CS5.5 vectorscope magnification not working? at DVinfo.net

Rob MacFarlane · November 14th, 2011, 09:50 AM

I've been using a DSC 'Splash' color chart and the OnLocation vectorscope to calibrate the PMW-EX1R camera, and after producing some incredibly color-saturated images from the camera realized that the DSC charts are calibrated such that the vectorscope must double (2X) the color values in order to place them in the boxes. In the CS5.5 64 bit Premiere Pro vectorscope there is a function for magnification that should do this (right click on the vectorscope image, the pull down menu has 'magnification' as the bottom entry) - only the function is greyed-out.

I've done a ton of digging around the net over the weekend and found references to this magnification feature being added in CS3 - and nothing about what might be causing the function to be greyed-out.

Can anyone point me in the right direction, or perhaps know if the feature is not yet available in CS5.5 64 bit?

Thanks much.

- rob

Kawika Ohumukini · November 14th, 2011, 10:18 AM

Magnification is the zoom level of video in the window, not for waveform signals. Magnification works when selecting Composite or Alpha. It doesn't work for all the other selections which are scopes.

Maybe as a workaround you can use an effect to boost all the colors 2x. Cheers.

Rob MacFarlane · November 15th, 2011, 02:14 AM

Thank you much for the information. I've had a conversation with DSC Labs, and what I learned is they deal primarily with hardware-based vectorscopes that typically have a 2X gain control - making it simple to adjust the scope to properly utilize the chart. It appears that Adobe's OnLocation does not have that feature - making that tool less useful for calibrating camera colors in real time.

I ended up making a clear acetate overlay I can tape to my monitor, and I drew on the acetate a 1/2 scale vectorscope graticule (sounds fancier than it is), and am able to use my acetate overlay to calibrate the camera to the DSC chart. It's been a fun evening so far, and tomorrow night I hope to finish up the color calibration.

- rob

Les Nagy · November 18th, 2011, 03:48 PM

It is my understanding that the X2 function for the vector scope did exist in CS3, but it was removed in the later verions. I have no idea why, seems rather idiotic to remove a feature.

Kawika Ohumukini · November 18th, 2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob MacFarlane

Thank you much for the information. I've had a conversation with DSC Labs, and what I learned is they deal primarily with hardware-based vectorscopes that typically have a 2X gain control - making it simple to adjust the scope to properly utilize the chart. It appears that Adobe's OnLocation does not have that feature - making that tool less useful for calibrating camera colors in real time.

I ended up making a clear acetate overlay I can tape to my monitor, and I drew on the acetate a 1/2 scale vectorscope graticule (sounds fancier than it is), and am able to use my acetate overlay to calibrate the camera to the DSC chart. It's been a fun evening so far, and tomorrow night I hope to finish up the color calibration.

- rob

Nice solution! Cheers

November 14th, 2011, 09:50 AM	#1
Rob MacFarlane Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: san francisco, CA Posts: 27	CS5.5 vectorscope magnification not working? I've been using a DSC 'Splash' color chart and the OnLocation vectorscope to calibrate the PMW-EX1R camera, and after producing some incredibly color-saturated images from the camera realized that the DSC charts are calibrated such that the vectorscope must double (2X) the color values in order to place them in the boxes. In the CS5.5 64 bit Premiere Pro vectorscope there is a function for magnification that should do this (right click on the vectorscope image, the pull down menu has 'magnification' as the bottom entry) - only the function is greyed-out. I've done a ton of digging around the net over the weekend and found references to this magnification feature being added in CS3 - and nothing about what might be causing the function to be greyed-out. Can anyone point me in the right direction, or perhaps know if the feature is not yet available in CS5.5 64 bit? Thanks much. - rob

November 14th, 2011, 10:18 AM	#2
Kawika Ohumukini Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 185	Re: CS5.5 vectorscope magnification not working? Magnification is the zoom level of video in the window, not for waveform signals. Magnification works when selecting Composite or Alpha. It doesn't work for all the other selections which are scopes. Maybe as a workaround you can use an effect to boost all the colors 2x. Cheers.

November 15th, 2011, 02:14 AM	#3
Rob MacFarlane Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: san francisco, CA Posts: 27	Re: CS5.5 vectorscope magnification not working? Thank you much for the information. I've had a conversation with DSC Labs, and what I learned is they deal primarily with hardware-based vectorscopes that typically have a 2X gain control - making it simple to adjust the scope to properly utilize the chart. It appears that Adobe's OnLocation does not have that feature - making that tool less useful for calibrating camera colors in real time. I ended up making a clear acetate overlay I can tape to my monitor, and I drew on the acetate a 1/2 scale vectorscope graticule (sounds fancier than it is), and am able to use my acetate overlay to calibrate the camera to the DSC chart. It's been a fun evening so far, and tomorrow night I hope to finish up the color calibration. - rob

November 18th, 2011, 03:48 PM	#4
Les Nagy Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: A Canadian in Canada, and sometimes Chile Posts: 265	Re: CS5.5 vectorscope magnification not working? It is my understanding that the X2 function for the vector scope did exist in CS3, but it was removed in the later verions. I have no idea why, seems rather idiotic to remove a feature.