High motion
Encyclopedia
High motion is the characteristic of video or film footage displayed possessing a sufficiently high frame rate
(or field rate) that moving images do not blur or strobe even when tracked closely by the eye. The most common forms of high motion are NTSC
and PAL
video (ie. “normal television”) at their native display rates. Movie film (at the standard 24 frame/s) does not portray high motion even when shown on television monitors.
Alternate use: In the context of digital video compression, “high motion” is sometimes used to describe footage in which frames change too rapidly for motion prediction techniques to be effective. This article describes only the high frame rate definition.
was developed, producers found that 18–24 frames per second was adequate for portraying motion in a movie theater environment. Flicker was still a problem at these rates, but projectors solved this by projecting each frame twice, thus creating a refresh rate
of 36–48 Hz without using excessive amounts of film. However when television was developed, there was no corresponding way to capture a video frame and project it twice. The solution to this was interlace, which had a side effect that 50 to 60 images per second were presented to the viewer.
Television producers found that these higher image rates made certain shots possible that were unacceptable on film. Camera pans and text scrolls could be faster. Handheld camera work seemed less objectionable, and most importantly, sport
s action was much clearer — particularly when following a ball was critical.
or the FIFA World Cup
, for example); however, more recent motion adaptive converters can minimize this. Showscan’s research indicates that an average of 66.7 frames per second is the upper limit of what the human eye can perceive, and higher frame rates have no further effect, except in reducing flicker. (See Refresh rate
.)
film recorders lost its high motion characteristic.) This had the result of high motion being associated with news coverage and low-budget programming such as sitcoms or soap opera
s. Higher-budget programming on television was usually shot on film. In the 1950s, when Hollywood experimented with higher frame rates for films (such as with the Todd AO process) some objected to the more video-like look (although the inability to convert such films for projection in regular theaters was a more serious problem).
High motion is often criticized as interfering with the suspension of disbelief
, and making it difficult to forget that the viewer is watching actors performing a scene. Some feel that this is an inherent advantage to lower frame rates, while others suggest that it is due to the historical availability of high motion only in programs that are least able to use the medium artistically, and the evolution of acting techniques based on lack of high motion. In areas where high motion drama is more common, such as Britain, viewers tend to tolerate the look better.
technology now makes it possible to shoot video at the “film look” rate of 24 frame/s at little or no additional cost. This has resulted in less high motion on television in recent years.
The future presence of digital projectors in theaters opens up the possibility that Hollywood movies could someday include high motion — perhaps in action films intercut with 24 frame/s for non-action scenes. The MaxiVision48
3-perf film format promotes this use with its ability to switch from 24 frame/s to 48 frame/s on the fly during projection. However, 3-perf has not seen much adaptation as a projection format.
Director Peter Jackson
has announced that the two-part Hobbit film is being shot at 48 fps, using the Red Digital Cinema Epic camera system.
Frame rate
Frame rate is the frequency at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames. The term applies equally well to computer graphics, video cameras, film cameras, and motion capture systems...
(or field rate) that moving images do not blur or strobe even when tracked closely by the eye. The most common forms of high motion are NTSC
NTSC
NTSC, named for the National Television System Committee, is the analog television system that is used in most of North America, most of South America , Burma, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and some Pacific island nations and territories .Most countries using the NTSC standard, as...
and PAL
PAL
PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system...
video (ie. “normal television”) at their native display rates. Movie film (at the standard 24 frame/s) does not portray high motion even when shown on television monitors.
Alternate use: In the context of digital video compression, “high motion” is sometimes used to describe footage in which frames change too rapidly for motion prediction techniques to be effective. This article describes only the high frame rate definition.
History
In the early 20th century when 35 mm movie film35 mm film
35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...
was developed, producers found that 18–24 frames per second was adequate for portraying motion in a movie theater environment. Flicker was still a problem at these rates, but projectors solved this by projecting each frame twice, thus creating a refresh rate
Refresh rate
The refresh rate is the number of times in a second that a display hardware draws the data...
of 36–48 Hz without using excessive amounts of film. However when television was developed, there was no corresponding way to capture a video frame and project it twice. The solution to this was interlace, which had a side effect that 50 to 60 images per second were presented to the viewer.
Television producers found that these higher image rates made certain shots possible that were unacceptable on film. Camera pans and text scrolls could be faster. Handheld camera work seemed less objectionable, and most importantly, sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s action was much clearer — particularly when following a ball was critical.
Definition of high motion
There are no commonly-used imaging systems that run at rates higher than 30 frame/s but lower than 48 Hz, so 48 Hz or higher is the de-facto standard for high motion. The effects of high motion can be reduced or negated by converter lag when NTSC video is converted to PAL, or vice versa (a particular problem for coverage of international sporting events such as the Olympic GamesOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
or the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, for example); however, more recent motion adaptive converters can minimize this. Showscan’s research indicates that an average of 66.7 frames per second is the upper limit of what the human eye can perceive, and higher frame rates have no further effect, except in reducing flicker. (See Refresh rate
Refresh rate
The refresh rate is the number of times in a second that a display hardware draws the data...
.)
High motion and the “video look”
Until the late 1990s, programs shot on video always possessed high motion, while programming shot on film never did. (The exceptions: Certain motion simulators and amusement park rides included film projected at 48–60 frames per second, and video recorded on KinescopeKinescope
Kinescope , shortened to kine , also known as telerecording in Britain, is a recording of a television program made by filming the picture from a video monitor...
film recorders lost its high motion characteristic.) This had the result of high motion being associated with news coverage and low-budget programming such as sitcoms or soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s. Higher-budget programming on television was usually shot on film. In the 1950s, when Hollywood experimented with higher frame rates for films (such as with the Todd AO process) some objected to the more video-like look (although the inability to convert such films for projection in regular theaters was a more serious problem).
High motion is often criticized as interfering with the suspension of disbelief
Suspension of disbelief
Suspension of disbelief or "willing suspension of disbelief" is a formula for justifying the use of fantastic or non-realistic elements in literary works of fiction...
, and making it difficult to forget that the viewer is watching actors performing a scene. Some feel that this is an inherent advantage to lower frame rates, while others suggest that it is due to the historical availability of high motion only in programs that are least able to use the medium artistically, and the evolution of acting techniques based on lack of high motion. In areas where high motion drama is more common, such as Britain, viewers tend to tolerate the look better.
Effects of new technology
As of the 2000s, digital videoDigital video
Digital video is a type of digital recording system that works by using a digital rather than an analog video signal.The terms camera, video camera, and camcorder are used interchangeably in this article.- History :...
technology now makes it possible to shoot video at the “film look” rate of 24 frame/s at little or no additional cost. This has resulted in less high motion on television in recent years.
The future presence of digital projectors in theaters opens up the possibility that Hollywood movies could someday include high motion — perhaps in action films intercut with 24 frame/s for non-action scenes. The MaxiVision48
Maxivision
Maxivision 24 and Maxivision 48 are thirty-five millimeter motion picture film formats, designed by Dean Goodhill in 1999. The system uses normal thirty-five millimetre motion picture film, capturing images on three perforations of film per frame...
3-perf film format promotes this use with its ability to switch from 24 frame/s to 48 frame/s on the fly during projection. However, 3-perf has not seen much adaptation as a projection format.
Director Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
has announced that the two-part Hobbit film is being shot at 48 fps, using the Red Digital Cinema Epic camera system.