Hi Topaz Labs,
Here is the issue I am observing with my PAL 720×576i source when using Dione TV:
The deinterlacing itself looks clean and correct — all characters, edges, faces, walls and moving objects are sharp, stable and free of combing or stair‑stepping.
However, some static background textures (especially carpets or fine patterns) appear as if they are reproduced “one line out of two”, creating visible horizontal stepping or line‑doubling.
After analyzing the original SD frame from a DVD, the issue seems to come from the source itself, not from Dione TV:
The carpet texture in the original 576i frame already shows vertical resolution loss.
This is typical of older SD masters that were processed with vertical filtering, line averaging, anti‑aliasing filters, or composite→component conversions.
As a result, fine static textures contain real structural loss, where one scanline differs significantly from the next.
Dione TV’s motion‑adaptive deinterlacing correctly reconstructs moving objects and faces, but preserves static areas exactly as they exist in the source.
When upscaled to 1080p or 4K, these structural defects become more visible, giving the impression that the carpet is “interlaced” even though the rest of the image is perfectly deinterlaced
In short:
Dione TV is not creating the artifact! It is faithfully preserving a defect already present in the SD master, which becomes more noticeable after upscaling.
If needed, I can provide:
- the original 576i frame;
- the Dione TV output;
- the Proteus 4K output;
to illustrate how the issue originates in the source and is simply carried through the pipeline.
What I am observing is the following:
Dione TV performs a clean and correct deinterlacing on moving objects, faces, edges, and fine details.
However, static background textures (like carpets or patterned surfaces) appear as if they are reproduced “one line out of two,” even though the rest of the image is perfectly deinterlaced.
After testing multiple models, here is what seems to be happening:
- Dione TV preserves static areas exactly as they exist in the SD source
Dione TV is motion‑adaptive.
It reconstructs moving objects very well, but does not attempt to rebuild or reinterpret static textures.
If the SD master contains vertical filtering, line averaging, or resolution loss (common in older PAL DVD masters), Dione TV will faithfully preserve those defects.
This explains why the carpet looks “interlaced” even though the deinterlacing is correct.
- Proteus Standard amplifies the structural defects.
Proteus tries to restore detail, so it enhances:
- edges;
- micro‑textures;
- repeated patterns.
This means it also enhances the structural defects already present in the carpet, making the “line‑doubling” more visible in 1080p and even more in 4K.
- Proteus Natural behaves differently.
Proteus Natural applies a context‑aware unblur / deblurring process that seems to be guided by a focal‑plane or perceptual sharpness model.
As a result:
- it does not aggressively enhance damaged textures;
- it tends to smooth or homogenize problematic static patterns;
- the carpet looks much more natural and consistent;
- but the deinterlacing of fine details (hair, thin lines) is not handled correctly.
So Proteus Natural solves the carpet issue, but fails at deinterlacing fine motion‑dependent details.
- Ideal behavior would combine both approaches
The ideal solution would be:
- Dione TV’s accurate motion‑adaptive deinterlacing;
- Proteus Natural’s adaptive unblur / texture smoothing for static areas;
- without over‑enhancing damaged SD textures;
- without losing fine motion‑dependent detail.
This is why I suggested a “focal‑plane adaptive unblur” option:
a model that sharpens the subject but does not over‑reconstruct damaged background textures.
Kind regards, Vincent.
