user3643: I have created a video with Sony Vegas Pro 8.5 with an intro that includes graphics, pan/crop events, and generated text. There is also a "lower third" banner right after it.
What is odd to me is that there are quite a few issues when I render it with "best" video rendering qualtiy, while "preview" gives me no troubles. While on "best" the problem is that the text, most of the images, and anything with a pan/crop event are blurred and/or wiggle. You can especially see the wiggle on the portrait images once the next image starts scrolling up and on the third slide for the duration it is showing.
Here is a "best" sample of the video on YouTube.
Here is a "preview" sample of the video on YouTube.
This makes no sense to me. Why is the "preview" setting better than the "best" setting? What exactly does this setting do? Vegas Pro 8.5, if it matters.
Sample Render settings:


Project properties:

Here are some snap shots that show it looks crisp with "preview" but not "best".
            Crisp "preview" snapshot on left                     Not crisp "best" snapshot on right.









user1871: This is the explanation for the four quality modes, as provided by Vegas tech support long ago:

Quality: Best
Scaling: bi-cubic/integration
Field Handling: on
Field Rendering: on (setting dependent)
Framerate Resample/IFR: on (switch dependent)



Quality: Good
Scaling: bi-linear
Field Handling: on
Field Rendering: on (setting dependent)
Framerate Resample/IFR: on (switch dependent)



Quality: Preview
Scaling: bi-linear
Field Handling: off
Field Rendering: off
Framerate Resample/IFR: always off



Quality: Draft
Scaling: point sample
Field Handling: off
Field Rendering: off
Framerate Resample/IFR: always off



Scaling:
These methods come into play when conforming sources that differ from
  the output size. They are also used when panned, cropped or resized in
  track motion.
Bi-Cubic/Integration - Best image resizing algorithm available in
  Vegas. Quality differences will be most noticeable when using very
  large stills or stretching small sources.
Bi-linear - Best compromise between speed and quality. This method
  will produce good results in most cases.
Point Sampling - Fast but produces poor results.



Field Handling:
This refers to the field conformance stage of Vegas's video engine.
  This includes Interlaced to Progressive conversion, Interlaced to
  interlaced output when scaling, motion or geometric Video FX and
  Transitions are involved. Skipping this stage can sometimes result in
  bad artifacts when high motion interlaced sources are used.



Field Rendering:
When the output format is interlaced, Vegas will internally render at
  the field rate (twice the frame rate) to achieve smooth motion and FX
  interpolation.



Frame Rate Resample / IFR (Interlace Flicker Reduction):
Frame Rate Resample:
This kicks in when speed changes are made through Velocity Envelopes
  and/or event stretching. In can also be used when up-converting low
  frame rate sources. This only kicks in if the resample switch is
  turned on and quality is set to good or best.
Interlace Flicker Reduction:
This kicks in if the event switch is turned on and quality is set to
  good or best. See Vegas' documentation for a description of this
  switch.


3643: <p>I have created a video with Sony Vegas Pro 8.5 with an intro that includes graphics, pan/crop events, and generated text. There is also a "lower third" banner right after it.</p>

<p>What is odd to me is that there are quite a few issues when I render it with "best" video rendering qualtiy, while "preview" gives me no troubles. While on "best" the problem is that the text, most of the images, and anything with a pan/crop event are blurred and/or wiggle. You can especially see the wiggle on the portrait images once the next image starts scrolling up and on the third slide for the duration it is showing.</p>

<p><a href="https://youtu.be/2UlEdiXXCi8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here is a "best" sample of the video on YouTube.</a></p>

<p><a href="https://youtu.be/RiyNJiWl4eA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here is a "preview" sample of the video on YouTube.</a></p>

<p>This makes no sense to me. Why is the "preview" setting better than the "best" setting? What exactly does this setting do? Vegas Pro 8.5, if it matters.</p>

<p>Sample Render settings:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Hcuoc.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Hcuoc.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/L1h7R.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/L1h7R.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Project properties:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/X4lHL.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/X4lHL.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Here are some snap shots that show it looks crisp with "preview" but not "best".</p>

<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Crisp "preview" snapshot on left &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not crisp "best" snapshot on right.</strong>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Uaf1J.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Uaf1J.png" width="320"></a>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/0jZMK.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/0jZMK.jpg" width="320"></a>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/45wN6.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/45wN6.png" width="320"></a>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/leqid.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/leqid.jpg" width="320"></a>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/vnp5A.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/vnp5A.png" width="320"></a>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/cYGCJ.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/cYGCJ.jpg" width="320"></a>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/9hns8.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/9hns8.jpg" width="320"></a>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/HC4Rt.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/HC4Rt.jpg" width="320"></a></p>
 1871: <p>This is the explanation for the four quality modes, as provided by Vegas tech support long ago:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Quality: Best</p>
  
  <p>Scaling: bi-cubic/integration</p>
  
  <p>Field Handling: on</p>
  
  <p>Field Rendering: on (setting dependent)</p>
  
  <p>Framerate Resample/IFR: on (switch dependent)</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>Quality: Good</p>
  
  <p>Scaling: bi-linear</p>
  
  <p>Field Handling: on</p>
  
  <p>Field Rendering: on (setting dependent)</p>
  
  <p>Framerate Resample/IFR: on (switch dependent)</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>Quality: Preview</p>
  
  <p>Scaling: bi-linear</p>
  
  <p>Field Handling: off</p>
  
  <p>Field Rendering: off</p>
  
  <p>Framerate Resample/IFR: always off</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>Quality: Draft</p>
  
  <p>Scaling: point sample</p>
  
  <p>Field Handling: off</p>
  
  <p>Field Rendering: off</p>
  
  <p>Framerate Resample/IFR: always off</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>Scaling:</p>
  
  <p>These methods come into play when conforming sources that differ from
  the output size. They are also used when panned, cropped or resized in
  track motion.</p>
  
  <p>Bi-Cubic/Integration - Best image resizing algorithm available in
  Vegas. Quality differences will be most noticeable when using very
  large stills or stretching small sources.</p>
  
  <p>Bi-linear - Best compromise between speed and quality. This method
  will produce good results in most cases.</p>
  
  <p>Point Sampling - Fast but produces poor results.</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>Field Handling:</p>
  
  <p>This refers to the field conformance stage of Vegas's video engine.
  This includes Interlaced to Progressive conversion, Interlaced to
  interlaced output when scaling, motion or geometric Video FX and
  Transitions are involved. Skipping this stage can sometimes result in
  bad artifacts when high motion interlaced sources are used.</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>Field Rendering:</p>
  
  <p>When the output format is interlaced, Vegas will internally render at
  the field rate (twice the frame rate) to achieve smooth motion and FX
  interpolation.</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>Frame Rate Resample / IFR (Interlace Flicker Reduction):</p>
  
  <p>Frame Rate Resample:</p>
  
  <p>This kicks in when speed changes are made through Velocity Envelopes
  and/or event stretching. In can also be used when up-converting low
  frame rate sources. This only kicks in if the resample switch is
  turned on <em>and</em> quality is set to good or best.</p>
  
  <p>Interlace Flicker Reduction:</p>
  
  <p>This kicks in if the event switch is turned on and quality is set to
  good or best. See Vegas' documentation for a description of this
  switch.</p>
</blockquote>
