FCP Display Gamma Problem (Everything Dark)

Question

FCP Display Gamma Problem (Everything Dark)

I recently let system update do it's thing and went from 10.6.4 to 10.6.6 including updating pro-apps (FCS 3).

Suddenly FCP, DVDSP, & Motion show all of my video files extremely dark (STP & Color are show them fine).

It's as if the gamma those programs are using to display the image has changed. (Quicktime & other non-Apple apps show it fine).

I've messed with FCS Maintenance Pack, and also used FCS Remover to remove and re-install, but that hasn't fixed the issue.

I'm sure there is a setting, or corrupted file somewhere that's causing video to be displayed wrong, but I'm not sure where to look, what to change at this point.

Any help, thoughts, ideas? Thanks in advance.

MacPro, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 1, 2011 1:22 PM

Reply

Answer 1

lifewebb

Level 1

17 points

Mar 1, 2011 2:58 PM in response to Chris Armstrong4

I have what sounds like the same or similar problem. I have FCP 7.0.3 running on a new Mac Mini and when I open anything inside FCP - even photos - the color is all distorted. Dark, very contrasty, reddish, as though I have applied some kind of filter to achieve a high contrast effect.

Hope the answer pops up here! Useless at present for working with, although a test export to QT showed that the footage is untouched and comes out fine. Normal.

One thing to note is that my timeline thumbnail is displaying in normal tones. Viewer and Canvas presents the problem.

Caroline

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 1, 2011 4:43 PM in response to lifewebb

Yep, those are the very problems I'm having. Just checked the timeline thumbnail display, and as you mentioned, it shows the image correctly there.

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 1, 2011 4:58 PM in response to Chris Armstrong4

Go the answer (at least to my problems) from another forum.

Under your "Display" properties, check the "Color" tab. For whatever reason mine was set on a HD-709 profile. Changing profiles solved the problem for me.

Reply

Answer 4

lifewebb

Level 1

17 points

Mar 2, 2011 8:31 AM in response to Chris Armstrong4

Color profile change has worked for me. Thank God. Thanks for that tip.

Reply

Answer 5

beingqw

Level 1

0 points

Mar 8, 2011 6:23 AM in response to Chris Armstrong4

excuse me, where's the "display" properties on fcp? or am i missing something?

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 8, 2011 6:43 AM in response to beingqw

I believe they mean the display properties in your computer system preferences.
DM

Reply

Answer 7

beingqw

Level 1

0 points

Mar 8, 2011 7:44 AM in response to David Mclaine

oh ic! thanks alot, i'll try.

Reply

Answer 8

Jun 1, 2013 12:02 PM in response to beingqw

I'm having the same problem with crushed blacks and reddened images. What color profile did you switch to?

Reply

Answer 9

Meg The Dog

Level 6

14,008 points

Jun 1, 2013 12:08 PM in response to damajackal1235

Is your problem specific to FCP?

In FCP, go to the menu Final Cut Pro > System Settings and click on the Playback Control Tab.

Set your gamma Correction to Approximate.

MtD

Reply

Answer 10

Jun 1, 2013 1:35 PM in response to Meg The Dog

Hey Meg,

My problem is specific to Final Cut Express (don't blame me, that's what they gave me at my workplace). I haven't been able to find that setting in FCE, even though I've looked in System Settings > Playback Control. I suspect that the problem I'm having could be fixed if I could just find that setting, but it's not in the same place in FCE and I can't find it. Any ideas?

Reply

Answer 11

Meg The Dog

Level 6

14,008 points

Jun 1, 2013 2:44 PM in response to damajackal1235

Not familiar with FCE. Did you try the other advice offered in this thread and go to the Apple Menu > System Preferences and click on the Displays Icon.

When that opens click on the Color Tab.

Verify that your setting is correct for your display.

Also, what are the properties of your source video?

MtD

Message was edited by: Meg The Dog to fix typo

Reply

Answer 12

Jul 13, 2013 7:27 AM in response to Meg The Dog

Meg the Dog is the MAN!! Or DOG in this case 🙂 Thanks a lot your fix solved this very frustrating issues i've been having. It was infuriating, you can't even color correct because you never can now what the end result will be. Brilliant!

S

Reply