Weird problem with program monitor picture at DVinfo.net

Colin Zhang · January 8th, 2009, 04:15 AM

Hi all, my program monitor on CS4 (not sure what its called, the top right by default) has a weird problem. Whenever I play something on it, the colours appear washed out and different (say like if you put a translucent green box over the video track). The clip returns to normal if selected (ie with the handles around the footage). I will attach screenshots in a moment. Anyone else have this? Thanks.

Colin Zhang · January 8th, 2009, 04:26 AM

Here are two screenshots, one of when the problem is in action and another of what happens when the clip is selected. Also I might add that the footage is fine when exported.

Graham Hickling · January 8th, 2009, 06:23 AM

When you "play" the footage I believe Premiere is switching to an overlay mode - so my guess would be that there's a video card driver issue with the overlay. Do you have the latest drivers installed (or vise versa - does it happen with older drivers also)?

What kind of footage is this - avi, mpeg, Cineform?

Colin Zhang · January 8th, 2009, 05:08 PM

Thanks for the response. The latest video drivers appear to be installed on my computer. I haven't tried this with all formats, but it appears to happen regardless of what format footage it is. So far I have just been experimenting after getting CS4 so I do not have any additional footage to try.

Colin Zhang · January 27th, 2009, 01:02 AM

Anyone else have advice?

Peter Manojlovic · January 28th, 2009, 11:30 AM

At the top right of the program monitor, there's a triangular flyout...
Check to see the playback quality option...There should be Draft, Automatic, and best...
Perhaps draft is selected??

But yes, my other guess would be video card driver issues..

Good luck!!!

Colin Zhang · February 4th, 2009, 03:20 AM

Hmm, doesn't seem to be it. It displays this regardless of the quality mode.

Peter Manojlovic · February 4th, 2009, 08:42 AM

Shot in the dark Colin.......

But i noticed that you've got a PAL framesize for the bars, yet i'm under the impression you're working in an NTSC timeline...

Is it possible that you're mixing an matching different colour profiles from PAL to NTSC?

Colin Zhang · February 5th, 2009, 06:39 AM

Reinstalled video card drivers, no change.

Peter, as far as I can tell the bars have the same settings as the project.
Thanks for your help, hope I don't have to try reinstalling Premiere...

Mike McCarthy · February 5th, 2009, 11:52 AM

This is likely caused by strange settings for your video overlay. If you go into the advancced settings for your graphics card, you should be able to tweak the brightness, contrast, gamma, etc. Try reseting to defaults first. Tweak from there. The results of those changes aren't always apparent until you reboot the program.

Colin Zhang · February 6th, 2009, 02:25 AM

Didn't work either, thanks for trying though...so now I know it actually probably is an overlay issue, where can I go from here?

edit: tried reinstalling premiere, no luck
also, I am running a centrino 2 2.4ghz processor, 1gb ram, and the mobile Intel X4500MHD graphics card if that helps

Graham Hickling · February 6th, 2009, 06:13 AM

Some questions (searching for clues): What operating system and video card are you using? Do you have a single monitor or multiple ones? Do you have any video codec packs, or video hardware (like a Matrox card) installed? Did you/do you have a previous version of Premiere installed (and if so did it work OK?)

Edit: sorry didnt see your edit above about your graphics card.

Colin Zhang · February 6th, 2009, 07:16 AM

Hi Graham, the OS is XP Pro SP3 on a ThinkPad X200 laptop - no hardware, single monitor, and I believe I've got the K-Lite Codec Pack on here. Also if it matters VLC. Thanks for your time!

Peter Manojlovic · February 6th, 2009, 08:38 AM

Hey Colin....

I've always distrusted codec packs....
I'd personally get rid of it, and only install necessary codecs, as per job requirements.

Good luck!!!

Graham Hickling · February 6th, 2009, 10:15 AM

I agree! That K-lite codec pack would be very high on my index of suspicion (just because those weird colors look a lot like video info is being misinterpreted ... suggesting an issue with the either the videocard drivers or the codec).

Do you get that effect playing back with any other software - Virtualdub, Windows mediaplayer etc?

The problem is that Premiere's overlay is a bit "different" from the overlay in, say, Windows Mediaplayer ...I'm not really sure how it works.

