However I have one video file that is very washed after I follow this same process and I am trying to work out why.

Thats because you are confusing Grading, which is done first, with Leveling, which comes last. Leveling is not scene correction.

Washed-out video is not corrected with a levels preset, because it would be entirely coincidental for keying, range, balance, gamma, and saturation to fall into line with one single crude filter preset.

Eyes first, scopes second. Only way it works.

sorry maybe I explained incorrectly.

I have graded the video so I am happy - however as a final act I have used Level to change Computer to Studio.

This seems to have been working fine - but for this video the end result is still washed out similar to how the preview looks after applying the Level adjustment.

I need to learn scopes but its the only video I have noticed it on in the last half dozen I have made - I am confused as to why

Sounds like maybe you've got a redundant filter stuck in there somewhere...

Make it look great in the preview, apply Studio RGB fx, be sure there isnt one already in the stack, render. Should now look the same in a player as it did in the preview.

its another of the many bugs in this software it cant be anything else

Well I've never experienced an isolated issue like yours, so if you'd care to share your I/o file properties and screen samples, I'd be interested in seeing them. Did you accidentally have project set for 32 bit instead of 8 bit?

That will certainly cause a levels mismatch similar to what you describe.

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/important-information-required-to-help-you--110457/

@Pursuit-Perfect-System perhaps it would help if you also clarified what you mean by "washed out".

It has to do w/ the codec interpreting that file. Do you have a codec pack installed?

Also if you're using NVidia check in control panel Video / Adjust Video Color Settings / Use Nvidia Settigns / and set it to Full Range.

If sometimes your renders come out "washed out" (RGB levels) and sometimes not I bet it's the file type you imported. If you have something like K-Lite installed check to see if any of that is being used to open the file. There are settings in there to automatcially convert RGB/Leave untouched/etc.

The best thing imho is to check the output (test) and if then apply any Levels filter needed to your project. You can also use View/Window/Video Scopes to verify w/in Vegas what the levels are (do the dots/lines reach 0 and 255 or do they stop at 16/235). Can also use those as a guide.

 

...I have tried setting the video levels from Studio to Computer and that makes the preview window saturated in colour to do all the editing to the video - then set the levels back to Computer to Studio Before rendering hoping this is the fix.

 

Does this sound correct thanks for the help

@Pursuit-Perfect-System No. When you've finished editing with the Levels FX set to "Studio RGB to Computer RGB", just remove that Levels FX rather than setting it to "Computer RGB to Studio RGB". This assumes that you want to end up with what you are seeing in the Video Preview window while you are editing.

Thanks Nick for the advice, I appreciate it - so much to learn here.

This same video with levels set to Computer to RGB it crushes some black detail.

I have struggled to regain this detail with brightness contrast, gamma and gain in the colour corrector.

I have even struggled - but followed your advice on the scurve approach raising and lowering the extreme points using colour curve

What can a man (or woman) do to try and keep the shadow detail?? Thanks again

Thanks Nick for the advice, I appreciate it - so much to learn here.

This same video with levels set to Computer to RGB it crushes some black detail.

I have struggled to regain this detail with brightness contrast, gamma and gain in the colour corrector.

I have even struggled - but followed your advice on the scurve approach raising and lowering the extreme points using colour curve

What can a man (or woman) do to try and keep the shadow detail?? Thanks again

@Pursuit-Perfect-System Can you upload a sample frame-grab still (or clip) with no FX?

Nick this doesnt seem to be working as you say.

I selected Levels FX to a video and set Studio to Computer

I then edited and graded the video etc. Then disable the Levels plug in before render. The rendered project doesn't look like the preview window did when I was making the video - its all gray and washed out.

Am I doing something wrong? I have tried to use the scopes but this is my first go so I am not very experienced with them

Thanks

Sorry I think it was my gpu drivers set to 16-235 causing the issue Sorry

Sorry I think it was my gpu drivers set to 16-235 causing the issue Sorry

And that was exactly my next thought for you; please read the article thoroughly, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, Tommy Smothers style.

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/pc-to-tv-levels-a-comedy-of-errors--107325/

Take heart. You still have about a 1:32 general probability of getting it right!

Lads thanks for the advice its made a huge difference to my work quality, now I need to master all the skills but at least now I can trust my renders to be the same as the preview - thanks so much for the help