DrDre

Hal 9000 said:

I’ve used VMware for years and had no problems. VirtualBox is a good free one I had used in the past.

Also, stitching multiple frames together seems to work really well. However, mammoth images seem to choke it and it does not progress past a certain point. But even with a low amount of color spaces (since a large amount choked it) the results are pretty darn good across a whole movie with very different locations.

Yes, there’s a limit to the size of the image it can handle ~8K. So, make sure to resize the frames to something like 360p before putting them together. This should not affect the color matching result.

Hal 9000 said:

How would you correlate the number of color spaces with the exactness of the image alignment, and same question for smoothing parameter?

More color spaces lead to a more exact match. A lower smoothing parameter does the same.

Sounds like a higher smoothing parameter is better when the sources aren’t pixel-perfect. Is a higher number of color spaces always preferable, with the only downside being time?

Yes, this is true.

Also, would it make any sense at all to create a collage of multiple frames (twice, per source) and feed that into the tool for a more informed LUT to export?

Yes, but use plenty of color spaces (>20) and set the smoothing factor to about 0.1.

Hal 9000 said:

I’m trying to use this for two different sources for ESB, one from 2004 and another the 19SE. I align the images as best I can before generating the two frames to feed into the tool, but I can’t get it to be exact.

Would it be better to use a higher smoothing parameter? I haven’t seen DrDre recommend anything higher than 0.1, but it can go as high as 1. If the two images are not totally identical (same frame, but the sources aren’t pixel-perfect), is there a drawback to using 1 as the smoothing parameter?

A higher smoothing factor is less exact, but reduces the incidence of artifacts. I generally rarely use a value over 0.2. For more exact matching use more color spaces and a smoothing factor of 0.001. The frames have to be virtually identical to prevent artifacting.

coreyatad said:

Wow, this looks incredible. The definition of the Blu-ray, but with the style of a film print. What comes next, after the regrade? Also, is there a special method to dealing with the problem shots where the green tint darkened and took detail from the image? I know the other big colour restoration here used the chroma from the theatrical blu-ray for that stuff.

The black crush isn’t nearly as bad as I feared. However, in so far as the shadows have been compressed, the AI upscaling/detail enhancement treatment should restore what was lost.

I finished regrading the second half of the film. Here are a few regraded shots:

Here’s an album with a 120 shots:

https://imgur.com/a/FtTksR8

Williarob said:

Here you go everybody:

Dr Dre’s color Matching tool v1.2 (latest version) for 64 bit Windows*:

https://ln.sync.com/dl/e51125f10/njry8grb-juw5i7vz-ttrapwci-cb4cxh9j (385 MB)

Dr Dre’s color Matching tool v1.2 (latest version) for 64 bit OSX:

https://ln.sync.com/dl/89689baa0/6c22akdh-3ct3f4wr-mwmscjkw-5q7xg6hb (10 MB)**

* If you have a 64 bit version of Windows AND you have more than 4 GB of RAM AND you need to color match two giant images (4k or 8k with 16-bit color, or 2 giant 8K size montages of images, then it would be worth uninstalling the 32-bit version and downloading and installing the 64-bit version. I don’t think you will find it is any faster under “normal use” situations.

** Why is the mac version so much smaller? Simple really: in 2014, Matlab enhanced it’s package builder with some new features, one of which is an option to download the runtime package from the internet during install. The windows version was compiled with the 2012 compiler, which doesn’t have this option (or the option to change the icon and splash screen).

Enjoy!

If you have any issues with the new versions, let us know.

Here are the links with a big thanks to Williarob!

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:
Secondly, you need to add HDR meta data to your source.

What’s the best way to do that?

I think a tool like Mkvtoolnix can do it, but I’m not sure, since I have not actually done it myself.

Last question, when you say to add HDR metadata to the source, are you talking about the test image that’s already in HDR or the reference image?

I’m a bit confused. You want to match an HDR source to an SDR reference?

The test image is a 4K HDR source and the reference image is taken from an SD Laserdisc.

Ah oke, and when does it look pale? After rendering with a LUT?

After I apply “Build color matching model”.

I’m a little confused, because for the example you posted, the regrade does not look pale.

