exporting still image from HDV in FCP results in different color? at DVinfo.net

David Aviv Nussbaum · July 1st, 2009, 03:52 PM

When I export a still image from an HDV timeline and open it in final cut, I resize it to 1920 so it's not squished, but when I reimport it into Final cut the shades are a bit off? It's a pain in the butt trying to color correct it exactly. I was wondering if there is an easier way to solve this problem?

Battle Vaughan · July 1st, 2009, 04:44 PM

If you are exporting from a Windows timeline and importing into a Mac timeline, it may be the well-known problem of the way Quicktime handles gamma between the two platforms. Or it may be that you are importing the image into, say, Photoshop for resizing (which should not be necessary) and the icc profile of the image editing program is changing the color.

However, if you are working from one FCP timeline to another, I am puzzled by the conversion to 1920 as hdv at 1440 with rectangular pixels is handled automatically by Final Cut and it should not be distorted in the first place. And the color problem is hard to figure if you are working all within fcp. Maybe you can provide more specifics about your workflow.

I just did at test using this: modify >make freeze frame. Make second sequence, drag the freeze frame to the timeline on this empty sequence, export using quicktime conversion as still image (png).
Save to desktop or someplace. I then opened a new project, imported the png, and it was identical in color and size to the one on the other project..... let us know more about the details of your process and someone here will be sure to help. /Battle Vaughan/miamiherald.com video team

July 1st, 2009, 03:52 PM	#1
David Aviv Nussbaum Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States Posts: 32	exporting still image from HDV in FCP results in different color? When I export a still image from an HDV timeline and open it in final cut, I resize it to 1920 so it's not squished, but when I reimport it into Final cut the shades are a bit off? It's a pain in the butt trying to color correct it exactly. I was wondering if there is an easier way to solve this problem?

July 1st, 2009, 04:44 PM	#2
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	If you are exporting from a Windows timeline and importing into a Mac timeline, it may be the well-known problem of the way Quicktime handles gamma between the two platforms. Or it may be that you are importing the image into, say, Photoshop for resizing (which should not be necessary) and the icc profile of the image editing program is changing the color. However, if you are working from one FCP timeline to another, I am puzzled by the conversion to 1920 as hdv at 1440 with rectangular pixels is handled automatically by Final Cut and it should not be distorted in the first place. And the color problem is hard to figure if you are working all within fcp. Maybe you can provide more specifics about your workflow. I just did at test using this: modify >make freeze frame. Make second sequence, drag the freeze frame to the timeline on this empty sequence, export using quicktime conversion as still image (png). Save to desktop or someplace. I then opened a new project, imported the png, and it was identical in color and size to the one on the other project..... let us know more about the details of your process and someone here will be sure to help. /Battle Vaughan/miamiherald.com video team