Hello Bill,

It seems like you've been very busy exploring lots of things

With respect to your question, there are quite a few things at play quite apart from CDR & PDR. Firstly, whatever software/codec is used to render a video there will be some impact on colour. Secondly, how different media players interpret colour can vary significantly. Another factor is how the colour is calibrated on your PC.

I know those things don't specifically relate to your question about the CDR > PDR transfer, but they're worth considering.

In general terms, make sure your monitor's colour is set to 32-bit & the Dynamic Range set to Full (0-255)

Some light reading about the above (if you wish):
http://www.codecguide.com/faq_display_issues.htm
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/329866-incorrect-collor-display-in-video-playback?p=2045481&viewfull=1#post2045481

About your question:

I just conducted a comparison test with a video made only from colour charts, following your procedure. The red in the original video was 253,0,0
1. Sent the video to CDR & decreased red hue to -50 (no other adjustment)
- Screenshot of adjusted video in CDR showed red as 255,27,48
2. Produced video directly from CDR
- screenshot of adjusted video showed red as 254,0,49
3. Sent video back to PDR
- screenshot of adjusted video in PDR showed red as 254,0,49

There seems to be some validity in what you've observed, though there's consistency between the video produced in CDR & adjusted video sent back to PDR.

This will need some further testing. I'll follow up however I can, but I don't mind admitting that when things get too technical I tend to throw up my hands

PIX
PIX YouTube channel

Thanks for your reply. This is interesting information, helpful to have.

All I can tell you is that the monitor, an HP LP2065, is calibrated monthly with ColorVision Spyder 3. I don't know how to check for color bits or dynamic range of the monitor. Tried a brief Google search for these but didn't find answers.

Playback of MPEG4 and MPEG2 files using Windows Media Player (that is, outside of PD 12) show colors consistent with what I'm seeing in PD 12.

I'll keep working with both PD 12 and the trial version of CD2. I'd still like to be able to use CD2, but if I find that the resulting colors are inconsistent, I'll have to stay with PD12 and accept somewhat less accurate color management and dynamic range. However - The new highlight and shadows adjustments in PD 12 are very helpful in limiting the jarring effects of limited dynamic range. I'm also experimenting with multiple keyframes when lighting is constantly changing (as it often is when the dogs run around), and I think that, by using keyframes in PD 12, I can get less inconsistent final results in a shorter time. It's very early days, of course, but it's fun to play around with keyframes.

Thanks again - Bill Hansen

I don't think keyframes are available in CD2 .
Bill Hansen

Hello Bill,

I've been trying to follow up your original question. Similar ones have been raised previously, but not directly related to ColorDirector. They referred more generally to what happens to colour when it's rendered in video format.

I've posted some observations at http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/0/38855.page

PIX PIX YouTube channel

Hi Pix - I think I discovered what I've been doing wrong. See my post dated May23 to the thread http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/38808.page#200429

I know my "explanation" doesn't make perfect sense, but the results are reproduceable, over about a dozen clips in two different videos. If I export to CDR2 after making some edit changes in PD12, I get the color/brightness change. If I export to CDR2 with all sliders set to zero in PD12, color and brightness are pretty darn good.

Could it be that others who have reported color/brightness issues have made the same mistake I've been making (rhetorical question only - no need to reply unless you just want to)?

Bill Bill Hansen

Hello Bill,

Now why wasn't I awake up to that

When a clip is sent to CDR for adjustment, it ignores all adjustments made in PDR, so what you're looking at in ColorDirector is NOT what you'll get when you click Back!



In that case, when the clip is returned to PDR it will have multiple effects & adjustments applied.

Good job, for alerting yourself to this

PIX PIX YouTube channel