Dragon Ball Z: Cooler Double Feature Discussion

Discussion regarding the entirety of the franchise in a general (meta) sense, including such aspects as: production, trends, merchandise, fan culture, and more.
User avatar
Acid_Reign
Advanced Regular
Posts: 1056
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:59 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Contact:

Post by Acid_Reign » Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:58 pm

biohazard wrote:Compare a png-24 image with a jpg-quality-100 one (not a jpg-quality-10...) and then tell us if you see any difference.
At the human eye there won't be any difference but the file size, smaller in the jpg image.
I was just demonstrating the point that one can not arbitrarily select an image format, post it up, and compare it with any other image in a critical analysis. The results are too varied and everyone is likely to use different settings. But it wouldn’t even matter if everyone used JPEG Quality 100, because JPEG is an inherently lossy format, and therefore it must discard data by definition. There may not be any perceptible difference at a glance, but when we get down to the nitty-gritty details, who’s to say what’s an attribute of the original encode or the compression scheme that somebody happened to use?
Sorry for the off-topic, but if we can save some bandwidth and the image we will obtain is visually identical everyone will be happier.
The compressibility of an image varies depending on the subject matter and how suited the algorithm is for dealing with it. As “most cartoons tend to have sharp edges, large areas of contiguous color, and nowhere near 256 different colors … PNG [is] a perfect choice” (PNG Tips for Cartoonists). JPEG, on the other hand, is more or less the opposite. It was designed specifically for photographs, and “is best at compressing smooth tonal transitions and cannot properly reproduce … harsh transitions [along] edges” (JPEG graphics, Web Style Guide).

Your image happens to be a smooth tonal transition, and so of course you are going to get better results from JPEG with that. But screenshots, especially animé, can only benefit from PNG. Whatever file size savings you may obtain from a lossy encoding will not be worth it. This is 2008, after all; it’s not like we’re really pressed for bandwidth, especially when everybody’s uploading to imageshack or photobucket.

User avatar
TheMajinRedComet
Patreon Supporter
Posts: 592
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 8:56 pm
Location: Space

Post by TheMajinRedComet » Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:37 pm

This is complicated...
Hiei: "So tell me - what's it like living in a constant haze of Stupidity?"
Hiei: "I know as much about games as I do puppies and huggs....Wake me up for the end of world"
Welcome to Super Vegeta's Big Bang Attack.... Welcome to Oblivion!!!
Remember "When things get weird, skip the last saga"-Chris Sabat

User avatar
Tanooki Kuribo
I Live Here
Posts: 4563
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:23 am
Location: Manhattan, New York
Contact:

Post by Tanooki Kuribo » Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:20 am

14 pages of graphs and charts debating wich version is better...

Can't we all just buy the version we like and be happy with that?

User avatar
Snail
I'm, pretty, cozy, here...
Posts: 1989
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:38 pm
Location: Canada

Post by Snail » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:03 am

At the very least, it's informative I think. =]

User avatar
BrollysKin
OMG CRAZY REGEN
Posts: 911
Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:32 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Post by BrollysKin » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:17 am

Tanooki Kuribo wrote:14 pages of graphs and charts debating wich version is better...

Can't we all just buy the version we like and be happy with that?
Isn't there a daizex theme song that mildly applies to this?
Like Star Wars? Like Podcasts?
Check out the Star Wars Action News Forums: www.swactionnews.com

User avatar
Acid_Reign
Advanced Regular
Posts: 1056
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:59 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Contact:

Post by Acid_Reign » Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:54 am

Tanooki Kuribo wrote:14 pages of graphs and charts debating wich version is better...

Can't we all just buy the version we like and be happy with that?
Certainly can, but recently I’ve been challenged on a few things. So, naturally, I’m going to defend my stances.
Snail wrote:At the very least, it's informative I think. =]
Well, I’m glad someone’s getting some use out of it…

User avatar
Gozar
Advanced Regular
Posts: 1172
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:18 am
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Post by Gozar » Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:59 am

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet. But regarding the colors...Does anyone else find it funny that the Case of this DF features a shot of Meta-Cooler with a green tint to him (Correct/DBOX) while the Disc has the same image but he's tinted Blue (FUNi Remastered).

Edit: Hey, take a gander at this......Take a look at THIS picture that someone here posted...

Now look at the image inside of your Double Features Cases...Behind the discs and insert it has the same image. Yet it looks very close to the DBOX Footage...DAMN YOU FUNI!!!

User avatar
Tsukento
I Live Here
Posts: 2600
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:34 pm
Location: Florida

Post by Tsukento » Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:33 am

While the Coola on the cover is vectored (WHY they went with that instead of an official image is beyond me), he does indeed have a bit of green tint to him.

Nice eye there. :lol:
[url=http://www.youtube.com/user/TsukentoX]YouTube Profile[/url]

User avatar
Gozar
Advanced Regular
Posts: 1172
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 2:18 am
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Post by Gozar » Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:35 am

Tsukento wrote:While the Coola on the cover is vectored (WHY they went with that instead of an official image is beyond me), he does indeed have a bit of green tint to him.

Nice eye there. :lol:
What's vectored mean? :lol:

User avatar
bkev
I Live Here
Posts: 2537
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:17 pm
Location: Twitter. Tweet-Tweet.

