Black Levels at DVinfo.net

Simon Denny · August 18th, 2007, 04:54 AM

What do most people do with black levels?
Would you let then clip and then insert a Broadcast Filter or would you use the levels filter and rise the black level just above clipping 16 (for those in RGB 16-255 LAND)

I'm doing tests with some stuff and now i'm lost as to what looks right and would like some feedback on what others might do.

Also i know it depends on the footage taken and the look of the video your after.

Cheers
Simon

Douglas Spotted Eagle · August 18th, 2007, 09:35 AM

B'cast filter, or Black Restore (for MPEG delivery), color curves...lotsa answers to this one. Setting levels first is usually a good practice, unless you've got a specific under exposure effect you were looking for

Glenn Chan · August 18th, 2007, 11:20 AM

1- Er... there is no 16-255 LAND. In Vegas, the video-oriented codecs (DV, HDV, MPEG2, etc.) tend to use studio RGB range (16-235 is where the legal range is). While the computer-oriented codecs (e.g. windows media) and Quicktime use 0-255 levels (computer RGB).

The studio RGB codecs want to see 16-235 levels, and the computer RGB codecs want to see 0-255 levels.

2- If there is noise in your image (e.g. compression noise), this will push values below 16. This is ok.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · August 18th, 2007, 11:29 AM

Good catch, Glenn. I'd not see the 255, I guess my eyes read it as 235 once I saw "16" in there.

Simon Denny · August 18th, 2007, 12:26 PM

Sorry i mean 235

Thanks
Simon

August 18th, 2007, 04:54 AM	#1
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Black Levels What do most people do with black levels? Would you let then clip and then insert a Broadcast Filter or would you use the levels filter and rise the black level just above clipping 16 (for those in RGB 16-255 LAND) I'm doing tests with some stuff and now i'm lost as to what looks right and would like some feedback on what others might do. Also i know it depends on the footage taken and the look of the video your after. Cheers Simon

August 18th, 2007, 09:35 AM	#2
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	B'cast filter, or Black Restore (for MPEG delivery), color curves...lotsa answers to this one. Setting levels first is usually a good practice, unless you've got a specific under exposure effect you were looking for __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

August 18th, 2007, 11:29 AM	#4
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Good catch, Glenn. I'd not see the 255, I guess my eyes read it as 235 once I saw "16" in there. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

August 18th, 2007, 11:20 AM	#3
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	1- Er... there is no 16-255 LAND. In Vegas, the video-oriented codecs (DV, HDV, MPEG2, etc.) tend to use studio RGB range (16-235 is where the legal range is). While the computer-oriented codecs (e.g. windows media) and Quicktime use 0-255 levels (computer RGB). The studio RGB codecs want to see 16-235 levels, and the computer RGB codecs want to see 0-255 levels. 2- If there is noise in your image (e.g. compression noise), this will push values below 16. This is ok.

August 18th, 2007, 12:26 PM	#5
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Sorry i mean 235 Thanks Simon