adjusting color and luminance independantly? at DVinfo.net

Sean Skube · October 11th, 2007, 10:51 AM

I'm using Vegas Movie Studio 6, and I was wondering if there is a way to adjust the luminance of the image independantly from the chroma. I'd love to be able to use the curves fx to adjust the luminance without affecting the color/saturation of the image, and vice versa.

Glenn Chan · October 11th, 2007, 12:13 PM

1- You can use levels to do that.

Any curviness in the curve will cause subtle shifts in hue/saturation (whereas if you have straight lines in it you won't).

Levels tutorial:
http://www.vasst.com/resource.aspx?i...0-90d2f8de9fc1

Emre Safak · October 11th, 2007, 12:50 PM

But it will, since luminance is a linear function of all three colors. This means you have to hold that ratio between the colors constant if you do not want to affect the color.

It's one of those omissions that leaves you stratching your head. Especially since video signals are natively in some form of Y'CrCb to begin with. It seems so obvious to me.

Glenn Chan · October 11th, 2007, 01:34 PM

Emre: I don't think I'm following you.

Sean Skube · October 11th, 2007, 02:43 PM

adjusting levels or curves does change the saturation. The work around I do right now is I use the curves to adjust for the luminance I want, then I add a saturation effect to try and reduce the saturation change that occurs. It's not terribly important, but in after effects I like to use two adjustment layers over the footage. One for color, and another for luminance. It would just be great if I could find a way to mimic that in vegas.

Emre Safak · October 11th, 2007, 03:10 PM

Technically, if you want the color not to change, the hue and saturation have to be fixed, right? For example, if I increase the overall gamma, every pixel will be modified by the following formula:

(R',G',B')=(R^gamma,G^gamma,B^gamma)

but this will alter the ratio R:G:B, which is what determines the color.

Bill Ravens · October 11th, 2007, 04:21 PM

Three equations, 3 unknowns...solve for gamma.
What's the problem.

Emre Safak · October 11th, 2007, 04:23 PM

The problem is that R:G:B is not the same as R':G':B'. What's needed is a Fade To Luminosity feature like Photoshop.

Glenn Chan · October 11th, 2007, 04:41 PM

Emre: Ah, got it.

If you don't touch the gamma slider, you can do simple exposure adjustments.

2- The luminosity composite mode in AE+Photoshop, combined with curves, lets you alter stuff without affecting hue and saturation (kind of).

It's not altering luminance exactly.

Emre Safak · October 11th, 2007, 05:38 PM

The problem is we're talking about Vegas :)

October 11th, 2007, 10:51 AM	#1
Sean Skube Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 156	adjusting color and luminance independantly? I'm using Vegas Movie Studio 6, and I was wondering if there is a way to adjust the luminance of the image independantly from the chroma. I'd love to be able to use the curves fx to adjust the luminance without affecting the color/saturation of the image, and vice versa.

October 11th, 2007, 12:13 PM	#2
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	1- You can use levels to do that. Any curviness in the curve will cause subtle shifts in hue/saturation (whereas if you have straight lines in it you won't). Levels tutorial: http://www.vasst.com/resource.aspx?i...0-90d2f8de9fc1

October 11th, 2007, 12:50 PM	#3
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	But it will, since luminance is a linear function of all three colors. This means you have to hold that ratio between the colors constant if you do not want to affect the color. It's one of those omissions that leaves you stratching your head. Especially since video signals are natively in some form of Y'CrCb to begin with. It seems so obvious to me.

October 11th, 2007, 01:34 PM	#4
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Emre: I don't think I'm following you.

October 11th, 2007, 02:43 PM	#5
Sean Skube Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 156	adjusting levels or curves does change the saturation. The work around I do right now is I use the curves to adjust for the luminance I want, then I add a saturation effect to try and reduce the saturation change that occurs. It's not terribly important, but in after effects I like to use two adjustment layers over the footage. One for color, and another for luminance. It would just be great if I could find a way to mimic that in vegas.

October 11th, 2007, 03:10 PM	#6
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Technically, if you want the color not to change, the hue and saturation have to be fixed, right? For example, if I increase the overall gamma, every pixel will be modified by the following formula: (R',G',B')=(R^gamma,G^gamma,B^gamma) but this will alter the ratio R:G:B, which is what determines the color.

October 11th, 2007, 04:21 PM	#7
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Three equations, 3 unknowns...solve for gamma. What's the problem.

October 11th, 2007, 04:23 PM	#8
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	The problem is that R:G:B is not the same as R':G':B'. What's needed is a Fade To Luminosity feature like Photoshop.

October 11th, 2007, 04:41 PM	#9
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Emre: Ah, got it. If you don't touch the gamma slider, you can do simple exposure adjustments. 2- The luminosity composite mode in AE+Photoshop, combined with curves, lets you alter stuff without affecting hue and saturation (kind of). It's not altering luminance exactly.

October 11th, 2007, 05:38 PM	#10
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	The problem is we're talking about Vegas :)