Adjusting Levels for video

O

ops

Member
This is a carryover from the tech forum regarding adjusting levels for video that was shot too dark.

John responded below but is not sure of the process in FCP. Could someone point me in the right direction based on his procedure?

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"You should have an option called Waveform Monitor in your videscopes.

You will see LEVELS from 100 IRE and higher to as low as 0IRE and 7.2 IRE and even lower

Optimal exposure levels are usally 20 to 80 IRE with BLACKS at 0 IRE and HIGHLIGHTS at 100 IRE (Highlights can be the sun or even a washed out sky)

Go into FCP and find the area where you adjust LEVELS.

I would start with just the GAMMA curves at first, raising them so that you hit your highest peak at about 90 to
100 IRE. Then, after you raise gamma, drop your levels to about 0 IRE"


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I've gone to LEVELS but can't access waveform there. Went directly to videoscope and had no clue how to adjust anything there.

I've looked for this info in previous posts but could not find any specifics.

ops
 
Drag the Levels filter from the effects list (tab in sequence browser) (Image Control group) to your clip.
Turn on menu View -> Range Check -> both
Go to menu Tools -> Videoscopes.

Note the video scopes just show you the information, there's no adjustment.
Double click on the clip in the timeline and click on the Filters tab.
You will see your levels filter.
Now arrange your windows so you can see these controls, the canvas and your video scopes.
Slide the gamma slider in the levels filter back and forth.
In the video scope window you will see the waveform monitor change up and down. You'll see white and black markings on the graph. When it goes above white there will be a warning symbol displayed in the canvas window (that's the range check)
 
Nice...got it and adjusted the gain or should I say grain. Thanks I think I can make this work now. Should I do anything with the input and output tolerance. What if anything will help the grainieness besides shooting it right the first time?

Thanks again!
 
It's a filter so feel free to try some of the other controls since you can undo them or at least save a version you like so you can restore if you don't like it.

There are grain filters you can buy. You could try a slight blur followed by unsharp masking.
 
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