using tmpgenc and can`t get a white background it goes grey

[woof]

As the title said I am using tmpgenc and the project I am working on has a white background, as soon as I encode it the background turns grey,

I have also gone into the settings and upped the levels but still the same.

does anyone know a way I can keep the background white, and still encode mpeg2 for dvd, or whether a different encoder is needed as I have also tried adobe mpeg that comes with premier 6.5 and also an uncompressed avi straight into dvd fusion 3 to let the program mpeg it and the same it comes out white.

I would appreciate any help as it is really starting to annoy me.

[IJM]

I think this might be to do with luminance ranges. A computer's luminance range (ie. from full black to full white) is 0 to 255. For television, the spec (CCIR601) is that the luminance range runs from 8 to 235.

What is happening is that TMPGEnc, quite rightly, is encoding your video and readjusting the luminance range to Television Specs (CCIR601). When you preview it on your computer, full white shows up as a very light grey. Once you burn your DVD and play it back on a standalone through a TV set, it should look right.

You could try burning to a DVD±RW to proof your project.

Or alternatively, re-encode a short test clip in TMPGEnc, setting the "Output YUV Data as basic YCbCr not CCIR601" checkbox under the "Quantize Matrix" tab in Video settings. This will stop TMPGEnc from adjusting the Luminance Range and produce a file designed to be viewed on your computer. If this plays okay on your computer, then your can probably be certain that a file encoded with this checkbox unchecked will play okay on your TV.

For further information, look at section IV in TMPGEnc Explained.

Have fun.

Ian.