Comments

Tom Pauncz wrote on 9/8/2011, 2:46 PM
You might want to check out the Colour Match plugin from FBmn Sofftware...
Tom
jrazz wrote on 9/8/2011, 8:46 PM
I tried the color match plugin a few weeks ago (when it first was posted on the forum). I did not have good results with it. I kept getting blown out psychodelic colors (think woodstock type fx) when I attempted to match colors. I was using two cameras- a go pro and a Sony HVR-A1u. Once I got those results i just went ahead and did it manually.

I will be interested to see if you get different results. I only fooled around with it for about 10 minutes but I did watch the video.

j razz
baysidebas wrote on 9/9/2011, 8:26 AM
A little preparatory work goes a long way. As part of my kit is a fomecor board (white) with one side covered with 18% gray, or close to it, seamless background paper. I use it to set white balance and exposure on the cameras (white side) and record a few seconds of the gray side to use in post color matching. All cameras do this at the same time without moving the target, thus ensuring a consistent reference of the lighting and camera settings. Saves me a ton of time in post. Of course, using different model cameras will complicate matters substantially due to the variations in sensor spectral sensitivity. While using identical models isn't always possible nor guarantee perfect color matching, it will go a long way in mitigating the differences. So beg, borrow or rent cameras to match.
Frederic Baumann wrote on 9/9/2011, 4:09 PM
Hi,

I am Frederic, who developed the ColorMatch plug-in mentioned in this thread.

Many thanks Tom for the referral by the way!

J Razz, if you agree, I would be very pleased to get the clips or stills you failed to match with the plug-in, this will help me investigate if there is any issue. Also, if you did not do so already, you might have a look at the FAQ page (http://www.fbmn-software.com/en/color-match-faq.html), as this plug-in requires some "good practices" tips to be efficiently used. I am considering publishing a more advanced tutorial video about this by the way.

Best regards,
Frederic
jrazz wrote on 9/9/2011, 10:28 PM
Sure. I will send those files to you as well as the results I got. I am currently traveling and will be back mid next week so I will email you then.

j razz
fausseplanete wrote on 9/10/2011, 3:59 AM
In case it helps:

When colour-matching Z1 and SR2 against EX3, I carry out the following process (hard-won from bitter experience of just primary CC):
1. Sony Z1 has a cyan "pit" in its response, I fix this initially using "secondary" colour correction, prior to any "primary" CC. The strategy is "normalize then shift".
2. Sony SR2 handycam has magenta "peak" in its response, again I fix this with "secondary" prior to any "primary"
3. Sony EX3 has good response except for infra-red contamination. The IR shows up as deep red/brown, that can't be distinguished from actual deep red/brown, hence it is ambiguous, and attempted fix by secondary CC makes other colour look weird. Often my only solution in post was to ignore it. But now the real solution is an IR-blocking filter on front of camera, which itself introduces a greenish tint - not on the hot..cold colour temperature range but at least it is constant across all colours, no ambiguity, hence removable by primary CC or even by certain (only) of the camera's white balance adjustments

I guess creative filters could create a whole new "can of worms"...

I mention these things in case they help inform the camera-match process. It would certainly be interesting to see how well the auto plugin does. Maybe helpful if it had inbuilt and user-definable camera-specific presets as starting-points?