Sky banding with h265 files.

konstantinos-sokolas wrote on 8/6/2023, 3:55 AM

Hi there dear community.

I recently had an issue when editing h.265 10bit 4:2:0 files with Vegas Pro.

Specifically, I own a Fuji XT-4 and I usually shoot h.264 mov 8 bit video with it for some professional work. The other day I did a project which required the full dynamic range of the camera and I shot in Log, h.265 10 bit 4:2:0 internal video. When I imported the video files in Vegas Pro, and as soon as I started color correcting and grading a bit, I noticed some very intense banding in the blue skies, even at a slight lowering of the highlight curve. This banding effect was very obvious in the exported video, even for the untrained consumer eye. First I thought there must be something wrong with the camera, so I tried shooting some clips of the sky with several settings but the banding was still an issue (mostly though with log footage). I even changed the settings of the project in Vegas Pro, selecting 32 bit pixel format instead of 8bit, but that changed nothing. Then I switched to Da Vinci Resolve and imported the files there, where the banding was no longer an issue.

So I wanted your opinion if this has anything to do with the h265 file handling of Vegas Pro, or I'm doing something wrong with the project settings in Vegas Pro.

Thank you for your time.

Comments

RogerS wrote on 8/6/2023, 3:58 AM

For 32 bit mode, did you try full with view transform off?

konstantinos-sokolas wrote on 8/6/2023, 4:14 AM

For 32 bit mode, did you try full with view transform off?

Yes, and it's still noticeable.

RogerS wrote on 8/6/2023, 4:20 AM

How did you do the log conversion?

Is the problem identical with legacy or regular HEVC decoder? (Select them in preferences, file io.)

konstantinos-sokolas wrote on 8/6/2023, 5:30 AM

I usually have the AVC decoder selected, not the HEVC. When I select the HEVC it's a subtle difference but still noticeable. Although, I think that as a user you shouldn't nitpick everything in Vegas in order to get the files work properly...

fr0sty wrote on 8/6/2023, 2:27 PM

I use 10 bit LOG footage in VEGAS all the time without issue, so it may be a camera issue.

Howard-Vigorita wrote on 8/6/2023, 2:34 PM

If you're not using official Fuji luts, try them.

mark-y wrote on 8/6/2023, 5:45 PM

Post some screenshots of what you are seeing. What appears as banding may not always be from bit depth loss. Here's the full help-us-to-help-you guide if you're not able to figure it out from your settings.

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

Adis-a wrote on 8/6/2023, 9:14 PM

Are you in 4K project?

konstantinos-sokolas wrote on 8/7/2023, 7:02 AM

I use 10 bit LOG footage in VEGAS all the time without issue, so it may be a camera issue.

Yes, I though about that, but when I import the files in Resolve, there is no issue at all. Don't know, maybe Resolve uses some algorithm to better handle banding.

If you're not using official Fuji luts, try them.

I've been using Fuji LUT's and there is no difference.

Are you in 4K project?

No, full hd.

konstantinos-sokolas wrote on 8/7/2023, 7:12 AM

To help you with this, you can watch this unfinished video edit, there are some scenes where the banding is too obvious. I only applied a LUT with minor exposure adjustments.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KQsEHrR8wVZVprKF97Ych3lGIwmMItQV/view?usp=sharing

Adis-a wrote on 8/7/2023, 8:20 AM

I use 10 bit LOG footage in VEGAS all the time without issue, so it may be a camera issue.

Yes, I though about that, but when I import the files in Resolve, there is no issue at all. Don't know, maybe Resolve uses some algorithm to better handle banding.

If you're not using official Fuji luts, try them.

I've been using Fuji LUT's and there is no difference.

Are you in 4K project?

No, full hd.

Can you switch to 4K (I've got a hunch), see if banding disappears?

Also, use tetrahedral interpolation with LUTs, it helps against banding. :)