Video help needed - need to fix a dark scene. - GoFuckYourself.com

Turf · 10-22-2007, 09:42 AM

I just got 2 exclusive scenes from a content producer and the problem is that they are extremely dark (faulty camera settings due to new lights)..

now i know i could get him to reshoot them but as the action is really hot i would rather try and save the scenes...

i normally use premiere pro CS 2 for editing etc so i was wondering if there where any video gurus out there that could recommend some "plugins" or video effects to use to fix the brightness of the video..

when i try doing so with gamma correction it ends up looking like it was ripped from a VHS tape from the 80'ies..

If there are any programs out there that are better at correcting brightness than PP CS2 let me know as well..

thanx in advance for

Deej · 10-22-2007, 10:00 AM

Did you try the video effects?

i notice auto lighting effects make it fluctuate throughout the video, but im sure theres a way to even it out...

Im learning myself...

BuggyG · 10-22-2007, 10:29 AM

hmm thread I gotta bookmark.. always good to find new tricks/techniques

RedShoe · 10-22-2007, 11:08 AM

Open it up in Vegas and click on view> Video Scopes. Set the Video Scope to Histogram. Make sure the "update scope while playing" is on. Play your video and watch the histogram bounce around. If your shit is too far to the left (and it will be if your shit is dark), then it may not be fixable. If it's less than 128 ( or to the left of 128) then you might be fucked. It's hard to pull it back to center if it's too far gone.

However, if you think it's fixable then do this. You'll need to make several adjustments. And as far as I can tell it's kinda like photoshop, where they are several ways to end up with the same result. Vut this is what I've done with some minor degrees of success.

On your shitty clip, open the "Event FX" menu and add a 'Levels' filter. While playing your shitty clip, and watching the histogram, adjust the levels. Start by pushing the "Input End" to the left, you should see the Histogram slid to the right and your video should get brighter without fucking up the Gamma.

There are several adjustments you could make there and watching the histogram will tell you which channels need the adjustment. So another filter you might want to try is the HSL adjust filter that will adjust your hue, and saturation and your luminance. I would also even add a color corrector filter and tweak the colors only slightly if needed, but really you want that filter for the 4 options UNDER the color corrector itself which are the 'Saturation, Gamma, Gain and Offset.'

Like I said there is more than one way to work your shit, but this is just one that has worked for me. And don't try to tweak it all with one filter, in my experience it takes a few filters working together to get it close.

It's an art form. Don't try to do to much with one filter a little tweak here, a little tweak there... It's a fine balancing act.

rootyb · 10-22-2007, 11:22 AM

I wouldn't count on being able to get a normal-looking video, no matter what you do. You might be able to go artsy on it, though, and work with what you've got. Make it look like it was supposed to be that way. ;)

Better than nothing, I suppose, but personally, I tend to hate great scenes ruined by shitty quality/camera work.

Andy Servers4Less · 10-22-2007, 11:23 AM

a Simple fix is to drag the brightness/ contrast into the options. Then manually adjust and hopefully it should at least brighten it up. Be carefull not to make it look grainy. Of course Im sure there are more technical solutions. Good luck.

Jim_Gunn · 10-22-2007, 11:39 AM

There are multiple tools to use in Premiere CS3. I can't recall if they are the same in CS2 but most should be.

You can try Video Effects- Adjust- Shadow/Highlight; and then there are other effects under Color Correction- Brightness & Contrast.

If it is really dark though, you may not end up with anything salvageable.

Turf · 10-23-2007, 04:13 AM

thanx. will give it some more time and if its totally shitty he can reshoot it ...

10-22-2007, 09:42 AM	#1
Turf Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: ICQ: 64644691 Posts: 1,865	Video help needed - need to fix a dark scene. I just got 2 exclusive scenes from a content producer and the problem is that they are extremely dark (faulty camera settings due to new lights).. now i know i could get him to reshoot them but as the action is really hot i would rather try and save the scenes... i normally use premiere pro CS 2 for editing etc so i was wondering if there where any video gurus out there that could recommend some "plugins" or video effects to use to fix the brightness of the video.. when i try doing so with gamma correction it ends up looking like it was ripped from a VHS tape from the 80'ies.. If there are any programs out there that are better at correcting brightness than PP CS2 let me know as well.. thanx in advance for __________________ Daddy Strokes - mature men stroking their meat Mature Gay Movies - mature men fucking everyone! Pleasing Daddy - young girls fucking mature men Looking for submitter accounts for older men niche content (both gay and straight) so hit me up if you run a tube and offer submitter accounts for paysites.

