FCP shifts color, slightly. at DVinfo.net

Chris Mills · October 8th, 2006, 03:18 AM

I have some miniDV progressive PAL footage I captured direct to disk from my Canon XL2 (anamorphic) using DVRack. The color of the clip darkens slightly when I bring it into FCP and when I export as TIFF I the histogram shows that the color has been resampled. How can I get FCP to leave my footage alone so that I can simply export my clips as TIFF sequences (I'll be brining them into Shake).

Any advice would be very welcome. I am stumped on this. I've tried the Render controls for the sequence, but it looks like a global color setting that is biting my butt. Thanks in advance.

If I could figure out how to get FCP to do a screen grab I would show you the difference.

Nate Schmidt · October 8th, 2006, 08:34 AM

You can do a screen grab by typing command-shift-3 which will grab your wholoe screen, or command-shift-4 and then you can select a window to capture.

Richard Alvarez · October 8th, 2006, 09:05 AM

Is it possible you have 'safe' colors activated? This would bring your footage in line with broadcastsafe levels. I don't cut on FCP, I cut on Avid... so this is just a guess.

Chris Mills · October 8th, 2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Schmidt

You can do a screen grab by typing command-shit-3 which will grab your wholoe screen, or command-shift-4 and then you can select a window to capture.

I wonder where command-ctl-shift-3 (4) goes? Makes the same noises, but nothing on the desktop. Thanks!

Nate Schmidt · October 8th, 2006, 10:41 AM

My bad, command shift 4 gives a cross hair that you click and drag to draw a selection of where you want to screencap.

Chris Mills · October 8th, 2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Alvarez

Is it possible you have 'safe' colors activated? This would bring your footage in line with broadcastsafe levels. I don't cut on FCP, I cut on Avid... so this is just a guess.

I've found that adjusting the gamma settings for FCP under System Settings->Playback Control to 'Approximate' looks more like the original source footage than 'Accurate'. The above posted attachment that I uploaded used 'Approximate'.

It really seems that when you go to write out TIFF data from FCP that things get weird when the QT engine gets its paws on the footage (or in this case the single frame) and it gets munted. Just a little, but enough to cause concern.

BTW - I have FCP set to work in RGB and not in YUV and my Sequence Settings->Video Processing is set to 'Always Render in RGB'.

Chris Mills · October 8th, 2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Schmidt

My bad, command shift 4 gives a cross hair that you click and drag to draw a selection of where you want to screencap.

No worries. Thanks!

Alister Chapman · October 8th, 2006, 12:10 PM

DV material, indeed almost all video footage uses YUV colourspace so that could be your problem.

Glenn Chan · October 8th, 2006, 04:14 PM

FCP seems to apply gamma "correction" when you export or import stills.

Not sure how to disable this, sorry.

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage..._nattress.html

2- Can't Shake import video formats such as no codec, DV codec, animation, etc. ?

This would avoid the gamma correction I would think.

Chris Mills · October 8th, 2006, 10:06 PM

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93794

The above is an interesting article that Apple Tech support pointed me to this morning. I think it may be that moving out of DV color space has unavoidable effects. The plan is to do only go out once and don't go back into DV.

Greg Boston · October 8th, 2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Mills

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93794

The above is an interesting article that Apple Tech support pointed me to this morning. I think it may be that moving out of DV color space has unavoidable effects. The plan is to do only go out once and don't go back into DV.

Good info in that link, Chris. Thanks for posting it.

-gb-

Chris Mills · October 8th, 2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Chan

FCP seems to apply gamma "correction" when you export or import stills.

Not sure how to disable this, sorry.

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage..._nattress.html

2- Can't Shake import video formats such as no codec, DV codec, animation, etc. ?

This would avoid the gamma correction I would think.

That is very good article to have on hand as well. Thanks!

Glenn Chan · October 9th, 2006, 11:01 AM

Hmm, apparently the gamma "correction" happens with the animation codec too. :(

October 8th, 2006, 03:18 AM	#1
Chris Mills Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 77	FCP shifts color, slightly. I have some miniDV progressive PAL footage I captured direct to disk from my Canon XL2 (anamorphic) using DVRack. The color of the clip darkens slightly when I bring it into FCP and when I export as TIFF I the histogram shows that the color has been resampled. How can I get FCP to leave my footage alone so that I can simply export my clips as TIFF sequences (I'll be brining them into Shake). Any advice would be very welcome. I am stumped on this. I've tried the Render controls for the sequence, but it looks like a global color setting that is biting my butt. Thanks in advance. If I could figure out how to get FCP to do a screen grab I would show you the difference. __________________ Regards, Chris http://www.lizardlounge.com

October 8th, 2006, 08:34 AM	#2
Nate Schmidt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Welland ON Posts: 515	You can do a screen grab by typing command-shift-3 which will grab your wholoe screen, or command-shift-4 and then you can select a window to capture. __________________ "We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty." Last edited by Nate Schmidt; October 8th, 2006 at 10:42 AM.

October 8th, 2006, 10:41 AM	#5
Nate Schmidt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Welland ON Posts: 515	My bad, command shift 4 gives a cross hair that you click and drag to draw a selection of where you want to screencap. __________________ "We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."

October 8th, 2006, 12:10 PM	#8
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	DV material, indeed almost all video footage uses YUV colourspace so that could be your problem. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

October 8th, 2006, 10:06 PM	#10
Chris Mills Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 77	http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93794 The above is an interesting article that Apple Tech support pointed me to this morning. I think it may be that moving out of DV color space has unavoidable effects. The plan is to do only go out once and don't go back into DV. __________________ Regards, Chris http://www.lizardlounge.com

October 8th, 2006, 09:05 AM	#3
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Is it possible you have 'safe' colors activated? This would bring your footage in line with broadcastsafe levels. I don't cut on FCP, I cut on Avid... so this is just a guess.

October 8th, 2006, 04:14 PM	#9
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	FCP seems to apply gamma "correction" when you export or import stills. Not sure how to disable this, sorry. http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage..._nattress.html 2- Can't Shake import video formats such as no codec, DV codec, animation, etc. ? This would avoid the gamma correction I would think.

October 9th, 2006, 11:01 AM	#13
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Hmm, apparently the gamma "correction" happens with the animation codec too. :(