broadcast colors

[Mike Kujbida]

[gingles] “Is there any way to check that what I’m seeing on my computer screen will be reazonably translated to television?”

I take it by this comment that you weren’t using a video monitor to check your video as you were editing it. Due to the gamma differences between the two (computer vs. video), there is no way to to even reasonably guess what the colours will look like. Anyone serious about this, especially if you’re doing TV spots, should invest in a decent video monitor.
My personal recommendation (that other folks have taken and been pleased with) is a JVC TMH-150CGU, currently $500 at B&H.
Also, make sure to read, understand and practice how to use color bars.

[Erik Gingles]

Thanks for the response. What you’re saying is probably true but I have to take my final file (avi) to a reasonably large post production house who then dubs it on to a Beta SP tape for me. They put it on their system and make any further adjustments, which are usually minimal. According to their physical vectorscopes and monitors, everything looks fine. And the image on their monitors looks pretty much what I see on my computer monitor and 13″ color TV I use to judge.

I had questioned them before regarding the colors and they said that when it left their place, everything was fine. that it was the broadcaster who was causing the problems. But of course, the broadcaster says that they air what is given to them and if it looks washed out, then it must have been the tape. Naturally.

As for the color bars, the productin house said that the color bars I put on in front of the commercial (generate by vegas) are just a tad dark. Not much though. DO you think that could account for the washed out color?

Thanks again for any suggestions.

[Mike Kujbida]

[gingles] “I had questioned them before regarding the colors and they said that when it left their place, everything was fine. that it was the broadcaster who was causing the problems. But of course, the broadcaster says that they air what is given to them and if it looks washed out, then it must have been the tape. Naturally.”

Each side blames the other. What else is new? 🙁

[gingles] “As for the color bars, the production house said that the color bars I put on in front of the commercial (generate by vegas) are just a tad dark. Not much though. DO you think that could account for the washed out color?”

If the production house is using your bars as the reference (and they’re low in level) and boosting them to match house bars, it could result in washed out colour.
The other thing that comes to mind is the 0 IRE (what miniDV gives you) vs. 7.5 IRE (what a broadcaster wants) black level difference.
Are the bars coming from Vegas or another source? Are you applying any filters such as the broadcast levels? Are you using the waveform/vector monitor built into Vegas to confirm levels before creating the master?

[Erik Gingles]

Thanks again for the help.

The production house are using their color bars and raising the levels to match but only marginally.

I use the AG DVX 100 and have the IRE set to 7.5. And I use the Vegas vector scopes to adjust colors, brightness and contrast. However, I’ve only really used the waveform for light levels and have been going by eye for coloring. Hmm? Maybe that’s it. I’m color bling.

As for other filters, on some files I’ll use the bump map to create an elongated angled spotlight effect on someone which in turns tones down some of the hot areas on the sides. And then fiddle with color saturation a bit.

I have not used the broadcast filter on anything as of yet. Would that make a difference?

[Mike Kujbida]

My suggestion is to do a google search on “correcting exposure in sony vegas” and look for Glenn Chan’s tutorials on this. He does a very good job of explaining this somewhat complex and convoluted problem. HTH.

Mike