10-22-2007, 10:00 AM	#2
Deej I make pixels work Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: I live here... Posts: 24,386	Did you try the video effects? i notice auto lighting effects make it fluctuate throughout the video, but im sure theres a way to even it out... Im learning myself... __________________ Deej's Designs n' What Not Hit me up for Design, CSS & Photo Retouching Icq#30096880

10-22-2007, 11:08 AM	#4
RedShoe 赤い靴 call me 202-456-1111 Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: The Valley Posts: 14,831	Open it up in Vegas and click on view> Video Scopes. Set the Video Scope to Histogram. Make sure the "update scope while playing" is on. Play your video and watch the histogram bounce around. If your shit is too far to the left (and it will be if your shit is dark), then it may not be fixable. If it's less than 128 ( or to the left of 128) then you might be fucked. It's hard to pull it back to center if it's too far gone. However, if you think it's fixable then do this. You'll need to make several adjustments. And as far as I can tell it's kinda like photoshop, where they are several ways to end up with the same result. Vut this is what I've done with some minor degrees of success. On your shitty clip, open the "Event FX" menu and add a 'Levels' filter. While playing your shitty clip, and watching the histogram, adjust the levels. Start by pushing the "Input End" to the left, you should see the Histogram slid to the right and your video should get brighter without fucking up the Gamma. There are several adjustments you could make there and watching the histogram will tell you which channels need the adjustment. So another filter you might want to try is the HSL adjust filter that will adjust your hue, and saturation and your luminance. I would also even add a color corrector filter and tweak the colors only slightly if needed, but really you want that filter for the 4 options UNDER the color corrector itself which are the 'Saturation, Gamma, Gain and Offset.' Like I said there is more than one way to work your shit, but this is just one that has worked for me. And don't try to tweak it all with one filter, in my experience it takes a few filters working together to get it close. It's an art form. Don't try to do to much with one filter a little tweak here, a little tweak there... It's a fine balancing act. __________________ SPECIALTY COSTUMES • PROPS • FX Superheroes • Monsters • Robots PM for details For any manufacturing needs. Adult or otherwise. aka BonsHigh on Insta Bonsai weed plants

10-22-2007, 11:23 AM	#6
Andy Servers4Less Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 922	a Simple fix is to drag the brightness/ contrast into the options. Then manually adjust and hopefully it should at least brighten it up. Be carefull not to make it look grainy. Of course Im sure there are more technical solutions. Good luck. __________________ Andy Servers4Less www.ServersForLess.com ICQ: 412-203-056 DUAL QUAD CORES W/100 Mbps UNMETERED- $799/ month!!

10-23-2007, 04:13 AM	#8
Turf Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: ICQ: 64644691 Posts: 1,865	thanx. will give it some more time and if its totally shitty he can reshoot it ... __________________ Daddy Strokes - mature men stroking their meat Mature Gay Movies - mature men fucking everyone! Pleasing Daddy - young girls fucking mature men Looking for submitter accounts for older men niche content (both gay and straight) so hit me up if you run a tube and offer submitter accounts for paysites.

10-22-2007, 10:29 AM	#3
BuggyG Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa Posts: 4,179	hmm thread I gotta bookmark.. always good to find new tricks/techniques

10-22-2007, 11:22 AM	#5
rootyb Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 38	I wouldn't count on being able to get a normal-looking video, no matter what you do. You might be able to go artsy on it, though, and work with what you've got. Make it look like it was supposed to be that way. ;) Better than nothing, I suppose, but personally, I tend to hate great scenes ruined by shitty quality/camera work.

10-22-2007, 11:39 AM	#7
Jim_Gunn Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Where The Teens Are Posts: 5,702	There are multiple tools to use in Premiere CS3. I can't recall if they are the same in CS2 but most should be. You can try Video Effects- Adjust- Shadow/Highlight; and then there are other effects under Color Correction- Brightness & Contrast. If it is really dark though, you may not end up with anything salvageable.