Highlights recovery on HLG clip

HLG is Rec 2020 or Rec 2100. Is this video for an iPhone 12 or something? Select the clip in the Rec 709 project and apply the HDR Tools effect. Select the correct option in the effect popup. This depends on the exact specs of the media. If you need to do it to multiple clips you can use an Adjustment layer, or copy one clip and use Paste Attributes to the others. I prefer the second method as it doesn't;t clutter the timeline.

Using Color Space Override is not the correct way to do this. It does not Tone Map the content when overriding the color space.

As Tom said, apply the HDR Tools effect, change the Mode drop down to HLG to Rec 709:

and then trim up your color correction.

MtD

I also have a Sony camera that will shot Hybrid Log Gamma in a 709 color mode:

If I place a clip shot in this format into Rec 2020 HLG project that is in a Wide Gamut Library, the clip looks underexposed (but all highlight content is present) and I can color correct it by increasing the exposure so that it looks correct and holds the highlights.

If I place the clip into a Rec 709 project in a Standard Library, I get the "Adding HDR to SDR Project" warning. If I do not apply the HDR Tools effect, the clip highlights are overblown. If I apply the HDR Tools effect and set it to HLG to 709, the clip darkens to correctly retain the highlights, and I need to go in and color correct the video to increase the exposure in non-highlight areas of the clip.

MtD

You know you can use Color Masks with Color Board effects, right? Select a Color Mask from the little rectangle with enclosed circle icon, and use the Eye Dropper tool to select your highlight regions (you can spread it out with the mask controls). You can do separate color corrections Inside and Outside the Mask.

You have a choice of Types: HSL and 3D. 3D is easier to use. HSL gives you more refinement.

You get 1 Color Mask for each Color Board effect you apply, but virtually unlimited Shape Masks for each. [Shape Masks can be keyframed if you need to follow some action or movement.]

Also, check out this tutorial - it mainly is concerned with editing HDR material from the iPhone, but there is a lot of good information in it about working with HDR material in FCPX:

https://youtu.be/H4RSS8g5HLU

There might be something in it useful for you.

MtD

Is the library set to wide gamut or standard?

This is the first I’ve heard of HLG Rec 709. Is there a LUT that’s used with this? Not sure how HLG fits into 709.

PXW Z90V XDCam.

The HLG, HLG1, HLG2, HLG3 options are also available on this camera as well. The difference between those settings (as far as I can tell) is the curve and resulting contrast of the log applied.

MtD

Thanks for that.

I noticed that the OP's camera screen shows HLG2. Perhaps that's the difference in behavior. Which camera do you have Meg?

Thanks.