For this shot, the colors came out that way (notice around the lamp by the door)
https://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/27055

For the example I posted, even if the regrade doesn’t look pale, the colors aren’t accurate. Notice around the woman’s face.

If you mean the intensity of the lamp you might try reducing the smoothing parameter to 0.001. With regards to the woman I don’t really see the inaccuracy. It looks fairly accurate to me. There are some yellowish color splotches around here nose, but these also appear in the 4K UHD source if you bring the contrast and saturation to normal levels.

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:
Secondly, you need to add HDR meta data to your source.

What’s the best way to do that?

I think a tool like Mkvtoolnix can do it, but I’m not sure, since I have not actually done it myself.

Last question, when you say to add HDR metadata to the source, are you talking about the test image that’s already in HDR or the reference image?

I’m a bit confused. You want to match an HDR source to an SDR reference?

The test image is a 4K HDR source and the reference image is taken from an SD Laserdisc.

Ah oke, and when does it look pale? After rendering with a LUT?

After I apply “Build color matching model”.

I’m a little confused, because for the example you posted the regrade does not look pale.

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:
Secondly, you need to add HDR meta data to your source.

What’s the best way to do that?

I think a tool like Mkvtoolnix can do it, but I’m not sure, since I have not actually done it myself.

Last question, when you say to add HDR metadata to the source, are you talking about the test image that’s already in HDR or the reference image?

I’m a bit confused. You want to match an HDR source to an SDR reference?

The test image is a 4K HDR source and the reference image is taken from an SD Laserdisc.

Ah oke, and when does it look pale? After rendering with a LUT?

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:
Secondly, you need to add HDR meta data to your source.

What’s the best way to do that?

I think a tool like Mkvtoolnix can do it, but I’m not sure, since I have not actually done it myself.

Last question, when you say to add HDR metadata to the source, are you talking about the test image that’s already in HDR or the reference image?

I’m a bit confused. You want to match an HDR source to an SDR reference?

Tantive3+1 said:

DrDre said:
Secondly, you need to add HDR meta data to your source.

What’s the best way to do that?

I think a tool like Mkvtoolnix can do it, but I’m not sure, since I have not actually done it myself.

Interesting, I never noticed this. Might be something to consider in the future, however like you said, I first would like to present the extended trilogy in the best way possible as it was released.

Bates_Motel said:

DrDre said:

Bates_Motel said:

So no one can configure it for an M1 version? Just ignore the post and pretend Mac users don’t want/need this software? I wish it was available to all in a paid version where it didn’t crash or just not even open.

Perhaps you should try and develop a version for M1. Otherwise just try to appreciate that some of us develop these tools in their spare time for free, and don’t have the time to cater to every individual user’s needs.

Has nothing to do with “individual needs.” Why would I “appreciate” something I can’t use anymore? Apple is M1 now, and most video editors with on Mac. People have been posting Mac links and they DO NOT work. So yeah, sucks that you and others admonish half the people out there just because you offer something for "free’ that doesn’t work then scold them for it. Sad. man. As an editor who used the tool, its a shame you have that attitude and don’t care that many can’t use it anymore instead of “fixing” it for free or, as I said, CHARGING for it, because I know a lot of people who would pay that can’t use at anymore. Food for thought, dude. It’s an amazing tool and the people I know who can’t use it anymore are struggling to find something else. But I figured since that one dude keeps posting a Mac link like it works that all was good, when it actually isn’t. When a lot of people who do editing with on Mac, then it has nothing to do with “individual needs”… its a lot of people’s needs. And they would pay for the efforts.

All I said was its a shame it doesn’t work for a lot of people anymore, and you ignored tat, until I posted again, then you chose to attack me. So, cool, dude. Be proud of your software that doesn’t work.

