2 Replies Latest reply: Jul 10, 2012 11:38 AM by Narr GM Coro RSS

    momentary gamma shifts in PS-CS6 composed image h.264 video

    Narr GM Coro Community Member

      Before I finalize a bug report, wonder what others are seeing?

       

      Having discovered the problem in a more complex scenario, I've narrowed down to a simple set of jpg images placed sequentially in a video group, and exported as an h.264 video from Photoshop PS6. All is on Windows 7 Professional SP1, all software involved completely up-to-date.

       

      I first noticed the gamma shift using the 'High Quality' preset. It occurs with variations on Vimeo 29.97 and Youtube 29.97 presets. The gamma problem does not occur on HD 720p or 1080p 29.97 presets.

       

      When I view the resulting video through Quicktime, I see a gamma shift for a moment on the first image, making it look washed out. After another moment, the gamma goes back to normal. On other players such as Windows Media or VLC, no such shift is visible.

       

      Interestingly, the shift comes at 1 second when exporting to the Vimeo 29.97 preset, or 'High Quality', while at 3 seconds on Youtube 29.97. Similarly, the shift back occurs at 2 seconds, or 6 seconds for Youtube.

       

      What the gamma shift looks like sounds like the now age-old Apple Quicktime fault on h.264. -- except it occurs only for one or a few seconds, then reverts to proper gamma, instead of continuing..

       

      With the simple setup of single image (jpg) sequence, it occurs only on the first image. With a more complex scenario, some actual videos included, I've seen it occur on every jpg -- or on some -- in a sequence.

       

      This is very repeatable here - 100%. Anyone else who's noticed it? I'm on the CS6 trial, and still thinking whether to purchase, or go on the Creative Cloud.

       

      Regards,

      Clive

        • 1. Re: momentary gamma shifts in PS-CS6 composed image h.264 video
          murphysm Community Member

          We're seeing a worse issue when exporting in H.264 and playing in QuickTime 10.0 (Mac OS 10.6).  We are using a custom size video to fit a spot on our website (398x498).  When exported and played in QuickTime 10.0 the white inverts throughout the video (back and forth).  The same issue is not seen when viewed in VLC or QuickTime 10.1.

           

          This is how the video should look:

          Screen shot 2012-06-28 at 8.03.33 AM copy.jpg

           

          And this is how they are appearing:

          Screen shot 2012-06-29 at 10.17.22 AM copy.jpg

           

          But like I said, the issue is very specific to QuickTime 10.0 on Mac 10.6.  VLC, Flash, Chrome, FireFox all play it correctly.

          • 2. Re: momentary gamma shifts in PS-CS6 composed image h.264 video
            Narr GM Coro Community Member

            Thanks -- that's helpful to confirm.

             

            Here I'm using Quicktime 7.7.2 (1680.56), which is the latest version for Windows 7. I also didn't see any evidence of a problem in VLC, WMP, etc..

             

            I did dig into the long story apparently behind this, extra flags in h.264, which it seems all the big boys have fought over as a protocol for years - a very common and unintelligent 'no, me, my version, my market' story in multimedia.

             

            Anyway, I'll report it -- Adobe can see if there's anything they can do to get the result to work better. Meanwhile, there are the apparently non-problem selections for h.264, but what a nightmare to know if those are bodged up on some customer's quicktime.

             

            By the way, in the problem statement above, it should be 'shows properly for moment, goes bad for a moment of same length per setting, cycles to proper gamma after that second moment'. And, as in murphysm's examples that the gamma shift in these intervals is severe; you won't mistake if you are having it.

             

            Cheers,

            Clive