not getting a full quality import?

[BtB]

hey there. just started working with the hv30 in post production. using i-move hd6 for the first few projects -- quick and dirty editing on the cheap.. erm, rather free. my computer is a MacBook 2ghz intel core duo.

footage was shot on HDV setting at 1080i. importing via firewire to a new imove project, set for HDV @ 1080i. however, it doesn't look as though i'm getting the highest quality image possible; the footage on the camera screen is slightly more colorful and contrasty than the imported footage.

i tried a full quality .mov export and the differences remain. i know i'm getting an HDV import, because the difference is noticeable between that and a DV project.

any settings i might be missing? the only thing i can think of is the camera's LCD screen is of higher quality than my computer screen... an explanation that my boss and i are having a little trouble swallowing.

all help appreciated.

[iThinkergoiMac]

It's not that the screen is higher quality (it certainly isn't) but it consistently displays the video more saturated and brighter than it's actually recording. This is a known issue and has been discussed many times on the boards here.

Try upping the saturation and contrast in post to make it look more like what you're expecting. Also remember that when the video is sized down as much as it has to be to fit on that tiny screen, it's automatically going to look much much sharper than it really is.

[Dana Love]

Hi BtB, and welcome to the forum!

How are you outputting your work? Are you going to the web, to DVD, to NBC? (Hey, with NBC's ratings, I figure they may show my "Focus tests with HV20" series next season.)

You might want to read up on monitor calibration and gamma (http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html), since that sounds like an area of concern for you. Remember that what you capture to tape and what you see on your screen can be two different things, if they're not correctly calibrated (http://epaperpress.com/monitorcal/).

In addition to calibration, to always want to view your work using a production-grade monitor. It's one of those "nice to have" expenses if you're charging for (or passionate about) your work, and once you make use of it you realize how ham-handed your color grading looked before.

[BtB]

I'll have to play around with IMovie a bit, to see how much I can boost it to match the screen image... and next time we shoot, calibrate the camera for less saturation.

Thanks a lot for the links Dana. Going to calibrate my monitor as per the second link... the first link was NG; think there's problems on normankoren.com

I'll put a production grade monitor onto our purchase list... we're a start-up, and we're working quick and dirty for the time being -- hence using IMovie. Soon we'll be upgrading to FCE, and Pro from there.

Oh, we're going out to Web for the majority of our projects. NBC passed, but CBS is interested in a 6-webisiode deal starring the kid from Two and a Half Men.

In all seriousness: Excellent, quick reply -- thank you both very much.

[BtB]

Did some custom monitor calibration -- my MacBook has a Calibration utility built in; including a color option labeled "sRGB IEC61966-2.1", which I'd imagine would be best for my Out to Web purposes. It looks very similar to my custom calibration settings -- just a little less blue.

When lined up against my footage, the Apple preset, "Color LCD", matches my camera color the closest... wheras my custom calibration matches the footage's contrast best.

Looks like I've got a fair ammount of learning and testing to do. :/


For anyone interested in this process:

System Preferences > Display > Color Tab... Select a profile to Calibrate. Your monitor opens up the Display Calibrator Tool. Selecting "Expert mode" allows you full calibration control.

The tool has an image similar to the Monitor Calibration link above -- with a white apple logo against a textured BG. The calibration starts with a 5 stage process "to determine the display's luminance response curve"; using an up-and-down slider to make the Apple shape brightness match the BG, and a free-range (x+y) slider to make the Apple shape nuetral to the BG.

After that, you set your target gamma against a picture of a mountain, with a color scale beneath. The Mac standard gamma is set for 1.8, the PC standard at 2.2. There is also the option to use native gamma, which varies based on your earlier steps.

Finally, you set your target white balance in Kelvins: from 4500 - 9500. Native suggests somewhere around 6500 K.

After that, you save the profile -- BE SURE to save as a unique name, and not to overwrite your default profile. If you're the Admin, you're given the option to make this profile accesible to other users on your computer.

Worth messing around with. I feel like after a bit more study, this will help me viewing images at their true quality.