates is a four time Emmy Award-winning writer and producer. He is a big fan of animation and transmedia storytelling.