As I've shown before, the real power of this color correction method is the color prediction of other frames. Using the previous frame from Raiders of the Lost Ark as a reference (slightly adjusted), I predicted the colors for five frames from the beginning of the film:
This is the result. Who says you can't make the bluray look like film? ;-):
As I've shown before, the real power of this color correction method is the color prediction of other frames. Using the previous frame from Raiders of the Lost Ark as a reference (slightly adjusted), I predicted the colors for five frames from the beginning of the film:
Anyone interested in getting the color correction GUI can send me a PM. I will then send you a link to the necessary files.
When you've downloaded the file named ColorCorrect_pkg.exe, execute the file. You will be asked to install the MATLAB runtime environment. After you have finished installing, a new executable named ColorCorrect.exe will be available. Open this file as administrator, else it will not work.
A few words of advice on using the GUI. The GUI itself is pretty self explanatory.
The process is as follows:
1) Select a test image. A figure will open, showing the image. You will be able to crop the frame, with your cursor.
2) Select a reference image. A figure will open, showing the image. You will be able to crop the frame, with your cursor.
3) Build a color correction model. Depending on the resolution/size of the images after cropping and your hardware, this may take 0-15 minutes (15 min for a 4K image) on an Intel Core i5. A figure will open showing you the test frame as it is being matched. With each iteration it should be closer to the reference.
4) Save the color correction model for later (optional).
5) Import a color correction model (optional).
6) Import any number of images, and color correct them with a color correction model you just built or imported. The images will be saved in a newly created directory named "Corrected" with the same name as the original images. Color correcting a frame may take anywhere between 5 and 20 seconds, depending on the resolution/size of the frame, and of course your hardware.
When building a color correction model you should consider the following:
1) The model assumes the test and reference images (frames) are identical, aside from the color. In other words it's important the images are cropped in the same way (to a reasonable degree). Incorrect cropping may lead to artifacts.
2) When using a print or a low quality source as a reference, there may be color variations within the frame. For example some parts may be darker or brighter than others. If you use the full frame for building a color correction model, it will try and fail to reconcile these differences, resulting in artifacts. The best way to go, is to select a consistent part of the frame, select the same part for the reference, and then build the color correction model.
3) Although it is in theory you could regrade an entire film, based on a single reference frame, this will probably not work in practice, because one reel may have degraded in a different way than another or one scene may have been color graded differently from another. In principle it is possible that each frame will have to be matched individually, but usually a film is graded on a scene by scene basis, so a single reference will suffice for a particular scene.
Hope you enjoy the tool. Of course if you use the tool for your projects, any acknowledgements will be appreciated. The same is true for any comments, critisism or suggestions you may have. In that case send me a PM.
Anyone interested in getting the color correction GUI can send me a PM. I will then send you a link to the necessary files.
When you've downloaded the file named ColorCorrect_pkg.exe, execute the file. You will be asked to install the MATLAB runtime environment. After you have finished installing, a new executable named ColorCorrect.exe will be available. Open this file as administrator, else it will not work.
A few words of advice on using the GUI. The GUI itself is pretty self explanatory.
The process is as follows:
1) Select a test image. A figure will open, showing the image. You will be able to crop the frame, with your cursor.
2) Select a reference image. A figure will open, showing the image. You will be able to crop the frame, with your cursor.
3) Build a color correction model. Depending on the resolution/size of the images after cropping and your hardware, this may take 0-15 minutes (15 min for a 4K image) on an Intel Core i5. A figure will open showing you the test frame as it is being matched. With each iteration it should be closer to the reference.
4) Save the color correction model for later (optional).
5) Import a color correction model (optional).
6) Import any number of images, and color correct them with a color correction model you just built or imported. The images will be saved in a newly created directory named "Corrected" with the same name as the original images. Color correcting a frame may take anywhere between 5 and 20 seconds, depending on the resolution/size of the frame, and of course your hardware.
When building a color correction model you should consider the following:
1) The model assumes the test and reference images (frames) are identical, aside from the color. In other words it's important the images are cropped in the same way (to a reasonable degree). Incorrect cropping may lead to artifacts.
2) When using a print or a low quality source as a reference, there may be color variations within the frame. For example some parts may be darker or brighter than others. If you use the full frame for building a color correction model, it will try and fail to reconcile these differences, resulting in artifacts. The best way to go, is to select a consistent part of the frame, select the same part for the reference, and then build the color correction model.
3) Although it is in theory you could regrade an entire film, based on a single reference frame, this will probably not work in practice, because one reel may have degraded in a different way than another or one scene may have been color graded differently from another. In principle it is possible that each frame will have to be matched individually, but usually a film is graded on a scene by scene basis, so a single reference will suffice for a particular scene.
