Brightening a DVD

[RAN1DOM2]

Is there any very easy software in which I can take my video on a DVD, and lighten up the picture. I am not very good with computers. Or is there a company or service somewhere that will do this for me if I send them the DVD?

[redwudz]

That's not so simple a question. The answer is 'yes', but there's a lot more to it. Making those kind of changes usually requires re-encoding the video and using a contrast/brightness filter. But if there is no detail in the dark areas, you may end up with a 'muddy' looking video. Sometimes increasing the contrast helps in that case.

Usually to do all this, you need to extract the MPEG-2 file from the VIDEO_TS VOB files, then use a editor/encoder that will lighten up the video, then re-author it to the DVD format. Some quality loss is included.

You can experiment with VOB2MPG and extract the MPEG-2 video and audio. Then use VirtualDub Mod, or the regular VD with a MPEG plugin. I like the 'Gradation curves' filter for adjusting the contrast/brightness, etc. Then you can frameserve that to your favorite MPEG-2 encoder, then re-author it to a new DVD. You will lose the menus, etc., from the original DVD most times. VD filters here: http://www.thedeemon.com/VirtualDubFilters/

Be aware that a computer monitor will show the video as darker than a TV, so take that into account. There are many other ways to do this, but most all require re-encoding.

Others may have better ways.

And welcome to our forums.

[fritzi93]

There are many other ways to do this, but most all require re-encoding.

Others may have better ways.

AFAIK, you gotta re-encode.

Well, I have a "different" way. Quick and dirty, but the OP did specify "easy". :P

Rip or copy the DVD to your hard drive.

Install DVDRebuilder. Take the time to set it up properly, no way around that. When ready, go to
Options -> AVS Options -> Advanced (Expert) Options -> Filter Editor.

Enter this exactly and save:

Levels(0,1.3,255,0,255)
#Corrects gamma for display in a brighter environment. Second number from 1.0 to?

(An Avisynth script starting with # is ignored, it's just an explanatory note.)

Rebuild the DVD. The above is an internal Avisynth filter (installed when you installed DVDRebuilder).

Try it and see if it's acceptable. It will brighten up the video. If it's not enough, then as Redwudz says, you'll need to use a different filter, as increasing the brightness any further will just give a washed-out result. Other properties of the video will have to be modified as well.

My next choice would be "Tweak":

#Hue from -180.0 to +180.0. Positive toward red, negative toward green.
#Sat from 0.0 to 10.0, default 1.0. Above 1.0 to increase saturation.
#Bright from-255.0 to 255.0, default 0.0. Positive value increases brightness.
#Cont from 0.0 to 10.0, default 1.0. Positive value increases contrast.
Tweak(hue=0,sat=1,bright=0,cont=1)

Change the values in accord with the notes.

Good luck.

[lordsmurf]

Without seeing the video, there's no way I'd give advice on what to do -- there are so many variables to deal with. There are any number of tools out there, some professional, some freeware. But the exact error itself would need to be known before naming methods or software.

I've also sent you a PM (private message) with some more information on the options you have available to get this DVD lightened up.