I then learn to compare those results to the plasma or LCD the show is being installed on, on in the case of a little direct-to-DVD documentary like this one, I also play it on an old 25" Sony XBR CRT, and let those two be the "compromise" yardsticks for TVs.Īs for it looking right on a computer, that is part of the "compromise" necessary. For these "one-off" shows, I usually burn and watch via Sony up-rezing DVD player to a Sony 52" XBR LCD. Ken has never heard of this issue, so I already feel defeated with this workflow, but just in case, I'm throwing up a Hail Mary here.Īdmittedly, I am not using a broadcast standard monitor to check results. System is latest version of Leopard,10.5.7 and ditto the latest FCP 6.06, latest QT, Compressor etc etc. Mac is MBP 15" 2.66mHz, 4MB RAM, the last, fastest "plain aluminum" MBP before the new uni-body models. I have trashed my Compressor settings, although the only file I could find to trash was the compressor plist (no other ancillary files, as with FCP). I have tried trashing FCP prefs, per Ken's document on that topic.
But it wreaks havoc with skin tones, even if you don't mind the shift from red in general. I went to make the DVD version of the project, and thought this workflow might maximize the HDV quality of my material. I have beautifully shot natural light interviews, for a project already installed at the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, MA. This color shift is mystifying to me, and it is completely unacceptable for my professional work. This is the only time I have seen this color shift. I have done lots of exporting with Compressor, even converting my HDV timeline to 720p. I have had this problem with every project I have used this workflow on. I use this frame because you can see the color difference quite obviously in the red heart, in the "Luv Shack" sign, in the skin tones of the girl's legs at frame left, in the color of the light on the background curtain, even in the color of wood on the stage. I have uploaded grabbed frames here, to show the difference. mov file using FCP, QT Player or MPEG Streamclip, the image looks identical (in color) to the HDV footage as seen in my timeline.īUT when I compress the file by importing to Compressor, and applying the stock DVD Best Quality 90 minute settings, the color of the file changes, losing its reds.
I carefully followed the steps in Ken's pdf document, "Exporting HDV video from the TImeline to Standard Definition DVD."