Studio RGB to Computer RGB

[JJ_Shantell]

Studio RGB to Computer RGB

in the levels filter, what is this setting doing|?

[David Jimerson]

In essence, it makes footage on your computer look more like it would in the "studio," i.e., on a TV.

[scharky]

I have found this to be an odd plugin as I am not sure if I want to use it for the final render, plus it requires the timeline to be edited. IF this is just for "proofing" your footage, you would think that it would just change the way the preview window worked, and not actually change the actual footage. HMmmmmmm.

[David Jimerson]

??? Not sure what you're saying. It's an effect which can applied to the clip, or to the track, or to the preview window, just like any other effect. It's found not only in Levels but in the Color Corrector and Secondary Color Corrector. Maybe other places, too.

[scharky]

Yes, but isn't it just meant fro previewing on a PC monitor, you wouldn't want your final product to have that effect applied to it. right? Therefore, if it is just meant for previewing, I can't figure out whay it is an effect that needs to be applied. Why isn't it just a color altering effect that applies to the preview window, and you can just turn it off or on as needed. Or even better yet, why isn't the Vegas preview just balanced to a proper preview if it is possible. Now, I personally use a production monitor for color correcting, hooked up via firewire through a dvcamera, but I have played around with this effect, I just don't get it's effectiveness. I hope this makes sense.

[Barry_Green]

You'd want your final product to have that effect if your final product was destined for computer display (like for streaming web content, for example).

[scharky]

ah, makes sense now, I never even thought of that, thanks Barry.

[David Jimerson]

Yes. Barry beat me to it. When you shoot, you're shooting based on the monitor. On the computer screen, it looks like less contrast and not enough color saturation. The preset adjusts for that.

[TuffGong]

true true...I've used that preset a bunch for my web videos.

[GenJerDan]

OK. When is the best time to use it?

Meaning: before the other CCs (including MB and such) or on the video bus when rendering everything?

(I guess that should be another thread, too... What is the best order for the various options, but that might be a case-by-case thing.)

Anyway, should I do all the magic on the tracks and then make the overall thing computer-friendly? Or make it computer-friendly and then play with the colors and such?

Dan

[David Jimerson]

I'd put it on first. Establish your baseline.

[Barry_Green]

Well, it depends -- is it *just* for the computer? Or is this video that you'll be playing on TV (tape or DVD) also?

If the former, do as David said.

If the latter, I'd finish the tape/DVD version first, then add the studio rgb -> computer rgb filter on last and make a new computer-only version.

[GenJerDan]

Just for computer/web streaming at the moment. I really don't foresee any blowups to 35mm in the near future. :)

And, what the heck, I'll still have the project on disk...can always go back in and yank the RGB changes out, right? Or do the project as I like, then spit out a Studio-to-Computer render and a for-tv render.

And, to change the topic once more....are we really screwed? Some people will bring a DVD home and pop it in the computer. Some will bring one home and pop it in a player for their TV...which may be CRT, LCD, or plasma. The color space is different on all those, yes?

Me, I almosts ALWAYS watch films on the computer. But I haven't noticed any horrendous difference in color quality or anything else between that and the TV.

Is it not such a big worry?

Dan

[Barry_Green]

If you saw how different the average consumer's TV sets are calibrated, you wouldn't even worry about it. You'd be horrified, but you'd realize there's nothing that can be done about it.

On "The Incredible Hulk" (Ferrigno TV series), I remember reading some TV reviews years ago, where they said something like "He turns into the Hulk, this huge green (or purple, depending on your TV) man-monster..." blah blah. I mean, they were acknowledging that the tint control was so far off in some people's homes that the Hulk would be purple!

So what you do is, you get a properly-calibrated television or monitor, you make it look good on that television (or monitor), and that's the best you can do. The rest is up to the consumer. Don't try to optimize it towards computer or plasma or whatever, if the product you're making is for NTSC DVD release. For all we know, the computer DVD player may already be employing some sort of studio-to-computer-gamma filter inherently.

If you're making an NTSC DVD that could/should be played in a standard DVD player, optimize it so it looks good on a properly-calibrated television.

If you're making a CD-ROM or web streaming video, something like that, then optimize it so it looks good on your computer monitor.

If you're making it for closed-circuit display, such as an in-house plasma TV in the lobby of your office building, well, optimize it for that particular screen.

If someone plays your footage the wrong way, it's up to them to compensate. All you can do is make it "right", the way you're supposed to, and then the monitor calibration chips will fall where they may.

[GenJerDan]

Thanks.

Dan