Video incredibly "dark" in FCP

[GmElliott]

It's normal for video to look pretty dark in FCP isn't it? I'm asking because all my footage looks like the blacks are ALREADY crushed even though I can tell from the waveform monitor they are not.

One issue I constantly have with DV footage shot on the PD-170 is the weak black levels. Oddly enough on the Mac they "look" perfectly strong because it tends to display the video pretty dark.

Now if I'm preping for output to DVD I'll be proofing my colors on an external monitor. However when editing clips for the web I want to make sure I don't let them go out with weak black levels simply because I didn't adjust them on screen because they "look" good already.

1) Is it normal for FCP to display imagery considerably darker than the actual footage

2) How do I color correct for web-based distribution (ie avoid them looking washed out on other peoples screen) To my knowledge FCP doesn't have any videocard "overlay" controls to tweak the way it's displayed unless changing my general quictime viewing settings (in QT player) effects the way FCP displays. ???

[MediaConcepts]

It's normal for video to look pretty dark in FCP isn't it? I'm asking because all my footage looks like the blacks are ALREADY crushed even though I can tell from the waveform monitor they are not.

Is it your monitor? Are you using a broadcast or at least a very good tv to view the output? Since you are using the WF (a very good thing) to monitor the signal, and the WF looks good, I suspect your monitor.

BTW, if you need to brighten a dark image, I've found a 10-20% boost in the midrange works wonders. Be sure to boost the saturation by about half too.

Joe

[GmElliott]

Is it your monitor? Are you using a broadcast or at least a very good tv to view the output? Since you are using the WF (a very good thing) to monitor the signal, and the WF looks good, I suspect your monitor.

BTW, if you need to brighten a dark image, I've found a 10-20% boost in the midrange works wonders. Be sure to boost the saturation by about half too.

Joe

I don't think it's my monitor only because the only setting on the Apple Cinema Display is "brightness" which essentially tweaking the luminance output of the LCD backlight. It's probably my Calibration.

I currently have the gamma set at 2.2 (PC/Web) to have richer blacks- I can go back to 1.8 to be "Mac Standard" but the black look washed out and the color bars are STILL crushed. I have to raise the monitor gamma to about 1.6 to get the dark grey chip in the color bars to be visible then the rest of the image is washed out. :veryangry2:

[cinematicbride]

It's normal for video to look pretty dark in FCP isn't it? I'm asking because all my footage looks like the blacks are ALREADY crushed even though I can tell from the waveform monitor they are not.

One issue I constantly have with DV footage shot on the PD-170 is the weak black levels. Oddly enough on the Mac they "look" perfectly strong because it tends to display the video pretty dark.

Now if I'm preping for output to DVD I'll be proofing my colors on an external monitor. However when editing clips for the web I want to make sure I don't let them go out with weak black levels simply because I didn't adjust them on screen because they "look" good already.

1) Is it normal for FCP to display imagery considerably darker than the actual footage

2) How do I color correct for web-based distribution (ie avoid them looking washed out on other peoples screen) To my knowledge FCP doesn't have any videocard "overlay" controls to tweak the way it's displayed unless changing my general quictime viewing settings (in QT player) effects the way FCP displays. ???

I do have the same issue.
But what I find can be the issue is that you need to make sure your monitors are calibrated. Make sure they are set to SRGB.
It makes all the difference for me and gives me the true image.

[RatVega]

It's normal for video to look pretty dark in FCP isn't it? I'm asking because all my footage looks like the blacks are ALREADY crushed even though I can tell from the waveform monitor they are not.

No, it should look a little bit richer on the left screen and paler on right with a hint of blue, but fine on the NTSC monitor... OOPS! I think I need to recalibrate! :grinning-smiley-021

This isn't an FCP thing, it's a monitor thing. I don't know much about digital display calibration since I'm all CRT on our NLEs, but I think Cinematicbride has the right idea in selecting the correct color space profile.

One issue I constantly have with DV footage shot on the PD-170 is the weak black levels. Oddly enough on the Mac they "look" perfectly strong because it tends to display the video pretty dark.

