color correction from powerbook to monitor?

[downnfront]

hello,
i'm trying to figure out what the best way is for me to be able to color correct, etc. my work in after effects on my laptop and be able to see what it will actually look like on a monitor. i don't have access to anything except my television, however...what is the best way to output the AE image to the screen? i know there are the DV converter boxes, is that the best solution? thanks a bunch.

 

[araujofh]

Have a look at echo fire here http://www.synthetic-ap.com/products/echofire/index.html

 

[Loi Banh]

What version of After Effects are you running? You can press "/" on the numeric keypad to send the comp out to firewire. You'll need a firewire camcorder to output to a TV set.

 

[EA_Cru_2002]

I was in the same dilemma as you just a while ago as when I burned a dvd copy of my film and watched it on the tv, realized that my powerbook lcd screen and a crt screen look nothing alike. This was a huge problem for me as I needed to color correct the entire film. I see there are really nice, really expensive ways to do this, but I chose the cheapest way I could find, maybe you'll like it. All you need to buy is a blank dvd and an s-video cable.

First things first. Pick one shot from your film. That's right, just one. Doesn't have to be too long (Mine was only 5 seconds) but try to make it a static shot with a close up of your actor's face as skintones work best.

Okay, take that one shot, put it in a sequence, and export it and burn it. Yeah, I know it might seem like a waste of a dvd but this way is still cheaper than buying some expensive equipment.

Okay, now what you have to do is get an S-Video cable. Doesn't have to be any good. I would suggest you getting the longest length available just so b/c this method requires you to sit in front of a tv (chances are, you'll be using your own personal tv in your living room or bedroom, thus not in front of your comfy workstation). Well alright, hook up the s-video cable to your laptop and the other end to your home television.

The laptop should automatically recognize the tv hook up and use it as a second monitor. In the display preferences, pick the tv setting which should be 640x480: millions of colors. Alright, now usually this is not a recommended way to color correct as the image on the tv is gonna be really bright compared to what it normally is. So this is where the dvd you just burned comes into play.

Your dvd player should be hooked up to one video input while your laptop is in another. Turn on your dvd player and pop your dvd in. Go play it and pause it on the actor's face. Now, go back to the input with your laptop displayed on it. Open up Final Cut Pro and open your project file. Arrange your workflow for a 2 monitor color correction scheme (the two montior options automatically pop up when it senses a 2nd monitor). I forget where this setting is but I think it's in the nav bar as Arrange or something. Anyway, the default setting has all the info about clips and whatnot on your tv screen. Move that screen back to your LCD monitor. Now move your sequence window to the right to the TV screen. You can make it as big as you want.

Okay, now go to your timeline and find that same spot as what's playing on the dvd player and pop it up on the sequence timeline. Now this part requires you to get your tv remote. Now with most tvs, you can preset several video settings. What you want to do is first of all, determine what's your regular tv setting, view the dvd, see if it looks like what it usually does, then save that setting as one setting (e.g. Standard). Now switch over to the computer input. Open up your tv video settings and under a different TV video setting (e.g. Sports) adjust the brightness, constrast, color, tint, sharpness, etc until it gets as close as possible to the how the the dvd looked under your normal settings. If you need help, you can go back and forth between the inputs and settings until the dvd player under your normal settings looks close to your computer input under your other settings. Once you got them close, save the other video setting. Now you have a "calibrated" monitor and all you needed to buy was an s-video cable and a blank dvd! The only downside of this is that you have to use this and only this tv to color correct (otherwise you have to do this over again). That's why I suggested getting the longest s-video cable possible, so you can sit back on the couch and relax. I made the mistake of buying the 3 foot cable which means I have to sit 2 feet away from my tv with no chair or table. :-(

Well, I know my directions were incredibly long winded and probably unclear in a few parts but that's the best I can do right now. Holla back if you need more help.