Movie in FCP doesn't look the same in QT

[mpalmer12345]

Why does the movie I see in the FCP Canvas not match the look of the Quicktime movie that is created? The QT movie is always much lighter overall and somewhat washed out colorwise. Compression is DVCPRO HD, highest quality, footage is from an HVX200a, both being viewed on a color-calibrated Mac laptop.

 

[Jim2000]

FCP modifies the gamma in an attempt to approximate what the movie would look like on a broadcast monitor. The regular desktop quicktime viewer doesn't do this.

I don't know if you can turn off this feature in FCP or not, but I know you can do it in Avid.

 

[FreshStep]

I dont know if you know but there is a setting in quicktime that might help for the washed out images. Open the quicktime file and then hit apple J, which is the movie properties and look in the video settings. On the bottom right corner there is a high quality option that you can check. Checking high quality usually fixes it. If not, you might want to check your codec.

 

[overnighttolondon]

This drives me crazy as well. Is it just an NTSC gamma thing, or does it also have something to do with RGB vs 601/709 levels?

I also use Magic Bullet Looks, and the MB viewer is lighter like the final output (doesn't match FCP's timeline).

Anyone know how to disable this gamma (and/or levels if that's an issue too) in FCP?

 

[bigbossbmb]

The Canvas in FCP cannot be used to accurate judge footage quality and color. Before you cry out that there's something wrong with QT, you would have to compare your QT export (on a calibrated computer display) to what your footage looked like on a calibrated broadcast monitor.

 

[overnighttolondon]

Because most of my work is destined for digital distribution anyway, is there a way to change the way the FCP canvas displays my footage (i.e., not adjust it for NTSC gamma)?

 

[DChang]

The Canvas in FCP cannot be used to accurate judge footage quality and color. Before you cry out that there's something wrong with QT, you would have to compare your QT export (on a calibrated computer display) to what your footage looked like on a calibrated broadcast monitor.

Ok so don't go by the canvas, go by the monitor? The quicktime still is a bit lighter.

Im currently importing a jpg/tiff/png and in the viewer it looks fine, in the canvas it looks lighter, exported to QT and it looks lighter. Ive tried different sequences, DV50, 8bit UC, and it still looks lighter/faded. Gamma correction in FCP is set to accurate.

 

[bigbossbmb]

Because most of my work is destined for digital distribution anyway, is there a way to change the way the FCP canvas displays my footage (i.e., not adjust it for NTSC gamma)?

No because the Canvas wasn't designed to be accurate. Most likely because computer monitors aren't capable of displaying the full NTSC gamut anyway.

Hazard: Is your computer screen calibrated as well as your broadcast monitor?

If you want to just add a gamma correction on output, you can adjust it in the Compressor settings (I believe in the filters tab). I'd start out applying a gamma correction of 1.1 or 1.2. Do some tests to see what works for you.

 

[Cools]

You have look at your video in the final delivery format, that's the only way to be sure that your settings are proper.

If your delivery is for the web, that means you have to look at it in the finished codec, in the browser, etc. You will never be able to get your contrast and colors to match across all computers, there are just too many variables. You have to aim for the most common system configurations and get it close enough so it doesn't look like crap on other computers.

For example, if you put up a movie on the web. It'll look different depending on wether you view it on a Mac or Windows machine, heck, it might even look different in different browsers on the same machine!

As far as images, you can change the source gamma for stills, search for "Changing Gamma Settings for Video
and Imported Still Images" in your manual, pg 669 in the PDF).

 

[Taylor Rudd]

For anything I upload to Vimeo or my own website, I increase the contrast in Compressor.

For Vimeo I usually use the AppleTV export. When you're determining your settings, click the "Brightness & Contrast" filter and increase your contrast by +6 or so. No, it is not entirely color-accurate, but considering my web content will never be viewed properly, this is a decent bandaid for washed out QT exports

 

[Sneakle]

I don't know if this helps but:
If you launch QT pro and go to preferences, there is a check box that says:
"Enable Final Cut Studio color compatibility. When enabled, video is not displayed using ColorSync. Source colors are read with 2.2 gamma and are displayed in a color space with 1.8 gamma."