FCE: Loosing color while exporting

I never used Express so I’m not sure of it’s limitations or uses. With that said, I’m going to ask a question that might seem a bit insulting (I don’t mean it to be) but might be required and can be overlooked.

Have the effects been rendered prior to export?

What exactly are you exporting the files as? Care to open the file in quicktime and take a screenshot of the info menu? To get it just hit command+i with the file playing.

Also, could you post a screenshot from the video before and after exporting? Same frame if possible. Just so I can get a picture of what exactly is happening.

I do see what you mean, especially in the orange cloth (?) folded on the table.

The export format and nitrate, however, are highly compressed so I wonder if that's where the issue is coming from. Heavy compression will usually kill colour depth which is what this looks like.

As a test try exporting as something less compressed like Pro-Res. I'd suggest taking a smaller portion of the video to save time. This will allow us to tell if the colours aren't saving or if they are simply getting compressed down.

Hi,

Do you have the same effect if you play the file with another player? Or on a PC? Quicktime has (had) what is called the gamma shift issue, and your samples look like that. So your files are probably correct.

You can also check this link:
http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/1153069

QuickTime X color corrects the video with colorsync. Final Cut 7 and Express does weird things, you should use and external broadcast monitor for color correction, or switch to an app that does not have these issues.

Ritsuka said:

QuickTime X color corrects the video with colorsync. Final Cut 7 and Express does weird things, you should use and external broadcast monitor for color correction, or switch to an app that does not have these issues.

Click to expand...

hes not having issues with the color correct process, its an issue with the export.

Try this.. export the edit (or segment) at its native timeline settings (prores HQ, DVCPRO, etc)

then do a few tests using streamclip, compressor, adobe media encoder and even quicktime pro 7 to make your end/deliverable file.

compare the results.

Over the years I have noticed the shift, generally its the gamma shift.. sometimes to overcome it I've either applied a contrast and saturation effect in my timeline (to overcome the gamma shift in compression) or play with the filters in the export settings.

Are you locked in to a MP4 format? and why is your frame rate 14.29??

First off,what is the original codec of your footage? (dvcpro, mpg4, etc) does it match your sequence?

What are the sequence setting in FCE?

Meaning what is your editing format of the edit? (Sequence settings)

example below...

THEN.. what I was suggesting is to export the sequence at its native settings from FCE.. which means do NOT choose a different setting as you listed, merely choose export.. (I have never used FCE, just FCP.. but below is what you want to choose, assuming its the same)

choosing this exports your edit at the original format of what the sequence is set at.

AFTER you have the master file exported, then you can use streamclip, quicktime pro 7, compressor or adobe media encoder to encode your file.

NOW.. what are you exporting to? Is this for a website? is there a specific codec/file type you need to have?

I know you are not that techy.. but some of this is basic knoweldge that you need to understand.. as for the color shift, have you checked the file in different players? quicktime v10, or quicktime 7.. and you can play it in stream clip.. I've noticed gamma shifts in quicktime 10, and no shift in quicktime 7.

Glad to hear you are getting it!

Nothing really wrong going on.. but quicktime 10 is tricky sometimes..

as for your sequence settings.. does that match your footage?

meaning.. are your clips (either digitized off of tape, or imported from a camera) made at that codec? (apple intermediate) or are they different?


I ask this because i've seen countless editors editing in mis matched enviroments.. your sequence USUALLY should match the majority of what your footage is.. this helps for playback and less rendering.

This is also important so your not rendering when you may not need to..

and there is a chance that your color looks off because of that codec.


Anywho.. another test is to open up a browser window in safari.. and you can click and drag a quicktime file to it, and let it play.. just another way of looking at the chroma/luma levels (color and brightness)

as for youtube settings.. 1280x720 h.264 quicktime is fine.. keep your frame rate at 25 (which I hope is the native/orig frame rate of your footage)

then just upload the file to youtube and set it to private, wait for it to convert properly and watch it.. if you are satisfied with the look then youre cool.


also, i did a search and came across this thread, it could help you:

http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/1031863