Dwalin, I recently re-watched your 1st, 2nd and 3rd color regrades, and I have some thoughts to share with you. I own both the EE DVD trilogy and the 2009 theatrical (non-EE) blu-ray trilogy. I have compared numerous screen shots between the DVD and Blu-ray, and there is very little (if any) differences between the two. I did notice that the DVD seems to be cropped tighter on the sides than the Blu-ray. They are the same frame just a different crop factor. See the screen shot comparison below:
EE DVD vs. Theatrical (non-EE) Blu-ray: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115898
Since the Blu-ray and DVD seemed to be similar in their color grade, I proceeded to use the Blu-ray to compare to your color grading since they are closer in sharpness. Regarding your 1+2 grade, in the first shot of “The Lord of the Rings” title just before the words fade into view, you can see a darkish-yellow color appear and then the title fades in. Immediately after the title fades out but before it goes completely black, you can see the darkish-yellow remnants of the color and then it goes completely black. See the following screen shot comparison:
Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115899
As I proceeded to compare my Blu-ray to your color grades, I seemed to see a consistent slight brightness and yellow tone all throughout your 1st, 2nd and 3rd color grades. See some screen shot comparisons below:
- Bushes are too yellow—Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115903
- Grass is too yellow—Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115905
- Differences in waistcoat colors—DVD vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115906
- Bag End grass is too yellow—Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade:http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115907
- Yellow Bilbo—Blu-ray vs. Dwalin grade: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/115910
Other than the overall slight brightness and yellowishness in your grades, I can definitely see that your video files are much sharper than my theatrical Blu-ray. Well done! Let me know your thoughts on this when you can. Cheers!