colors not accurate

markl wrote on 3/25/2002, 11:20 AM
I have used Photoshop to create my opening title text. I started with a 720x480 file, added my red text that basically fills across the frame. After adding this file to the timeline, my video clips etc and previewed the movie, I printed to tape and played it back on TV. The red text on TV looks *very* dull. Not even close to the red displayed in the preview window of VV. More like marroon. Also, when creating my rolling credits created in VV at the end of the film, the colors of my text (a burnt orange color) look washed out, not the same as displayed in the preview window of VV. Colors captured on video are accurate and displayed accurately in the preview window in VV and also when printed to tape and viewed on TV. It just seems to be colors that have been *created* in programs such as Photoshop or Fireworks that aren't maintaining their color characteristics from beginning to end. It's pretty annoying taking the time to create something only to have it not displayed correctly in the finished product. Any suggestions?

Comments

SonyEPM wrote on 3/25/2002, 2:42 PM
There's another thread already going on this subject: http://www.creativecow.net/rebirth/index.php?forumid=24
Geoff_Wood wrote on 3/25/2002, 7:56 PM
No colours on a typical computer monitor (or inkjet printer) are anywhere near accurate. To really know the end result will look like you need to have colour-calibrated monitor, or check on the intended final medium.
markl wrote on 3/26/2002, 9:13 AM
Thanx Geoff for your response. But what I would like someone to explain to me is when I shoot a video and transfer it to my computer, the colors look the same on the video shown on TV & on the computer. However, it's the graphics that are created in Photoshop or Fireworks that aren't reproduced accurately back to video. To me, it just makes sense that regardless of the medium that creates the graphics, if the red of someones shirt on a video is accurate on my computer monitor and I use the color picker to match that color from my graphics program, then it should export back to the DV tape accurately. Thanx in advance to anyone who has the patience to explain this to me.

Mark
Former user wrote on 3/26/2002, 10:24 AM
I don't know if I can explain, but I can give some ideas.

TV does not use the standard Red, Yellow, Blue as base colors. The base colors for TV are Red, Green, and Blue. Photoshop is designed as Print software primarily, so it is either using CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow and Black) or RGB, set up for Printing.

Not all colors will reproduce correctly for TV (especially if you use NTSC which some say stands for Never The Same Color). If your Photoshop has a Set Up or filter for creating NTSC colors, you might see if that offers a better chance for matching.

I know it is not much of an explanation, but I hope it helps.

Dave T2
markl wrote on 3/26/2002, 12:00 PM
Thanx DaveT2. Being new to video, I wasn't aware of the color reproduction issues for TV. I will check Photoshop for a setup or filter for NTSC. Your suggestion at least makes me aware of the differences and something to also check & test. Thanx again.

Mark
mbo wrote on 3/31/2002, 7:30 PM
Have in mind that the DV colour space is not the same as PS graphic (0-255)
I do not remember exactly what is the value but the lower starts about 20 and higher about 240 or so. Before saving your title you should go to Levels in PS and change the values to proper ones.
Mick
mbo wrote on 3/31/2002, 8:50 PM
16-235
More info at: http://www.adamwilt.com/pix-stress.html
Michal
FuTz wrote on 4/1/2002, 7:07 AM
One more tip you might need eventually:

http://www.greatdv.com/video/smptebars.htm

It'll help you calibrate your monitor...