Hope you enjoy the tool. Of course if you use the tool for your projects, any acknowledgements will be appreciated. The same is true for any comments, critisism or suggestions you may have. In that case send me a PM.
Anyone interested in getting the color correction GUI can send me a PM. I will then send you a link to the necessary files.
When you've downloaded the file named ColorCorrect_pkg.exe, execute the file. You will be asked to install the MATLAB runtime environment. After you have finished installing, a new executable named ColorCorrect.exe will be available. Open this file as administrator, else it will not work.
A few words of advice on using the GUI. The GUI itself is pretty self explanatory.
The process is as follows:
1) Select a test image. A figure will open, showing the image. You will be able to crop the frame, with your cursor.
2) Select a reference image. A figure will open, showing the image. You will be able to crop the frame, with your cursor.
3) Build a color correction model. Depending on the resolution/size of the images after cropping and your hardware, this may take 0-15 minutes (15 min for a 4K image) on an Intel Core i5. A figure will open showing you the test frame as it is being matched. With each iteration it should be closer to the reference.
4) Save the color correction model for later (optional).
5) Import a color correction model (optional).
6) Import any number of images, and color correct them with a color correction model you just built or imported. The images will be saved in a newly created directory named "Corrected" with the same name as the original images. Color correcting a frame may take anywhere between 5 and 20 seconds, depending on the resolution/size of the frame, and of course your hardware.
When building a color correction model you should consider the following:
1) The model assumes the test and reference images (frames) are identical, aside from the color. In other words it's important the images are cropped in the same way (to a reasonable degree). Incorrect cropping may lead to artifacts.
2) When using a print or a low quality source as a reference, there may be color variations within the frame. For example some parts may be darker or brighter than others. If you use the full frame for building a color correction model, it will try and fail to reconcile these differences, resulting in artifacts. The best way to go, is to select a consistent part of the frame, select the same part for the reference, and then build the color correction model.
3) Although it is in theory you could regrade an entire film, based on a single reference frame, this will probably not work in practice, because one reel may have degraded in a different way than another or one scene may have been color graded differently from another. In principle it is possible that each frame will have to be matched individually, but usually a film is graded on a scene by scene basis, so a single reference will suffice for a particular scene.
Hope you enjoy the tool. Of course if you use the tool for your projects, any acknowledgements will be appreciated. The same is true for any comments, critisism or suggestions you may have. In that case write a post in this thread or send me a PM.
At this point it's only exr (although I have to check whether these will function in the standalone app), but I will see if I can get other formats implemented, and provide an update.
PDB said:
DrDre said:
PDB said:
Those color matches look great Dr Dre. I'd love to use your program sometime if you ever release it for public consumption. Color matching is a laborious process.
Concerning the whole discussion of what Raiders really looks like. One of our members here tracked down a rare 1982 LPP of Raiders. There were only 200 made for the '82 re-release. It was mastered from the same 35mm materials as the 1981 prints only unlike the '81 prints there is no fading. As usual the only thing stopping us is the approximately $600 to $750 it costs to scan it. So would anyone be interested?
I will hopefully be able to share a standalone tool based on this method. I will keep you posted.
That would be great. I'm sure the mechanics of the process are beyond my abilities but what is the input/output? Individual picture frames or video like AVI?
TServo2049 said:
PDB said:
Those color matches look great Dr Dre. I'd love to use your program sometime if you ever release it for public consumption. Color matching is a laborious process.
Concerning the whole discussion of what Raiders really looks like. One of our members here tracked down a rare 1982 LPP of Raiders. There were only 200 made for the '82 re-release. It was mastered from the same 35mm materials as the 1981 prints only unlike the '81 prints there is no fading. As usual the only thing stopping us is the approximately $600 to $750 it costs to scan it. So would anyone be interested?
You know I would be. As per usual, I'd be willing to put down some for this. Anybody else?
I'm serious when I say you are quickly becoming the patron saint of 35mm projects Servo.
It can import and export 8 bit and 16 bit images. You build a color correction model for a reference frame in a scene, and then select all other frames in the scene, and correct them with this model.
Molly said:
WOWOW is a satellite TV network in Japan.
Thanks, I was wondering where that weird name came from. :-)
I will be using towne32's version. He did a great cleanup job, that does not affect the detail recovery of SR.
I'm pretty sure there's nothing left to squeeze out of the GOUT. I think for the final version, I will go for SRV11, since that has the most detail, and less static grain. What do you think?
...and a lot of work. Be careful, you will become addicted to this stuff... ;-)
It's really interesting how the colors really affect the depth and feel of a scene. The last picture has less visible detail than the bluray and WOWOW in the background, but it really puts Indy and the idol center stage. Also the greater contrast adds mystery and depth that is really missing in both the bluray and the WOWOW.
