I've noticed that when I choose a clip for color correction, using "color balance" plug-in, it effects the sharpness! Once the clip is color corrected, I have to go back, using the "sharpen" plug-in, and sharpen the clip back to its original clarity.
Why would color correction effect the image's sharpness?
what version of VV are you using ...what kind of file are you rendering out ? dv avi? mpeg ?
if DV and you are using VV2 then i say it is the MS Dv codec .. if VV3 make sure under preference the BOX for "ignore 3rd party dv codec's " is CHECKED ( enabled) ... i'm using VV3 and i not seen this testing out to 7 generations ...
if other then DV avi file then it's probably the the codec used to render ......
I have cared out extensive colour correction in Vegas 3. I haven’t been aware of any loss of quality. However, there is a loss of quality if you crop the image and enlarge it. I am working in PAL 25fps, AVI, and printing to digital tape.
I must have another look to see if there is any colour loss.
One possibility: turn on the option to view at Project size. Once you apply a filter, VV will have to render the frame to the preview window (or firewire). If the preview is not set to view at Project size, it'll instead preview at 1/2 the resolution. This will make your output look blurry but in reality, it'll render just fine.
Having gone back to try your suggestion it wasn't the preview window (there is no apparent difference there), it was on the external Sony monitor (not a t.v.) where the problem shows. When the color correction is switched on it appears as though a lay of film with a soft haze was overlayed on the image.
I'll try rendering it both ways and check it after the fact.
It must be some sort of glitch between the CPU and the external monitor. I rendered one clip with color balance and another of the same footage without. Once rendered to .avi both were equally sharp.
It's most definately the fact that you're previewing the image out firewire but not at 'Project Size'. Turn that check mark on, and you'll see a big improvement in firewire preview quality of transitions, etc. It'll slow down your real-time previewing of rendered segments though.