2 Replies Latest reply: Dec 6, 2013 2:12 AM by basbebe RSS

    SG: Different Color rendering in SG-Projects and PPro-Projects?

    basbebe Community Member

      Hi!

       

      I have a problem while I'm trying to move a custom look from one project to another.

      One project was created using an EDL to create a Speedgrade project (SG 7.1.0, OSX).

      The other project was created by DirectLink, so I'm just opening up a Premiere Pro Timeline.

      They both use the same H.264 footage from a DSLR

       

      My problem:

      I saved a look from within the EDL-based Speedgrade project.

      If I now open the Premiere Pro project (with the same footage in it) and apply the look to the footage the outcome is different!

       

      The Premiere Pro project becomes much lighter, and more desaturated (especially the red areas) after applying the look.

       

      After I realized this I compared the footage without looks applied. Even then the footage looks brighter and less saturated when I open it from the Premiere Pro project whereas viewing it from within the Speedgrade project makes it appear a little darker and more saturated.

       

      Is this a known problem?

      Can anyone reproduce this?

       

      Thank you

        • 1. Re: SG: Different Color rendering in SG-Projects and PPro-Projects?
          Dennis Weinmann Adobe Employee

          Hi,

           

          What you're seeing here is most likely a QT gamma/color shift. It's a Quicktime issue and mostly visible to high compressed QT's (like H.264)

          Differences between PR/SG:

          PR & SG (in direct link mode) compensates this color/luminance shifts, SG (native) which was used for your EDL doesn't. That's why you're seeing a slight difference when applying a .look to your DSLR clips in PR/SG Direct Link

          To remain the same look in your new direct link project you probably have to transcode your H.264 clips to an uncompressed codec (such as QT uncompressed) out of SG, re-link in PR and send again to SG

          • 2. Re: SG: Different Color rendering in SG-Projects and PPro-Projects?
            basbebe Community Member

            Hi Dennis,

             

            Thanks for your response!

             

            I'm well aware of the so-called Quicktime gamma shift but didn't think of it.

            The differences are rather big after applying the look (of course).

             

            If I open the footage in Quicktime (QT 7 with Final Cut Color compatibility enabled to disable ColorSync) it looks like what I'm seeing in Premiere Pro but not like what I'm seeing in the Speedgrade project.

            If I open the footage in After Effects with Colormanagement disabled it looks like it does in Quicktime and Premiere Pro / Speedgrade (DirectLink).

             

            So either Speedgrade (in its native mode) is compensating something that isn't there or After Effects, Premiere Pro and Speedgrade via DirectLink are slightly off.

             

            I'm using Direct Link to achieve a more flexible and fluid workflow.

             

            If Premiere Pro had functions similar to AVID when it comes to transcoding timelines (like export all the clips with handles and import / open them in a new timeline) I would think of doing it but the way Premiere is right now I might just add some compensation to the look and keep working with my H.264 footage...

             

            I hope oddities like this will be fixed soon and some urgently needed features added!