PDB said:
Those color matches look great Dr Dre. I'd love to use your program sometime if you ever release it for public consumption. Color matching is a laborious process.
Concerning the whole discussion of what Raiders really looks like. One of our members here tracked down a rare 1982 LPP of Raiders. There were only 200 made for the '82 re-release. It was mastered from the same 35mm materials as the 1981 prints only unlike the '81 prints there is no fading. As usual the only thing stopping us is the approximately $600 to $750 it costs to scan it. So would anyone be interested?
I will hopefully be able to share a standalone tool based on this method. I will keep you posted.
Another nice property of the color matching algorithm, is that it does not require the reference to have the same quality as the source. Although it's not Star Wars, I thought it was nice to share this comparison. There has been a lot of debate about the color timing of the Raiders of the Lost Ark bluray, and some prefer the HDTV broadcast known as the WOWOW. Here's an example of color correcting the bluray using a screenshot of a 16 mm print of Raiders of the Lost Ark, that has most of it's colors intact.
Bluray:
WOWOW:
16 mm reference:
Bluray matched to 16 mm reference:
An interesting aspect of this color match, is that Indy has a more natural skin tone in the color corrected frame, than in either the bluray or the WOWOW.
Another nice property of the color matching algorithm, is that it does not require the reference to have the same quality as the source.
Bluray:
WOWOW:
16 mm reference:
Bluray matched to 16 mm reference:
An interesting aspect of this color match, is that Indy has a more natural skin tone in the color corrected frame, than in either the bluray or the WOWOW.
Here are a few frames of the Raiders bluray matched to the the 16mm and 35 mm frames PDB posted a while ago, with a color matching algorithm I developed:
Bluray:
Bluray matched to 16 mm:
Bluray matched to 35 mm:
That's interesting, I posted a frame from the bluray, that I color matched to a Technicolor IB print reference, and it's pretty close to your regrade:
kk650:
DrDre:
Of course there's always debate about how these scenes should look, but it's always interesting to make comparisons.
towne32 said:
Very nice indeed.
Dre, will the GUI eventually be sophisticated enough where you can lay out a whole film, organizing which shots will be corrected to which frames, and press go?
At this point the GUI allows you to select a frame to be corrected, crop it, then select a reference, crop it, then build a color correction model. You can save the model, and import the model at a later time, or use the model directly. You subsequently select any number of files you want to correct and voila, it corrects them and stores them with the same name in a automatically created directory called adjusted. It can handle bmp, jpg, png, tif (8 bit/16 bit), and exr (HDR files).
Things may change in the future, but that depends on the challenges I will encounter.
kk650 said:
DrDre said:
In the mean time, I managed to improve the color matching method. There appears to be some color noise hidden in the raw scan, that was difficult for the algorithm to handle. The new algorithm is less sensitive to the color noise. Once again the reference is the Semi-Specialised Edition V2.2 frame posted earlier:
The results are as follows (raw/rough correction/correction with algo):
DrDre, I have to say that your colour matching is pretty fantastic, the accuracy with which you recreated the Semi-Specialised Edition V2.2 colors on the print with all that lovely filmic grain and detail is amazing. Bravo!
Thanks!
Here's how it works out for another Mos Eisley sequence. First I calibrated the color correction model on this frame:
Then I predicted how these frames would look with Tech IB colors:
Here's the result:
John Doom said:
Do you think it would be possible to match teamnegative's work to Legacy's color timing, once more frames will be available?
Certainly, if enough screenshots are available that should not be a problem, but I think -1 have their own references, that will be used to color time the preservation.
towne32 said:
Hah! Very cool. I was hoping you'd try that one.
edit: The results remind me of Harmy's 97: http://postimg.org/gallery/cfmct944/
Yes, it's really close.
Bluray:
Harmy's 1997 SE:
Bluray matched to Tech IB:
Here another interesting experiment. First I calibrated a color adjustment model on this frame:
Then I predicted how these frames from the Jabba scene would look with Tech IB colors:
This is the result:
towne32 said:
The X-wing explosions in the Death Star run had their color changed dramatically in the blu-ray. I believe some (but not all?) were recomposited. How do these look with your technique? Does something that's as dynamic frame-by-frame as an explosion need exact frame reference matching?
edit: On that note, I'd like to see if it can change back the glow of the sparks after Han shoots at Vader and company.
Some scenes are really difficult, because the bluray simply does not have the color depth to do a proper correction. Crushed blacks are only part of the problem. Any RGB channel that has been pushed to it's limits (0 or 255) is impossible to properly correct.