Post by bkev » Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:38 am

Much like Baskin-Robbins is witholding its thirty-second flavor for dubious reasons, FUNi is witholding the dragonboxes! :P. As for your question, Gozar, vectored means that they took a screencap and digitally edited it. Traced over, almost; to make it look "cleaner". At least, I think it does.
[quote="Brakus"]For all the flack that FUNimation gets on this forum for their quote about DBZ, there's some modicum of truth to it: a 9-year-old is born every day. Or in some cases, "reborn". DBZ may be a kids' show, but it's been so close to so many hearts all over Japan, America, and quite possibly, even the world.[/quote]

User avatar
Ex-Dubbie369
OMG CRAZY REGEN
Posts: 898
Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:14 am
Location: Anaheim, CA

Post by Ex-Dubbie369 » Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:45 am

BrollysKin wrote:Isn't there a daizex theme song that mildly applies to this?
Click.

User avatar
Tsukento
I Live Here
Posts: 2600
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:34 pm
Location: Florida

Post by Tsukento » Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:53 am

Think of it as a form of tracing and coloring but on Photoshop.

This is a form of vectoring:
Image

Since FUNi reintroduced DBZ, a lot of vectored art started to pop up.
[url=http://www.youtube.com/user/TsukentoX]YouTube Profile[/url]

User avatar
Acid_Reign
Advanced Regular
Posts: 1056
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:59 am
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Contact:

Post by Acid_Reign » Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:37 am

*Sees geeky stuff mentioned*

*Steps in*

Vectors are an alternative to raster (a.k.a. bitmap) image formats. They use mathematical equations to describe shapes, rather than pixels. This gives them the distinct advantages of A.) being able to be resized to any resolution without losing quality, and B.) appearing sharp without the use of anti-aliasing. They are ideal for logos, charts/graphs, line-art, etc. Two popular implementations of vector graphics that you’re likely already familiar with are fonts (yep, standard computer fonts), and Flash art. This is why they can both scale so quickly and efficiently to user-specified sizes.

An image is said to be “vectorized” if it was at first a bitmap, and subsequently either:
  • Underwent an automated conversion to vectors
  • Was filtered into having a stylized look characteristic of vector images (while still retaining bitmap properties)
  • Was referenced in the freehand drawing/tracing of an independent vector image.
This last one is what Tsukento was referring to. :D

kei17
I Live Here
Posts: 4142
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:23 am

Post by kei17 » Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:35 am

Some screenshots taken from my Japanese VHS

Image
Image

Needless to say, it's so bad

User avatar
jjgp1112
Kicks it Old-School
Posts: 7777
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:15 pm
Location: Crooklyn

Post by jjgp1112 » Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:54 pm

Actually, the Double Feature cover is the image of Cooler used on the original Return Of Cooler cover, which was original artwork given to Funi by TOEI.
Yamcha: Do you remember the spell to release him - do you know all the words?
Bulma: Of course! I'm not gonna pull a Frieza and screw it up!
Master Roshi: Bulma, I think Frieza failed because he wore too many clothes!
Cold World (Fanfic)
"It ain't never too late to stop bein' a bitch." - Chad Lamont Butler

SSj_Rambo
I Live Here
Posts: 3496
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:10 pm
Location: West City

Post by SSj_Rambo » Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:48 am

kei17 wrote:Some screenshots taken from my Japanese VHS

*Snip*
*Snip*
Thank you! I used them to make a three-way comparison of the colors in the FUNi double feature, the Dragonbox and the old Japanese VHS release.

*Note that since some of these shots had to be re-sized, this comparison should not be used to compare image quality/clarity, just the differences in the colors.

Image

Image

It's funny how the colors in Japan's first release match America's latest release so well.

MajinVejitaXV
Slut of the Daizenshuu EX Family
Posts: 3149
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:39 am

Post by MajinVejitaXV » Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:56 am

SSj_Rambo wrote:It's funny how the colors in Japan's first release match America's latest release so well.
FUNimation: Bringing you the approximate colors from a degraded VHS release from...what, 16 years ago? :P

-Corey

User avatar
Vekurotto
Regular
Posts: 663
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:00 am

Post by Vekurotto » Sat Nov 22, 2008 1:09 am

The VHS one looks kinda decent actually. :lol:
Be grateful the filler in Dragon Ball doesn't suck like the 3rd arc of Rurouni Kenshin.

[size=59][quote="Onikage725"]Anakin: I'm haunted by the kiss that you should never have given me. My heart is beating…hoping that kiss will not become a scar. You are in my very soul, tormenting me…what can I do? I will do anything you ask. If you are suffering as much as I am, please, tell me.

Me: YES! Please shut the fuck up!![/quote][/size]

User avatar
Raki
I Live Here
Posts: 2719
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:50 pm
Location: USA
Contact:

Post by Raki » Sat Nov 22, 2008 1:47 am

jjgp1112 wrote:Actually, the Double Feature cover is the image of Cooler used on the original Return Of Cooler cover, which was original artwork given to Funi by TOEI.
Then Toei should be striked for giving bad artwork.
The series doesn't start with the arrival of Raditz. Stop being lazy and watch Dragonball.

User avatar
Freeza Heika
OMG CRAZY REGEN
Posts: 957
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:03 pm
Location: Indianapolis

Post by Freeza Heika » Sat Nov 22, 2008 1:15 pm

After seeing that image of Cooler's face so many times, I have noticed something new (however irrelevant): he has a really curvy nose. Reminds me of Christmas elves.
My Super Awesome GT Origins Idea
"さあ、お前の罪を数えろ!"
"SuperSaiyan3Goku, give me all your breasts."

Post Reply