Color correction keeps screwing up even on correct calibration!?

[Inoran]

ok i've now redone my color correction 100+ times!!!!!! i've spent months on a 15 min project most of which have been trying to get the color correctly adjusted for most televisions.

I've been using a emerson television and an s-video (i calibrated it as closely as possible). later after printing to tape and playing on other televisions, it's really dark and just plain looks yucky. so instead, i went from my laptop --> to my camera --> to my television -->. After correcting it this way, it still looks really dark and yucky on other televisions (and these other televisions aren't old crappy ones, one is quite new). I also notice that after i render them (as streaming mpeg 2, or avi NTSC DV) they look the really dark and noisey also when i play back the file on the computer. the what's a guy to do?

I am using Vegas 6.0. Is there anyway to apply some color correction/levels/brightness to the preview window so that it mimics a typical television?

certainly each television will vary a bit, but we're talking about drastic noise and darkness. when you watch a dvd on different televisions they don't vary this badly!

thanks alot.

[EA_Cru_2002]

I usually color correct to a television hooked up the same way you have it, with an s-video cable and I get good results. It could be a couple things.

First of all, when you calibrate your TV, are you making sure you are calibrating it from your laptop/computer that's hooked up to the TV and not a regular home DVD player? Because the computer s-video connection is gonna look super different than your regular DVD hookup so you want to make sure you calibrate it from your laptop.

Also your laptop should have some options as far as what settings the TV is monitor output is gonna be at. Make sure it's marked as close to TV settings as possible if it has this option (not all laptops will) e.g. 640 x 480, 60 hertz, TV color settings, etc.

Lastly, when you say you calibrated it, I'm wondering what tools you are using to calibrate it? Personally I think the only way to accurately calibrate a TV is with a calibration DVD like Avia or Digital Video Esstentials. You can probably find these at your local Tower video or if not, online. I have Avia and I like it. It's more expensive than D.V.E. and you might not want to down that much money for a calibration disc but in my opinion, it was way more than worth it. I mean you telling me you gonna spend hundreds (or maybe thousands) on a tv and let a 50 dollar dvd stand in your way from experiencing the best out of it? (not to mention this would help you out with your video editing/color correction) Again, you could get the D.V.E. instead which is cheaper although I heard it's not as user friendly. Anyways, hope this helps.