Basics - adjusting video color when capturing

[dinkob]

Yeah, it's just that. How does one determine the colors when capturing video?

Here's why I am asking.

I have a Viewsonic Flatpanel VG 150 I think as my "main" monitor. I also have two laptops and one more monitor to use on my brother's computer.

Before, my capture settings were to leave everything on normal but contrast (decrease) and saturation - increase or leave the same.

Now looking at various other sources (DVD, various DVD backups) etc. I always keep thinking that before capturing I should adjust colors to try to get the best possible quality.

So I did that and I can make it look good on my Viewsonic VG150 (contrast ratio 300:1 I think) and Sony PCFGX 650 (very bright monitor - but not high contrast).

HOWEVER, on my Thinkpad 600E and my brother's high contrast (500:1) monitor I get somewhat strange loooking picture. There is some awful red color present accross the entire screen. The human skin color can look as brown as this website right column on the right.

So how does one adjust these colors? Should I just temporarily steal my bro's monitor and adjust it?

And another question. On already poorly contrast/brightness/color captured material is it possible to view picture quality statistics and determine what could be wrong (something more precise than histogram). For example Corel Photo Paint has auto-equalize button for color levels but I don't know exactly what changes it makes to the picture (I would use picture as a small fragment/sample and apply changes)?

I also remember some thread that was comparing color retention with mpeg encoders and it looked something like this:

MainConcept = 93
CCE = 86
Tmpgenc = 73

Does anyone know what tool would be used to analyze this?

Thanks in advance.

[edDV]

Take a look at this thread to understand why a video monitor should be used for color adjustment if the DVD is intended for TV viewing.

Computer streaming is a different consideration.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=253133&highlight=


What viewing program are you using for computer playback?

Cyberlink PowerDVD will realtime process an interlaced TV optimized DVD for good computer display. The idea here is you adjust the viewer rather than encoding a DVD to match a particular computer monitor.

http://www.gocyberlink.com/multi/products/product_main.jsp?ProdId=1

[dinkob]

I just use windows media player on all 4 computers

My brother's Viewsonic VA520 and IBM thinkpad (and armada 7400) that have a warm picture setting and very high contrast do have an odd picture quality when playing back my captures.

On TV they look good. It's only the problem with those High contrast monitors.

I guess I can do some trial and error. I dunno why I haven't thought of this but I can use virtualdub to view HSV Settings on the High Contrast monitor and work from there.