Dark Video

[nfos]

I am a beginning video editor and need help editing a dark video. It is a barrel racing video and the shot was taken into the sunlight (not by me!) and the rider looks like a silhouette. What is the BEST way to lighten this video? Remember I am a beginner!

[smrpix]

Whatever your level of expertise, you want to bring up the low end without blowing out highlights. That's assuming there's any detail in the shadows to begin with. Please post a screenshot or short clip.

Also give us an idea of how newbie you are. What tools do you currently edit with, for example?

[sanlyn]

Impossible to proceed without a sample of some kind. Ask if you need to know how to post samples here. And, yes, we need some info on the software you're using, etc.

[jagabo]

Start with gamma adjustments.

[nfos]

There should be a screen shot attached. If not, let me know. Also, I am using Adobe Premiere Elements 11

[jagabo]

You're not going to get a lot out of that.

[budwzr]

It looks like a girl on horseback.

I'm using smrpix's(post#2) method, but I made two layers, one masks the lows and the other one masks the highs, then I composited the two.

[sanlyn]

Well......one could give it a try, might be able to salvage some low-middle data from it. But -- the photo is RGB, so any trial effort would have to be on the original YUV video. Once the source goes into bt601 or 709, it's all over. What is usually found in the dark areas of underexposed video is a huge amount of noise that can't be cleared. Working from the image is impossible, but there's an inkling of detail that could be rescued without blowing up the background. Caution: the usual "brightness" and "contrast" filters will be useless. It'll have to be something more sophisticated in YUV.

[nfos]

What is YUV?

[jagabo]

YUV is the colorspace used by almost all video:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YUV

I think budwzr's example is about as good as you're going to get. At least from that particular frame.

[nfos]

Where can I find more detailed instructions on the smrpix's method?

[sanlyn]

It looks like a girl on horseback.

I'm using smrpix's(post#2) method, but I made two layers, one masks the lows and the other one masks the highs, then I composited the two.

That's the right idea, you'll have to use masking, layers, tools like gradation curves will help as well. Good sample, but working with the RGB image hampers the effort. You'd need the YUV original, and Avisynth could also be used. Be prepared for some noise in crushed areas, and I notice some lens flare in the darks.

The title of the image has the word "unedited". How did the frame size get to be 682x512 with letterboxing evident??

[smrpix]

Your image is about as bad as it gets because it has both blown out highlights and very underexposed darks. Additionally you want SOME parts of the highlights -- the shadows of the background trees for example, to be darker than parts of the shadow areas -- the horse for example.

Budwzr's approach is the best for saving as much of the image as possible. He's braver or more patient than me. In this situation, I would sacrifice the highlights becuase they're irrelevant to the "story." In motion, artifacts are likely to appear because of normal differences between frames.

The curve tool in most nle's is useful. These were done in photoshop, but the idea is the same. Here's a curve for maintaining the highlights:



Here's a curve for maintaining the shadows, as you can see the curves overlap, so there's no way to do both at once. That's why Budwzr created layer masks based on luminance.



An easier tool is levels, but it's not as subtle.



The bottom line is that you don't really have the detail you need, you're digging it out of a limited range. Ideally you set your camera's exposure to the part you want exposed properly in the first place.

[budwzr]

I think the takeaway here is how important it is to try and always do your best camera work, but in this case the action came quickly because the horse wanted to get back to the barn and relax. These "pony ride" horses are notoriously lazy. And they know these kids are pushovers, so they take advantage.

The proprietors should hand out thick riding crops and instruct the kids how to "tone down" a frisky mare.

Barrel Racing? Those swaybacks can jump a barrel?

Hahaha

[sanlyn]

Yep, smrpix, I got similar (and unsatisfactory) results in AfterEffects with similar tools. But we're not working with the original video, we're working with RGB conversions. Working in the original YUV would certainly deliver "better" results. This kind of problem isn't going to make the dark interior nearly as bright or as detailed as the background. But working with the original video would be more profitable than with the RGB still image. The image is not "unprocessed"; it has been converted to RGB by another app, likely not converted in a way that would preserve dark or bright levels properly, so the image really isn't going to yield much in terms of detailed procedures.

[budwzr]

You guys are using AfterEffects and PhotoShop? I envy you. I can only dream of using these expensive professional tools. Over here in poorville I'm using the defunkt "Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9".

[sanlyn]

I'm still learning AfterEffects....and my Photoshop Pro is 1998 (!!!!). So far, I'm using AfterEffects SC3 only for color correction and learning how the hell masking and blending work. But the vast bulk of work is with Avisynth, VirtualDub, old and new TMPGEnc software, and a lot of free stuff. I'm no great fan of most NLE encoders, nor of special effects (it's tough enough just to get a bad capture to look decent!) and timelines with bezillions of buttons are a super P.I.T.A., IMHO.

Avisynth itself and several plugins and masktools could do much here on their own, but ya really need the original video.

[nfos]

Another beginner question: I am pretty sure I have the original video, but it has several riders and it is pretty long. How can I send it to you so that you can advise the best? Be specific, LOL

[sanlyn]

Give us the details of its format, codec, etc., for upload details. You can use the free MediaInfo to get info, copy the info or save it as a text file, and post here. There are some free editors that allow you to cut a small sample chuck without processing, for posting here. A few seconds of video will do.

[smrpix]

working with the original video would be more profitable than with the RGB still image.

You're certainly correct, but I suspect there's not a whole lot more in this one. It will be interesting to see if auto-iris creates a whole new raft of variations one this clip is in motion.

[smrpix]

You guys are using AfterEffects and PhotoShop? I envy you. I can only dream of using these expensive professional tools. Over here in poorville I'm using the defunkt "Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9".

Then you're even braver than I gave you credit for initially.