[ANSWERED] Picture quality issues

[joma]

Some time ago, while I was checking another videosoftware, I could observe that the video output from Isadora was less bright compared to the other software; running it on the same machine with the same material with the exact same projector setup.

At the time I couldn't take the time to further investigate the issue; but recently I've been working with a videoartist and he used his laptop with his software to select and prepare the files and we build the final show in Isadora; and again the pictures sent from Isadora were less bright and vibrant.

Has someone made the same observation?

[Woland]

@joma

I haven't seen this but you can use the HSL Adjust actor just before your Projector actor to adjust the saturation and luminance to your liking.

If you use something like this Global Projection Mapping file then you can globally adjust the HSL by running all your video through it in a background Scene.

Best wishes,

Woland

[DusX]

@joma

I suspect you are seeing the difference between a color-managed environment (think Davinci Resolve) versus non color-managed. 

Isadora should not be doing anything to your colors. I would suggest you adjust the display. Most likely you want a different gamma setting.
Often video is worked on targeting Rec.709, which has a default gamma setting of 2.4
If possible you want to set your display to match. Depending on your viewing environment you may want to increase or decrease the gamma.

[DillTheKraut]

@dusx

I'd like to add, this is a system setting, done in the monitor settings (color managment) of the OS. Every device does offer a specific color range, it can show. So it may be able to show more or les colors or have the same amount of possible colors (eg. 16+ milions), but differences in the color shift. You need to match the color profile to the displays/projectors profile (some standards are sRGB, Rec. 709, DCI P3 e.g., or even device specific). This applies to print as well. This is easier on MacOS then on Windows, as MacOS already offers some profiles. Just switch between them and you'll immediately see the difference.
find some details here.

One other setup is a quiet unknown: Full vs. limited RGB. RGB values on full are 0 - 255 for each color (Red, Green, Blue). Limited only use 16 - 235. Full is used by PC and grafic setup, while limited is most time for Video. 
Here is an complete article for it.
This setting has to be consistent for the whole chain of devices, from Input (if some camera capturing is done) over the GPU output to the display device or needs to be converted properly.
If not, results are crushed shadows and flat highlights or gray blacks and whites.