January 8th, 2009, 04:15 AM	#1
Colin Zhang Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: beijing/mississauga Posts: 123	Weird problem with program monitor picture Hi all, my program monitor on CS4 (not sure what its called, the top right by default) has a weird problem. Whenever I play something on it, the colours appear washed out and different (say like if you put a translucent green box over the video track). The clip returns to normal if selected (ie with the handles around the footage). I will attach screenshots in a moment. Anyone else have this? Thanks.

January 8th, 2009, 04:26 AM	#2
Colin Zhang Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: beijing/mississauga Posts: 123	Here are two screenshots, one of when the problem is in action and another of what happens when the clip is selected. Also I might add that the footage is fine when exported. Attached Thumbnails

February 5th, 2009, 11:52 AM	#10
Mike McCarthy Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 517	This is likely caused by strange settings for your video overlay. If you go into the advancced settings for your graphics card, you should be able to tweak the brightness, contrast, gamma, etc. Try reseting to defaults first. Tweak from there. The results of those changes aren't always apparent until you reboot the program. __________________ For more information on these topics, check out my tech website at www.hd4pc.com

February 6th, 2009, 02:25 AM	#11
Colin Zhang Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: beijing/mississauga Posts: 123	Didn't work either, thanks for trying though...so now I know it actually probably is an overlay issue, where can I go from here? edit: tried reinstalling premiere, no luck also, I am running a centrino 2 2.4ghz processor, 1gb ram, and the mobile Intel X4500MHD graphics card if that helps Last edited by Colin Zhang; February 6th, 2009 at 05:18 AM.

January 8th, 2009, 06:23 AM	#3
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	When you "play" the footage I believe Premiere is switching to an overlay mode - so my guess would be that there's a video card driver issue with the overlay. Do you have the latest drivers installed (or vise versa - does it happen with older drivers also)? What kind of footage is this - avi, mpeg, Cineform?

January 8th, 2009, 05:08 PM	#4
Colin Zhang Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: beijing/mississauga Posts: 123	Thanks for the response. The latest video drivers appear to be installed on my computer. I haven't tried this with all formats, but it appears to happen regardless of what format footage it is. So far I have just been experimenting after getting CS4 so I do not have any additional footage to try.

January 27th, 2009, 01:02 AM	#5
Colin Zhang Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: beijing/mississauga Posts: 123	Anyone else have advice?

January 28th, 2009, 11:30 AM	#6
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	At the top right of the program monitor, there's a triangular flyout... Check to see the playback quality option...There should be Draft, Automatic, and best... Perhaps draft is selected?? But yes, my other guess would be video card driver issues.. Good luck!!!

February 4th, 2009, 03:20 AM	#7
Colin Zhang Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: beijing/mississauga Posts: 123	Hmm, doesn't seem to be it. It displays this regardless of the quality mode.

February 4th, 2009, 08:42 AM	#8
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Shot in the dark Colin....... But i noticed that you've got a PAL framesize for the bars, yet i'm under the impression you're working in an NTSC timeline... Is it possible that you're mixing an matching different colour profiles from PAL to NTSC?

February 5th, 2009, 06:39 AM	#9
Colin Zhang Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: beijing/mississauga Posts: 123	Reinstalled video card drivers, no change. Peter, as far as I can tell the bars have the same settings as the project. Thanks for your help, hope I don't have to try reinstalling Premiere...

February 6th, 2009, 06:13 AM	#12
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	Some questions (searching for clues): What operating system and video card are you using? Do you have a single monitor or multiple ones? Do you have any video codec packs, or video hardware (like a Matrox card) installed? Did you/do you have a previous version of Premiere installed (and if so did it work OK?) Edit: sorry didnt see your edit above about your graphics card.

February 6th, 2009, 08:38 AM	#14
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Hey Colin.... I've always distrusted codec packs.... I'd personally get rid of it, and only install necessary codecs, as per job requirements. Good luck!!!

February 6th, 2009, 10:15 AM	#15
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	I agree! That K-lite codec pack would be very high on my index of suspicion (just because those weird colors look a lot like video info is being misinterpreted ... suggesting an issue with the either the videocard drivers or the codec). Do you get that effect playing back with any other software - Virtualdub, Windows mediaplayer etc? The problem is that Premiere's overlay is a bit "different" from the overlay in, say, Windows Mediaplayer ...I'm not really sure how it works.