How to save a picture from a video with HDTV colors?

[Bencuri]

I would like to show somebody how well my camcorder records by saving a moment from the video in picture format, but on my computer, the colors are not so good when I play back my videos. On HDTV, the video has much better colors. Is there a software that compensates the colors on the computer automatically when you save an image from the video so that it would look like when watching on HDTV, or it can only be done manually with an image editing software? If there is a software that does it automatically, could you recommend?

Thank you!

[jagabo]

TVs typically pump up the contrast, saturation, and sharpness (well beyond what the picture should look like). Do the same with your pictures if you want them to look like a TV. Just about every video and image editing package has such functions.

[Bencuri]

But isn't there a software by chance that automatically does this, and was developed for this purpose? Or a filter in a software?

[edDV]

But isn't there a software by chance that automatically does this, and was developed for this purpose? Or a filter in a software?

HD video uses the BT709 color standard and 16 for black and 235 for nominal white. If you are going for an accurate HD to 0-255 RGB conversion, the conversion software needs to accommodate 16-235 BT709 source.

[Bencuri]

Okay, I experimented a bit with Corel, and similar image can be created like the one that appears on my HDTV, but still there is difference. But it is similar. I only used contrast and sharpening.

But what about if I make a screen grab from my HDTV while connecting it on HDMI to my laptop? The screen grab softwares rely on what? Do they rely on the actual appearance of the image? In that case I could get an accurate photo, I guess. Or do they rely on a common standard, and no matter what display device you use with your computer, the image that you grab will contain the same colors?

[edDV]

But what about if I make a screen grab from my HDTV while connecting it on HDMI to my laptop? The screen grab softwares rely on what? Do they rely on the actual appearance of the image? In that case I could get an accurate photo, I guess. Or do they rely on a common standard, and no matter what display device you use with your computer, the image that you grab will contain the same colors?

You can't screen cap off an HDTV. There are no video outputs.

Your AVCHD camcorder uses 16-235 BT709 color space.

The way it looks on your computer depends on your display card and monitor calibration. Typical computers will vary widely in the way HD will display because they aren't calibrated.

There should be no need to adjust the video if the video player or frame capture software respect AVCHD 16-235 BT 709 source (e.g. VLC, MPCHC). If you don't like the way it looks, adjust your display card.

If you want to "enhance" the way it looks, that is depart from standards, then you can play with contrast and gamma. Just be aware it will look different on every computer out there and probably look "blown out" if displayed on an HDTV.

[jagabo]

Almost all soffware performs the contrast stretch from YUV 16-235 to RGB 0-255 when saving snapshots. The subtle difference between rec.709 and rec.601 conversion is probably not what the OP is concerned about.

Most player with a snapshot feature will let you save with pumped up setting. For example, with MPCHC you can use the tweaks to adjust he picture to your liking (View -> Options -> Misc) then use F5 to save snapshots with those settings.