Nothing to do with pride. You come on here like people owe you something. The software was developed for Windows, period. I don’t own a Mac M1 or otherwise. Williarob was kind enough to port it over to Mac, and even went so far to offer support when he could help. I made this tool for myself and then decided to offer it for free, because it might be useful to others. I’m glad to see that it is, or in your case has been. However, I have a job and a ton of other projects. It sucks that there is no alternative for you right now (except maybe use a Windows machine or older Mac version), but coming here complaining, because software, that you got for free isn’t working anymore isn’t going to get you anywhere with me, and I don’t think anyone else here either. This may surprise you, but often freeware that was developed for older systems (in this case 7 years ago) at some point stop working. In such a case you can hope a new version comes out, or alternatively ask the developer nicely, if they can find some time in their busy schedule to fix the issue. The attitude you’re displaying will get you a resounding no. So, the best thing you can hope for now is that someone else with an M1 has the civility to use the word please.

Bates_Motel said:

So no one can configure it for an M1 version? Just ignore the post and pretend Mac users don’t want/need this software? I wish it was available to all in a paid version where it didn’t crash or just not even open.

Just try to appreciate that some of us develop these tools in their spare time for free, and don’t have the time or the resources to cater to every individual user’s needs.

After some careful consideration I decided to have a go at remastering the extended edition blurays of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, starting with The Fellowship of the Ring. Since the bluray for FOTR has a number of issues, and is generally considered too green, the first step will be to regrade the bluray based on 35mm film reference frames. I finished regrading the first half of the film. Here are a few example shots:

Here’s an album with a 150 shots:

https://imgur.com/a/loB5eQ2

More coming soon!

Tantive3+1 said:

I’m not sure if something like this has already been mentioned, but I’ve been having issues color matching images to 4K HDR sources. The colors are not an exact match and end up looking pale. I had the color spaces set to 250, smoothing parameter to 0.01, and the fast processing mode turned off

Test Image

Reference Image

https://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/30432

You cannot just match HDR sources. For one you need the images to be 16 bit. Secondly, you need to add HDR meta data to your source.

I have similar feelings about the different releases. The 2009 bluray release is far from perfect, but it represents to closest representation of what was seen in the cinema in 2001-2003. Despite the obvious flaws in the transfer of FOTR, I am forgiving of them, because 1) at least we got an HD transfer of the theatrical version unlike for Star Wars, and 2) FOTR not having a DI meant they had to go back to the negative and do a brand new scan and digital color grade the film from scratch for a better quality release. I was disappointed by the extended cuts for FOTR and TTT. I really disliked the green tint in FOTR and the black crush kind of negated the increase in detail by going back to the negative. While the green cast was less of a problem in TTT, I couldn’t really get past Theoden’s green beard. With regards to the 4K release, I really liked the new HDR color grading, which while different in some ways it isn’t stylized like the extended blurays and still grounded in a sense of realism. The additional DNR is a huge let down. I wish Peter Jackson would have just given us the extended bluray masters with the new HDR color grading. That would have been awesome.

One of my favourite shots in the film:

This thread is dedicated to a 4K upscale and AI remastering of the 2009 theatrical bluray release of TROTK. While I generally like the new HDR color grade of the official 4K release, the excessive DNR has scrubbed away a lot of detail. So, this here is my attempt at creating a 4K version of TROTK (and the other two films) that does have the clarity, detail and fine layer of grain we come to expect from a 4K release. I chose to use the 2009 bluray, because it has the theatrical color grade, and it doesn’t suffer from black crush like the extended bluray release.

Also available: The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - 4K-Dremastered & The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - 4K-Dremastered

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Lord-of-the-Rings-The-Fellowship-of-the-Ring-4K-Dremastered-Released/id/99018#1504015

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/The-Lord-of-the-Rings-The-Two-Towers-4K-Dremastered-Released/id/99019

Here are a number of screencaps from TROTK 4K Dremastered:

youngreezy921 said:

where can i download this

You can send me a PM.

Do make sure the cropping of the frames is identical.

Thanks! 😃

coreyatad said:

Do you have any plans to do this with the extended editions? Fellowship would be tricky for that with the green tint, though I know another project a few years ago used the chroma from the DVD release to help with scenes that were too tricky to simply regrade.

Not at the moment. The extended editions have a lot of issues, such as black crush and missing details due to flattening of the color curves aside from the issues you addressed.

Not sure. The extended cuts have a lot of issues on bluray.

Theatrical. The extended editions suffer from blackcrush and loss of detail in the highlights due to flattening of the exposure curve.