Issues with washed out color when projected at theater. at DVinfo.net

Josh Monk · February 22nd, 2011, 11:45 PM

Just want to start by saying thanks to everyone who continue to answer my massive amounts of questions. I finally got everything renedered from hd to sd. I used dvd arch. to output and on both plasma and lcd 50+ inch tv's it looks amazing. My wife and I took the dvd over to the theater we are using for our cast and crew screening and gave it a test run. I was less than impressed it seemed that anywhere there was a minor shadow was now very dark. Also the color in general seemed very flat. I'm just asking is there anything we can do maybe in cc to help bust the color and put the life back in our movie. My other question is when we render to hdcam tape or blueray will it look this bad. I'm very concerned because we like most film makers want our work to be seen in film festivals. I just hate putting this much effort in to something and then have to show a less than stellar version of the film. Any help is very much appreciated.

Robin Davies-Rollinson · February 23rd, 2011, 12:39 AM

There are so many variables in the production chain that can affect the final outcome of your work. How do you know that the equipment used in the theatre was set up correctly? It is always a good idea to include colour bars at the top of a recording if at all possible. You would at least have something to compare.

Adam Stanislav · February 23rd, 2011, 01:07 AM

Many (most?) computer monitors and TVs tend to exaggerate the saturation of the images sent to them. If you have not calibrated them properly, you may be up for a big surprise when you see your videos output on well calibrated equipment. Presumably, a theater projector would be calibrated correctly.

I am not saying that is the case here, just offering a possible cause of the problem.

Josh Monk · February 23rd, 2011, 11:04 AM

So is there a way to recalibrate my monitor to get the saturation right. Or is there a video fx that I could use to get better saturation across the board. I just want to get this fixed ever problem has to have a solution. Also when it's shown in hd is it going to have the same isssues. I might as well ask this too how do I properly add the color bars at the begining?

Adam Stanislav · February 23rd, 2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Monk

So is there a way to recalibrate my monitor to get the saturation right.

Sure. With something like the http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/646057-REG/Datacolor_DC_S3SSR100_Spyder3Studio_SR.html, which is a hardware/software combination that will perform a thorough analysis of how your monitor displays different colors and then will configure your video card to compensate for the errors it makes.

Jeff Harper · February 23rd, 2011, 06:14 PM

I have absolutely NO idea of what I'm talking about, but it seems to me in addition to the other advice you've been given, some theatres seem to use inferior equipment, especially smaller ones.

One second-run theatre that I go to on occasion has the worst looking movies...it seems like their movies are dull and lifeless. I go to a new theatre and everything looks great.

As was initially pointed out, there are SO many variables, and it all starts with your camera and it's settings and ends with your final render.

Adam Stanislav · February 23rd, 2011, 06:25 PM

Jeff, those theaters need to calibrate their own equipment then! There is no excuse for a professional theater not to be calibrated (and recalibrated on a regular basis).

Leslie Wand · February 23rd, 2011, 07:29 PM

adam - 2nd rate theatres are NOT going to 'waste' money on calibrating their equipment, as long as people still attend.....

meanwhile, a spyder is INDISPENSABLE if you're in the least bit serious about production - AND, if you can get a cheap ips panel monitor (i used videosonic's vp2365wb) so much the better.

it's no good doing cc'ing, etc., on a badly calibrated monitor, then wondering why things looked fubar on other screens.....

Adam Stanislav · February 23rd, 2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leslie Wand

meanwhile, a spyder is INDISPENSABLE if you're in the least bit serious about production

Yes, that cannot be emphasized enough.

February 22nd, 2011, 11:45 PM	#1
Josh Monk Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 32	Issues with washed out color when projected at theater. Just want to start by saying thanks to everyone who continue to answer my massive amounts of questions. I finally got everything renedered from hd to sd. I used dvd arch. to output and on both plasma and lcd 50+ inch tv's it looks amazing. My wife and I took the dvd over to the theater we are using for our cast and crew screening and gave it a test run. I was less than impressed it seemed that anywhere there was a minor shadow was now very dark. Also the color in general seemed very flat. I'm just asking is there anything we can do maybe in cc to help bust the color and put the life back in our movie. My other question is when we render to hdcam tape or blueray will it look this bad. I'm very concerned because we like most film makers want our work to be seen in film festivals. I just hate putting this much effort in to something and then have to show a less than stellar version of the film. Any help is very much appreciated.

February 23rd, 2011, 12:39 AM	#2
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Re: Issues with washed out color when projected at theater. There are so many variables in the production chain that can affect the final outcome of your work. How do you know that the equipment used in the theatre was set up correctly? It is always a good idea to include colour bars at the top of a recording if at all possible. You would at least have something to compare. __________________ TV Director / Cameraman

February 23rd, 2011, 01:07 AM	#3
Adam Stanislav Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 1,258	Re: Issues with washed out color when projected at theater. Many (most?) computer monitors and TVs tend to exaggerate the saturation of the images sent to them. If you have not calibrated them properly, you may be up for a big surprise when you see your videos output on well calibrated equipment. Presumably, a theater projector would be calibrated correctly. I am not saying that is the case here, just offering a possible cause of the problem.

February 23rd, 2011, 11:04 AM	#4
Josh Monk Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 32	Re: Issues with washed out color when projected at theater. So is there a way to recalibrate my monitor to get the saturation right. Or is there a video fx that I could use to get better saturation across the board. I just want to get this fixed ever problem has to have a solution. Also when it's shown in hd is it going to have the same isssues. I might as well ask this too how do I properly add the color bars at the begining?

February 23rd, 2011, 06:14 PM	#6
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Issues with washed out color when projected at theater. I have absolutely NO idea of what I'm talking about, but it seems to me in addition to the other advice you've been given, some theatres seem to use inferior equipment, especially smaller ones. One second-run theatre that I go to on occasion has the worst looking movies...it seems like their movies are dull and lifeless. I go to a new theatre and everything looks great. As was initially pointed out, there are SO many variables, and it all starts with your camera and it's settings and ends with your final render. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

February 23rd, 2011, 06:25 PM	#7
Adam Stanislav Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 1,258	Re: Issues with washed out color when projected at theater. Jeff, those theaters need to calibrate their own equipment then! There is no excuse for a professional theater not to be calibrated (and recalibrated on a regular basis).

February 23rd, 2011, 07:29 PM	#8
Leslie Wand Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: upper hunter, australia Posts: 1,410	Re: Issues with washed out color when projected at theater. adam - 2nd rate theatres are NOT going to 'waste' money on calibrating their equipment, as long as people still attend..... meanwhile, a spyder is INDISPENSABLE if you're in the least bit serious about production - AND, if you can get a cheap ips panel monitor (i used videosonic's vp2365wb) so much the better. it's no good doing cc'ing, etc., on a badly calibrated monitor, then wondering why things looked fubar on other screens..... __________________ www.lesliewand.com.au