Comments

RichR wrote on 10/22/2002, 9:46 PM
I like using the color curves filter. Just drag from the center to the left.
BillyBoy wrote on 10/23/2002, 12:29 AM
Use levels. Start with Gamma to get in the ballpark. No true professional EVER uses brightness/contrast. For finer adjustment also use HSL and/or color curves depending on what you're trying to adjust.

Why color curves? Brightness/contrast adjusts all pixels the same amount, a sledge hammer approach. Using color curves you can select how much to effect highlights, midtones and shadows within the image... all seperately.

I know I harp on this a lot, the proof is in the pudding. Try color curves/levels once and you'll never go back to using brightness/contrast. The difference is that great.
wcoxe1 wrote on 10/23/2002, 8:25 AM
I had my doubts about Levels when I first noticed BillyBoy and others spouting on about them, but, ya know, he has a point. They do really work well, but it takes a little while to learn how. Maybe that is why people try other things. Try it, learn it, and you'll like it. And, he and they are also right about Color Curves and HSL, too. Just takes time, but gives great results. I'm still learning, but so is ever professinal in the world. You never stop learning, or you are dead.
Erk wrote on 10/23/2002, 9:55 AM
Here's another vote for exploring Levels and Color Curves rather than Brightness/Contrast. I'm getting much better results now.

G
JonnyMac wrote on 10/23/2002, 9:59 AM
I agree with you. After reading the post I went and played with Levels and really liked the results. The problem for me is that it was all guess work. I'm wondering if one of the forum pros at this stuff would share a list of hints when working with Levels and Color Curves to help new guys like me up the learning curve.

Thanks.

-- Jon McPhalen
BillyBoy wrote on 10/23/2002, 10:30 AM
Much of what you can do in the way of "correcting" videos is based on what works for adjusting stills which I base on my many years experience on using Photoshop having used that and similar applications to adjust litterly tens of thousands of images. There have been countless books written on how to best to manipulate images and also many web sites which can be easily applied to videos. I'll write a seperate article on what I do and post it sometime later today. I'm by no means the ultimate expert, not even close. My point is simply to offer some suggestions that have worked for me and hopefully others will jump in and add their tips and suggestions as well. Maybe if I have time I'll throw it up on a web site. Latter...
wcoxe1 wrote on 10/23/2002, 2:13 PM
Looking forward to see in more from you, BillyBoy.
PAW wrote on 10/23/2002, 2:47 PM

Try the book Adobe Photoshop for Photographers or any book that covers image and colour enhancement.

The techniques are very simliar.

The curves filter will correct most brightness/contrast/colour cast issues if you know how to drive it.

Have fun.
BillyBoy wrote on 10/23/2002, 10:20 PM
I didn't forget... problem is my FTP server has been down all day and I can't upload the pages I wrote. Hopefully some time tomorrow with lots of actual images. As usual I got a little carried away. :-)
Laurence wrote on 10/23/2002, 11:03 PM
The one thing I would add is that whenever you correct color or brightness, try to monitor on a TV or a video monitor. A graphics card with a video output is invaluable for this. Otherwise you're just guessing.

Laurence Kingston
Summersond wrote on 10/24/2002, 4:54 PM
A while back, someone posted on how to use the color curves, dividing it into 1/3's. Double clicking 1/3 of the way up the line and creating a set point, and doing the same thing again 1/3 of the way down the line. Now you have 2 points on which to correct light level and contrast. Each point will give a handle when you click on it. you can drag the point around for the best look, then fine tune it with the attached handle. It works wonders. Hope I described it OK. I can do stuff, but when it comes to putting it into writing, I can fail miserably... Just experiment with it, you cant hurt anything, only learn from it.

dave
swarrine wrote on 10/24/2002, 9:10 PM
I just knew BillyBoy was a still guy. Loved your tutorial, I am fixing up a video now, better than I was before.

If you are like me and stuff is chopped up but, from the same base clip, you will need to save and apply color corrections to other clips. One way to do this is by using plug in chains.

How to use plug in chains:

Make your corrections to a clip. Let's say you took BillyBoy's advice and have 4 or 5 video effects on a single clip. It is an interview that pops up throughout your video and you need the same corrections...

On the original clip that you made your corrections, click the box with two arrows thingy (Top right). On the pop up click save as and name it.

To apply the filters to the additional clips, click the box with two arrows thingy on the right side of the clip (if you don't see it zoom in) it will bring up a pop up, choose filter packages. Click your filter set up, click add click save and voila! BTW saves keyframes as well.