FCPX Effects Causing Image to Unsharpened

I am having issues finding the problem that is affecting all my video files across multiple projects.
Whenever I add effects to grade a clip, they seem to unsharpen the image. It is not specific
to any one plugin but rather any effect added to the video file.

I made a screengrab showing what is going on. The image seems to be less sharpened when my effects
are turned on, but while I am adjusting the amount of any plugin, the image magically sharpens itself.
But once I let go of the adjustment, the file goes back to being blurry around the eyes.

I let each file render and it still looks unsharpened.
What is causing my files to unsharpen when I add any effect?


vimeo.com/179506811/7a60828c73

This sounds like maybe you have the viewer set to "Better Performance" rather than "Better Quality". Usually this is most noticeable when playing back a clip, while static clips generally still look OK. You can check that setting at the upper right of the viewer in FCPX. If that is not the answer, post back with details; i.e. codec, project format, etc.

Hey crhome

I look at your video and I see it's happening on a retimed clip.

Have you tried first to use Optical Flow for your retiming ?

Can you try the same on a non-retimed clip ? And can you try as well without your sharpen effect ?

Have you tried as well to stack less color effects, do more in one, in order to preserve more quality in your clip ? Last but not least, I would advise to move down the sharpening just before you add the grain. Sharpening is actually destructive so I'd do it as late as possible.

Manoucho, you are a lifesaver. Changing the retiming quality to Optical Flow brought back all the lost quality.

I added and removed the video effects and the quality never dissipated now that Optical Flow was turned on.

Glad to hear !