hd color correction in less than ideal situations at DVinfo.net

Josh Bass · August 22nd, 2010, 12:07 AM

So, I'm going to be DPing a short film for a friend, and doing the color correction as well. We may (still undecided) end up shooting in HD (who does anything else these days? Well, people without access to HD cameras, that's who).

I'm still living in a mostly SD world. . .and my color correction monitor is the very SD Sony PVM 14m2u.

I have already determined that I can get a signal to it watching HD footage from an FCP timeline, using firewire, albeit with some serious aliasing/scaling issues.

The question is, what to do about the color correction? I understand HD and SD operate in different color spaces, and this affects the way one vs the other sees luminance/gamma and primary colors. Is there some thing I can run/apply to make this SD CRT monitor valid for HD color correction?

My other option is to use my Imac monitor itself to judge, though I understand computer monitors are in their own color space as well. So, again, is there something one can run or apply to make an Imac monitor valid for color correction?

I also have Panasonic/Vierra 42" PLasma TV, though the way it is positioned relative to where my workstation is, it's not very convenient. Nevertheless, could it be any help in the process?

The movie's destination? Wherever, though most likely film fests and DVDs as it is a short.

Perrone Ford · August 22nd, 2010, 12:20 AM

I graded my first HD short (shot on a 5D) on my calibrated SD monitor. Worked out just fine. I cut a DVD with that footage, played it back on that monitor, and a good SD TV. I cut a BluRay and watched that on 2 LCDs, a 72" plasma, and then projected it in a real theater. All looked good to me, so I stopped worrying about it.

I now have a decent, but non-professional setup with my Matrox MX02, and use that on my HD editing station. Works well for my needs. If this was a feature going to Sundance, I'd say maybe look at other options, but for basic fests and such, just do it the way you're doing it now. It'll be just fine.

Josh Bass · August 22nd, 2010, 02:01 AM

Thanks. So, what did you calibrate said monitor to? FCPs (or your NLE or choice) bars?

On a related note. . .on set, if said monitor can see some kind of signal from your HD cam, is it a reliable way to judge lighting/color? If you calibrate to your HD cam's bars?

Perrone Ford · August 22nd, 2010, 02:52 AM

Yes. I calibrated to my NLEs bars. My goal was not so much perfectly accurate color, but good exposure, and that was not hard to do on an SD monitor.

And on more critical shoots, yes I have taken this monitor along. And will again.

August 22nd, 2010, 12:07 AM	#1
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	hd color correction in less than ideal situations So, I'm going to be DPing a short film for a friend, and doing the color correction as well. We may (still undecided) end up shooting in HD (who does anything else these days? Well, people without access to HD cameras, that's who). I'm still living in a mostly SD world. . .and my color correction monitor is the very SD Sony PVM 14m2u. I have already determined that I can get a signal to it watching HD footage from an FCP timeline, using firewire, albeit with some serious aliasing/scaling issues. The question is, what to do about the color correction? I understand HD and SD operate in different color spaces, and this affects the way one vs the other sees luminance/gamma and primary colors. Is there some thing I can run/apply to make this SD CRT monitor valid for HD color correction? My other option is to use my Imac monitor itself to judge, though I understand computer monitors are in their own color space as well. So, again, is there something one can run or apply to make an Imac monitor valid for color correction? I also have Panasonic/Vierra 42" PLasma TV, though the way it is positioned relative to where my workstation is, it's not very convenient. Nevertheless, could it be any help in the process? The movie's destination? Wherever, though most likely film fests and DVDs as it is a short. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

August 22nd, 2010, 12:20 AM	#2
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	I graded my first HD short (shot on a 5D) on my calibrated SD monitor. Worked out just fine. I cut a DVD with that footage, played it back on that monitor, and a good SD TV. I cut a BluRay and watched that on 2 LCDs, a 72" plasma, and then projected it in a real theater. All looked good to me, so I stopped worrying about it. I now have a decent, but non-professional setup with my Matrox MX02, and use that on my HD editing station. Works well for my needs. If this was a feature going to Sundance, I'd say maybe look at other options, but for basic fests and such, just do it the way you're doing it now. It'll be just fine. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

August 22nd, 2010, 02:01 AM	#3
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Thanks. So, what did you calibrate said monitor to? FCPs (or your NLE or choice) bars? On a related note. . .on set, if said monitor can see some kind of signal from your HD cam, is it a reliable way to judge lighting/color? If you calibrate to your HD cam's bars? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

August 22nd, 2010, 02:52 AM	#4
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	Yes. I calibrated to my NLEs bars. My goal was not so much perfectly accurate color, but good exposure, and that was not hard to do on an SD monitor. And on more critical shoots, yes I have taken this monitor along. And will again. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.