Contrast Problem

[Jon Barrie]

I would definately try to eliminate the possibility that its not the camera’s LCD that was set incorrectly and therefore ruined your perception of what was being recorded.
Playback the camera through a TV monitor. I’m guessing this is going to show the problem is the camera monitoring is set higher than it actually is.
Field monitors are a must for a paid job, unless you have a camera owner operator that knows their equipment inside and out and always checks the camera Monitor and Zebra Settings.
I’d then try to recapture with PPro. The clips you’ve cut should simply be replaced if you offline them (project panel) and then batch capture them…provided they’ve been captured with proper TC and Tape names in Vegas. They’ll update, no replacing necessary!
Another thing you could try is to use the compound arithmetic effect on the clips that are dark and get them to add or screen or even copy themselves. (like compositing a duplicated clip over itself – without having to make a duplicate). Then play with the amount of the desired ‘brightening’ effect.
– Jon 😉

How many editors does it take to change a light bulb?

[Guy Kingston]

Jon,

You are a genius and surely sit at the right hand of God!

The compound arithmetic filter has worked brilliantly (though I did have to lay a second copy of the clip on an additional video track and get the filter to add the original to that – it didn’t seem to want to work adding the clip to itself).

As you suggested, I played back the tape from the camera in a TV monitor. The clip looked fine, just as it does on the camera monitor. So, I am assuming the camera settings were/are OK.

I also captured a sample clip into PPro and this looked identical (far too dark) to the original captured in Vegas.

I still don’t understand the cause and how to avoid this happening again, but at least I have a wonderful fix!

Very many thanks indeed,

Guy

[Guy Kingston]

Looking at the shot close up (100% of original size) there is still a little grainy-ness with the compound arithmetic filter. Not really a problem but I wonder why – if I’ve understood properly it is just adding two shots together, not boosting the gain or anything.

[Jeff Brown]

[Guy Kingston] “I also captured a sample clip into PPro and this looked identical (far too dark) to the original captured in Vegas.

I still don’t understand the cause and how to avoid this happening again…”

Guy, I implore you to FIND OUT IMMEDIATELY why this is happening. Something in your production chain is wrong! It might be your editing monitor. You did not mention what that was. It might be your viewfinder and playback monitors.

Learn how to calibrate a monitor. Learn how to calibrate your viewfinder. Calibrate ALL your playback monitors; without also having ‘scopes, it is your only chance of producing video with correct levels.

Here’s how to set upwith PAL bars.
And, with NTSC bars.

Apologies if you’re already aware of this, but it is essential.
Hope it helps,
Jeff

[Zach Cobb]

It seems, from his description “when viewed at 100%…” and “As you suggested, I played back the tape from the camera in a TV monitor. The clip looked fine, just as it does on the camera monitor. So, I am assuming the camera settings were/are OK.” that he is using the in-program software overlay monitors in both Vegas and PPro.

If you build it, then perhaps you will shut up!

[Guy Kingston]

Thanks for the advice.

My PC monitor is calibrated properly but I can’t tell how to check the camera’s viewfinder (I’m the producer not the camera operator – he’s away at the moment). We’ve got a V1 but a search of the manual for ‘calibrate’ and ‘calibration’ returns no matches.

I get the same (good) quality picture on the V1 viewfinder as I do on a TV. I haven’t calibrated the TV but it strikes me as an odd co-incidence if they were both mis-calibrated equally.

I use Spyder2express to calibrate the PC monitor and have always had great results with that in the past. It seems more foolproof than a manual calibration.

And, other stuff looks fine on the PC monitor. The problem seems to be specific to this particular footage. Or, at least footage filmed in similar settings (indoor, looks well lit through viewfinder).

Guy

[Eran Hayden]

@Jon Barrie

thanks for the tip on using the compound aritimetic filter. i had a similar
problem and that filter works way better than everything else i tried. most
other filters added an unacceptable amount of grain.

i’m using final cut pro, by the way, so it’s not just premiere users who are
finding your information helpful!