Color space and color grading — different result via output and monitor preview - Adobe After Effects

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Color space and color grading — different result via output and monitor preview

Posted by Kazumi Hatori on July 23, 2014 at 8:38 am

So what I got in my setup up is:
iMac 27″ (latest), Aftereffects CC14,
connecting a 2nd monitor for MERCURY TRANSIT preview (NEC PA272W, which I’ve calibrated)

My project setup:
HD1920x1080 25p, 32 bpc (tried 16 bpc also, with or without color management)

In short, aftereffects gives me a more saturated/gamma image with the preview in the 2nd monitor:

[in aftereffects preview – screencap on 2nd monitor]

[in quicktime pro – screencap on 2nd monitor]

[compare]

This video may give you a better idea:

AE cc14, 2nd monitor output difference

so, I turn on the Mercury Transit, the same thing happen on 2nd monitor.
So I get a low-saturated/gamma output for all my shots.

I’ve tried setting either:
8 bpc or 16bpc or 32 bpc, output as prores or uncompress10bit or jpg sequence or animation(get a slightly difference result), turn on/off PROJECT COLOR MANAGEMENT (709 or sRGB), turn on/off OUTPUT COLOR MANAGEMENT

And doesn’t solve my problem.
What should I do?

Thanks for your wisdom!!

Walter Soyka replied 11 years, 9 months ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
5 Replies

Tero Ahlfors
July 23, 2014 at 12:31 pm

DO NOT USE QUICKTIME PLAYER FOR ANYTHING COLOR CRITICAL! It is a piece of garbage software that can’t show anything correct.
Kazumi Hatori
July 23, 2014 at 1:44 pm

Thanks for your advice,
so what’s your suggestion of video player on Mac?

And I would really like to know reason of video/signal change by aftereffects as in the video.
Walter Soyka
July 23, 2014 at 2:54 pm

How did you calibrate your monitor?

Did you also calibrate your iMac display?

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive | RenderBreak [blog] | Profile [LinkedIn]
Kazumi Hatori
July 24, 2014 at 8:03 am

Hi Walter,

I calibrated both monitor by colormunki
https://www.xrite.com/colormunki-design

But from the video 00:04 and 00:11,
you will see the sudden change of color of preview video,
I think this have nothing to do with the monitor settings/calibration?
Walter Soyka
July 24, 2014 at 3:58 pm

[Kazumi Hatori] “But from the video 00:04 and 00:11, you will see the sudden change of color of preview video, I think this have nothing to do with the monitor settings/calibration?”

The compression on the video is such that I’m having a hard time making much out. Can you describe what you’re seeing?

Since you have two different monitors with two different profiles, they require different transforms of the source material to accurately display color. Leaving the window parked across two different screens means that one of them will be wrong by definition, as Ae is translating the source material for display according to the other monitor’s profile.

However, if you place the window fully on one or the other, you should see correct color.

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive | RenderBreak [blog] | Profile [LinkedIn]

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Color space and color grading — different result via output and monitor preview