This might sound like a really basic question, but, here goes.  I've bought a new MBP and MC 3.0. I had been using Avid Xpress Pro on my G4 for 4 years before now.  I'm on a project now on site and want to use MC as opposed to what my producer wants me to us FCP.  Here's my question:

Why when I import graphics (jps, psd, etc.) into MC does it look like lower resolution?  Even when I do 1:1? On FCP they look so much better than Avid MC.  Is there a setting I should be using that perhaps I'm not?  The imported graphics on MC definitely look much less clean than in FCP or Preview.

twocoasts:

Why when I import graphics (jps, psd, etc.) into MC does it look like lower resolution?  Even when I do 1:1?

There is absolutely no reason for GFX to look any different in your Avid system.

First thing you need to look at is the quality button in the lower left hand side of the timeline. It should be set to green/Green or full quality.

After that, tell us how your GFX are prepared (File size, frame size, etc), what project type you are in and in what monitor you are viewing them.

Are you playing back in Green/Green, or Green/Yellow?

green/green.  Theme graphic:  jpg: 1.8MB,  dimensions:2250x1688, Color: RGB.  I am viewing them on my MBP 17"... but I'm also viewing the FCP and preview the same way.  Does it have anything to do with OMF and MXF? When I import into FCP it imports as photo-jpg... is that a higher res than MC's 1:1?  But I must say whether I import at 1:1 or DV25 it looks exactly the same... not as clean as FCP..

No, what's happening is, in the Avid, your huge file is being resized to 720 x 540. What you want to do is to drop the pic into the timeline and add an "Avid Pan and Zoom" effect. Navigate to the still on your HD and use this effect to move and resized the large photo. This will give you the full res (Make sure you set it to render as Avid High Quality).

OK, I hate to do this to you, but I just went to Pan&Zoom (I've never used it before) and was looking through the MC Help Manul... OMG...it's so to take in at this moment, when I'm under the gun...Is there any way you can describe what exactly I should do in Pan & Zoom... for example..how do I navigate to my hardrive and resize the photo?  thanks so much I really appreciate it...

Ok, drop the proxie into the timeline. Apply the P&Z effect, enter effects mode, click the "More information" button in the upper-left hand corner of the effect editor window, navigate to the still file on your HD and hit OK. Now change source to target (or maybe vice versa, can't get to my interface right now). This will show you  the changes as you make them. Now, just use the sliders to move the image around and to, if you wish, program moves around the high res photo.

Also make sue that you watch the Linear/Spline controls, there are actually two in the interface. An overall setting and a particular IN/OOUT set of controls. Then under filter, set the system to render in Avid High or Ultra High quality. Don't worry if it looks a little ratty while you are setting up the move, as soon as you render, the still will be high quality.

thanks for the P&Z info...I will definitely use it for other gfx too.  But after doing that it came out looking the same. It hadn't been too large originally within my composer windows... just less clean....especially with the smaller type.  The FCP is still markedly cleaner.  Could it be a resolution issue as far as importing?

twocoasts:

green/green.  Theme graphic:  jpg: 1.8MB,  dimensions:2250x1688, Color: RGB.  I am viewing them on my MBP 17"... but I'm also viewing the FCP and preview the same way.  Does it have anything to do with OMF and MXF? When I import into FCP it imports as photo-jpg... is that a higher res than MC's 1:1?  But I must say whether I import at 1:1 or DV25 it looks exactly the same... not as clean as FCP..

Just to be sure here ...

Look under your Settings, Media Creation tab.  Make sure that Imports are set to 1:1 and not another resolution.   I have seen many situations where an editor had captured footage from tape as 1:1 but had not change the compression setting in the image import menu to 1:1.  You should, in fact, check all the tabs in Media Creation to see that things are set the way you really want them.

If you already checked that I am at a loss. It has been my experience that FCPs resizing of large images to small (what you are doing here I believe) is of lower quality than Avid's due to the lack of subpixel rendering in FCP.  But that is another thread.

Good luck,

Jef