Color Issues after Converting to MPEG2

VicViper wrote on 1/16/2009, 9:20 PM
I have a quicktime movie file and I'm trying to convert it over to MPEG2 for DVD encoding.

The problem is, after I output to MPEG2, the colors are washed out and/or too saturated.

I'm using the Computer RGB to Studio RGB filter, and everything looks fine on an external monitor, so I don't think I need further color correction. I even took still frames after the filter was applied just to check the color values and they're all within the 16-235 RGB, standard DVD range.

I'm using a CBR of 8,000,000 as well. Are there any settings I should be playing with in the 'advanced' settings to improve the quality?

This DVD is for commercial use, so I need to retain as much quality as possible. I'm starting to wonder if maybe I need a better MPEG 2 encoder?

Comments

Action wrote on 1/16/2009, 9:28 PM
Out of interest, which camera did you shoot with?

Cheers.
musicvid10 wrote on 1/16/2009, 10:45 PM
You said a Quicktime format, but that is just a container.
If you'll tell us which codec is used for the original, someone may be able to help you optimize the conversion.

Also, encoding at 8MBS CBR makes absolutely no difference (and no sense) if the original was encoded at a lower bitrate, and I suspect it was.

If you can't determine these two critical pieces of information about the original, download MediaInfo or another similar utility.
VicViper wrote on 1/17/2009, 9:59 AM
It's actually animation, generated from an animation program. It's about 20 minutes long and the source video is of extremely high quality using the 'Animation' codec in Quicktime. It's about 20 minutes and 6 GB's size, before I convert to MPEG2.

musicvid10 wrote on 1/17/2009, 11:19 AM
Ah, that explains it.
Those animation codecs are very high quality, and optimized for that type of work.
Although others here may be able to give you some optimization tips, MPEG-2 is optimized for camera work, and you will not be able to get away from faded and slightly polluted colors because of the way it averages the colorspace.
If your goal is a DVD, the high bitrate and being able to live with the results may be your best choice. Others claim that TMPGENC can give slightly more saturation, but I don't know of a consumer-priced MPEG2 codec that will give you the results you are looking for. If someone knows of one optimized for animation / graphics, I would like to know about it because I occasionally face this same issue.
It is a pretty safe assumption that you'd get better results on Blu-Ray, if you want to go that route.
VicViper wrote on 1/18/2009, 8:22 AM
I was afraid that might've been the answer. I guess Blu-Ray can't get popular fast enough...

Thanks.