FCPX gamma shift

[Andy_Johnson]

Hello,

I'm hoping this is a common thing
While grading footage in FCPX (editing with R3Ds) I finally get a look that I love. However, on export (as ProRes) and opening up in VLC, the contrast is higher and the saturation is over compensated. I have known about the Quicktime gamma shift for some time and the footage looks how I want in QT. However, now I'm realizing that FCPX also has this problem (makes sense).

Is there a quick setting or fix that I can make in FCPX or System Settings to show how the file will actually look? Creating a "softer" grade isn't exactly ideal as it involves 'render-and-check'.

Thanks!

 

[Marc Wielage]

Basically, you can't trust what you see within an operating system, since the operating system itself has an effect on the image. You need a color-managed output that runs outside of the operating system. Ideally, you also need to watch the image on a calibrated monitor. Scopes can also help quite a bit. Without all of these, you'll never know if what you're seeing is real. It would kind of be like trying to drive down a road, but all of your windows are blacked out and all you have is the speedometer and the RPM gauge: you can tell the car's moving, but you have no idea what direction you're going, or if you've gone off the road entirely.

You can make similar comparisons to people who try to mix audio on $29 computer speakers. It'll sound different everywhere you go, because the speakers aren't telling you what's really there.