color correction at DVinfo.net

Richard Bacevac · August 20th, 2006, 05:32 AM

Just started to learn color correction by a tutorial i found on the web.
I applied Hue/sat.,Levels,Curves,Brightness,Unsharp mask.

I looks better than original..on in my comp window,but sometimes when I encode the file to MPEG2 burn it and watch on TV is either too bright or some places too dark.

I just cant really tell when the correction is right.What is your workflow??

Mark Duckworth · August 20th, 2006, 07:06 AM

What software are you using? When you color correct an image and encode it to another format it may have a different color space than the image your coming from which would mean your image will look different. It is a good Idea to use a reference monitor to preview your image in the NTSC colorspace if that is your final output because computer screens show color differently and have different black levels.

Richard Bacevac · August 20th, 2006, 07:10 AM

Thanks.
I use After Effects for correction.Its possible to view on TV straight from AE??

Mark Duckworth · August 20th, 2006, 05:02 PM

Most NLE's have the ability to do a preview out to a tv hooked up to your video card but I am not sure about AE. If you are running it as a plugin through Premiere pro you should be able to preview it but this is just speculation as I dont use PPro.

Justine Haupt · September 4th, 2006, 09:11 PM

Of course, though, your video card must have tv-out... assuming it does the quick and easy way is simply to output your entire desktop to tv, and look at it that way.

In any case, the ability to preview on an external TV is a MUST for color grading.

Glenn Chan · September 5th, 2006, 06:58 AM

1- I wouldn't use the TV-out option from your video card... it may not necessarily be accurate. It may be affected by things like video card overlay settings.

2- Doesn't the latest version of AE have firewire out preview?

Nate Schmidt · September 5th, 2006, 03:03 PM

Yep, version 7 of AE has firewire preview jsut go to the video preview section of the preferences and change the preview from computer monitor to firewire.

Lee Wilson · September 5th, 2006, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Schmidt

Yep, version 7 of AE has firewire preview jsut go to the video preview section of the preferences and change the preview from computer monitor to firewire.

What does this do ?

Do you need a TV monitor with an iLink/firewire connection ??

Nate Schmidt · September 5th, 2006, 03:44 PM

Use your camera to act as a "firewire to tv converter" the video comes out of AE through firewire to a deck or camera in VTR mode and plays on the lcd display of the camera, then from the camera use composite or s-video (if possible) to go from the camera to the tv. That way you see your AE comps as they would look on a tv.

Lee Wilson · September 5th, 2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Schmidt

Use your camera to act as a "firewire to tv converter" the video comes out of AE through firewire to a deck or camera in VTR mode and plays on the lcd display of the camera, then from the camera use composite or s-video (if possible) to go from the camera to the tv. That way you see your AE comps as they would look on a tv.

Thanks !!!!!

Nate Schmidt · September 5th, 2006, 05:40 PM

No problem Lee

Dennis Khaye · September 5th, 2006, 11:14 PM

I heard composite video is better than S video, is this right?

Patomakarn Nitanontawat · September 5th, 2006, 11:34 PM

Another very important investment you should make is a "spider" to calibrate your monitor. Pantone offers some cheap kits, they will help. If your TV or monitor is not calibrated properly then you will be color correcting blind, for you have no reference.

Also get the book Color Correction for Digital Video by Steve Hullfish. Great book.

Emre Safak · September 6th, 2006, 08:53 AM

I am pretty sure this is due to differences in gamma and levels. Simply put, you need to preview through a broadcast monitor (not computer).

Mike Horrigan · September 6th, 2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Khaye

I heard composite video is better than S video, is this right?

No, S-Video is better than Composite.

Component is better than both of them though, maybe that's what you meant.

August 20th, 2006, 05:32 AM	#1
Richard Bacevac Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Czech republic Posts: 47	color correction Just started to learn color correction by a tutorial i found on the web. I applied Hue/sat.,Levels,Curves,Brightness,Unsharp mask. I looks better than original..on in my comp window,but sometimes when I encode the file to MPEG2 burn it and watch on TV is either too bright or some places too dark. I just cant really tell when the correction is right.What is your workflow??

August 20th, 2006, 07:06 AM	#2
Mark Duckworth Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 93	What software are you using? When you color correct an image and encode it to another format it may have a different color space than the image your coming from which would mean your image will look different. It is a good Idea to use a reference monitor to preview your image in the NTSC colorspace if that is your final output because computer screens show color differently and have different black levels. __________________ Intel Core 2 Quad E6600(@3GHz) \| Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT/1GB PCI-e x16 DVI \| 8GB DDR2-SDRAM \| 2 x 1TB S-ATA2/7200rpm/32MB Hard Drives \| Vista Ultimate 64

August 20th, 2006, 05:02 PM	#4
Mark Duckworth Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 93	Most NLE's have the ability to do a preview out to a tv hooked up to your video card but I am not sure about AE. If you are running it as a plugin through Premiere pro you should be able to preview it but this is just speculation as I dont use PPro. __________________ Intel Core 2 Quad E6600(@3GHz) \| Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT/1GB PCI-e x16 DVI \| 8GB DDR2-SDRAM \| 2 x 1TB S-ATA2/7200rpm/32MB Hard Drives \| Vista Ultimate 64

September 4th, 2006, 09:11 PM	#5
Justine Haupt Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 208	Of course, though, your video card must have tv-out... assuming it does the quick and easy way is simply to output your entire desktop to tv, and look at it that way. In any case, the ability to preview on an external TV is a MUST for color grading. __________________ ~Justine "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams" -Arthur O'Shaunessey (as quoted by Willy Wonka)

September 5th, 2006, 03:03 PM	#7
Nate Schmidt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Welland ON Posts: 515	Yep, version 7 of AE has firewire preview jsut go to the video preview section of the preferences and change the preview from computer monitor to firewire. __________________ "We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."

August 20th, 2006, 07:10 AM	#3
Richard Bacevac Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Czech republic Posts: 47	Thanks. I use After Effects for correction.Its possible to view on TV straight from AE??

September 5th, 2006, 06:58 AM	#6
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	1- I wouldn't use the TV-out option from your video card... it may not necessarily be accurate. It may be affected by things like video card overlay settings. 2- Doesn't the latest version of AE have firewire out preview?

September 5th, 2006, 03:44 PM	#9
Nate Schmidt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Welland ON Posts: 515	Use your camera to act as a "firewire to tv converter" the video comes out of AE through firewire to a deck or camera in VTR mode and plays on the lcd display of the camera, then from the camera use composite or s-video (if possible) to go from the camera to the tv. That way you see your AE comps as they would look on a tv. __________________ "We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."

September 5th, 2006, 05:40 PM	#11
Nate Schmidt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Welland ON Posts: 515	No problem Lee __________________ "We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."

September 5th, 2006, 11:14 PM	#12
Dennis Khaye Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 255	I heard composite video is better than S video, is this right?

September 5th, 2006, 11:34 PM	#13
Patomakarn Nitanontawat Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 97	another investment Another very important investment you should make is a "spider" to calibrate your monitor. Pantone offers some cheap kits, they will help. If your TV or monitor is not calibrated properly then you will be color correcting blind, for you have no reference. Also get the book Color Correction for Digital Video by Steve Hullfish. Great book.

September 6th, 2006, 08:53 AM	#14
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	I am pretty sure this is due to differences in gamma and levels. Simply put, you need to preview through a broadcast monitor (not computer).