Project Playback Appearing Darker Than Clip Playback

lowoctave · Post by **lowoctave** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 3:32 am

Hey guys. New guy here.........
I'm Ron, a singer/songwriter who is venturing into the video realm. I've found many, many answers to questions by using the search function (thank you), but I can't seem to find an answer to what is probably a simple fix, sorry.

Here is my problem. I've placed multiple JPEG images into the timeline, and even figured out how to have them size correctly. The problem I'm having is that when I play back the project, the pictures go dark. Not completely dark, I can still see the image. It's just much darker than when I play clips. When I play individual clips back, they're fine (original brightness). What am I missing. I hope I've given enough info. I'm using Video Studio x2pro. Thanks. Ron

thad · Post by **thad** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 3:52 am

Hi Ron.

If your end product is a DVD, I would try making a test DVD and watch it on your TV, or whatever your player will be. See if the end result if dark or if it's just something that you're seeing in the preview window.

You also mentioned that you had to have your pictures sized correctly. It sounds like you let VS do it. I would recommend using a dedicated image editor for those kinds of things. Just like VS can create DVD menus, DVD Workshop does a better job of it. Each tool specializes in it's own task. The side of a pipe wrench and a hammer can both pound in a nail, but the hammer is a better choice.

Thad

lowoctave · Post by **lowoctave** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:06 am

thad wrote:You also mentioned that you had to have your pictures sized correctly. It sounds like you let VS do it. I would recommend using a dedicated image editor for those kinds of things.

Thanks Thad, I'll try a test DVD. I was just curious why the clips playback fine in the preview window (brightness), but the project playback gets darker........

As far as sized images... I scanned the photos into photoshop elements then imported them into VS. Is there a standard size that I should get them to before I import them into VS? Thanks for the fast response by the way.

Ron

thad · Post by **thad** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:21 am

I always noticed the playback being darker in VS9. The finished DVD always looked fine. I'm new to X2 myself.

I always crop (or create, if making from scratch) my images to 720 X 480 (NTSC 4:3). I realize the edges get chopped off a bit in the overscan area of the TV so I make sure anything that matters is in the "safe area."

Thad

Post by **Ron P.** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 11:20 am

Welcome to the forums Ron, nice name...

So you're the Ron that got the singing ability... I thought I was suppose to get that attribute...

For image sizes, Thad is correct, unless you're going to apply pan/zoom, known as the Ken Burns effect. If so, you need to go with an image size that is at least double the size of video frame. Since your video is NTSC size 720 x 480, I would have my images no less than 1024 x 768, (I know that's not double but it is the absolute smallest I would use), if not 1440 x 960.

You must also keep in mind what your target viewing device will be, DVD to be viewed on a TV, PC, internet. Further to that, we now must also consider what type of TV, the older CRT (I still have one), LCD, Plasma, wide-screen HD TVs. If it is one of the latter, then producing a video DVD that is shot and rendered to 4:3 will be displayed with pillaring, which is having the black spaces to the left and right. So you may need to use a totally different size for your images to adjust for the wide-screen aspect ratio. If so it takes some pre-editing of your images, cropping them and not just resizing, since most photos are 4:3.

lowoctave · Post by **lowoctave** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:29 pm

Thanks again Thad,......and the "other" Ron

I appreciate the tips on sizing. I have an update to the problem. I loaded VS on our laptop and tried it, and the playback in both project and clip is fine. It must be an issue with my original computer. Maybe video settings on the video card?

The user agreement states that I can use VS in one computer at at time. Putting it on the laptop was just for troubleshooting purposes. It is now back on my original computer.......just in case a red flag was raised on that move.

Ron

mitchell65 · Post by **mitchell65** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:43 pm

Ron the singist wrote:just in case a red flag was raised on that move.

We won't tell if you don't

P.S. How would we ever know if you forgot to un-install it from your laptop?

Post by **Ron P.** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:03 pm

Yes there's nothing against the EULA, to have one copy installed on your laptop, so long as you don't run them both at the same time....

Just make sure the EULA cops are not lurking outside your windows...

mitchell65 · Post by **mitchell65** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:09 pm

Ron the non-singist wrote:so long as you don't run them both at the same time....

So that's why my brain keeps crashing!

lowoctave · Post by **lowoctave** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:15 pm

I checked out the video card settings and everything looks good. Here is some more info. When I play back the project, it is dark. If I pause during playback of the project, the image in the preview window brightens back up, but then goes dark again when I resume play.

And as I said before, in clip mode, the playback is fine. Any others have suggestion?

lowoctave · Post by **lowoctave** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:24 pm

Here's another bit of info.....

When I click on, and drag the slider bar marker right below the preview window, it turns the image dark, whether in clip or project mode. If I click (it goes dark) and the release (it lightens back up).......I'm baffled.

thad · Post by **thad** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:09 am

lowoctave wrote:When I play back the project, it is dark. If I pause during playback of the project, the image in the preview window brightens back up, but then goes dark again when I resume play.

Same here with VS9.

In X2, there is a "high quality" preview option. Don't ask me where, so far, I've only read about it.

Maybe that will keep a brighter preview for you.

Thad

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 1:11 am

It's located on the General tab of the Preferences, Playback Method.

lowoctave · Post by **lowoctave** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 1:34 am

I went to File, Preferences, General tab, playback method, high quality. With instant playback target...preview window. When I hit play, I got a VS window pop up that says. "High Quality mode is disabled with current project setups". When I click OK, the project plays back normal, not darkened. But then, when it's stopped and I try to play it again, it's darkended once more. Any idea what "current project settings" I need to change to be able to play back in high quality?

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 3:03 am

If your project properties are the default NTSC or PAL DVD, you need to change it to MPEG-2. Open your project properties (File menu>Project Properties), then press the Edit button, then go to the Compression tab, and hit the drop-down menu where it says Media Type, and change it to MPEG-2. Now you will be able to use High-Quality playback. I don't know why they disable H.Q. playback for the default settings..