Now if I'm preping for output to DVD I'll be proofing my colors on an external monitor. However when editing clips for the web I want to make sure I don't let them go out with weak black levels simply because I didn't adjust them on screen because they "look" good already.

This is one of the problems with "web work"; there isn't any standard like there is for TV. Everyone makes their own reality. I correct everything to NTSC so that it's at least all the same when it leave my system.

1) Is it normal for FCP to display imagery considerably darker than the actual footage

2) How do I color correct for web-based distribution (ie avoid them looking washed out on other peoples screen) To my knowledge FCP doesn't have any videocard "overlay" controls to tweak the way it's displayed unless changing my general quictime viewing settings (in QT player) effects the way FCP displays. ???

Direct answers:

1. No.

2. There are a series of display profiles included in the ColorSync display calibration software. I think if I were on a digital monitor I'd be using a "reference image" that I thought was correct (similar to NTSC color bars) to set my profile.

[ssvp]

I don't think it's my monitor only because the only setting on the Apple Cinema Display is "brightness" which essentially tweaking the luminance output of the LCD backlight. It's probably my Calibration.

I currently have the gamma set at 2.2 (PC/Web) to have richer blacks- I can go back to 1.8 to be "Mac Standard" but the black look washed out and the color bars are STILL crushed. I have to raise the monitor gamma to about 1.6 to get the dark grey chip in the color bars to be visible then the rest of the image is washed out. :veryangry2:

Is it brightness or backlight? Typically monitors come with either Brightness+Contract or just Backlight. I notice the new dells in the past couple months are coming with only Backlight now..

Do you have a Spider? Err..I don't know if they work for MAC's, but I spider my LCD's every month or so..

[RatVega]

Is it brightness or backlight? Typically monitors come with either Brightness+Contract or just Backlight. I notice the new dells in the past couple months are coming with only Backlight now..

Do you have a Spider? Err..I don't know if they work for MAC's, but I spider my LCD's every month or so..

Yes, a spider will work with Macs... and that's just the sort of an esoteric accessory that a guy like Glen should have. :angel-smiley-008:

Seriously, I think I'll be getting one when I go "flat" because I don't have the expertise to profile one of those monitors any other way (and I always wanted one.)

[MediaConcepts]

I just tried setting my 17" Apple LCD to NTSC and it got really dark with the blacks crushed. I put it back to a saved setting that I calibrated myself using the internal calibration.

Joe

[Scott S]

Which Spider do you recommend? It looks like they have 3 models..

Thanks,
Scott

[GmElliott]

The huey looks pretty nice and is quite inexpensive.

[ssvp]

Which Spider do you recommend? It looks like they have 3 models..

Thanks,
Scott

I am just using the Spyder 2 Express I got it here. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000ES4PYU/wedvidproprof-20?creative=0&camp=0&adid=1V2GCGY6SD563M4EZ967&link_code=as1)

[MediaConcepts]

I am just using the Spyder 2 Express I got it here. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000ES4PYU/wedvidproprof-20?creative=0&camp=0&adid=1V2GCGY6SD563M4EZ967&link_code=as1)

Ad do you like it? Does it work as advertised? Do your prints match your screen?

That's my biggest problem, my DVD covers don't match my screen. I'm not worries about the video, I use a plasma monitor for that.

Thanks,
Joe

[ssvp]

Works as advertised.. I dig it.. I used it mostly for video, since I use Photoshop I just match my colorspace to my monitor.

[MediaConcepts]

Works as advertised.. I dig it.. I used it mostly for video, since I use Photoshop I just match my colorspace to my monitor.

I use Photoshop too and an Epson Stylus Photo 960. How do you match the colorspace?

[ssvp]

I use the R200 still on occassion and just use the Epson Photoshop PIM Plugin. Which matches your desktop to the printer color.. Assigning the Epson profile in Photoshop is all I have done in the past..

[sonydude]

i think the huey is the replacement for the spyder express. I use a huey works great but not on multi monitor set-ups