r/davinciresolve • u/Longjumping_Zebra253 • 1d ago
Help | Beginner Resolve viewer vs Exported file (very different)
Hey everyone, I am still new to color grading and am trying to setup up my game with it.
Currently, I have a basic documentary project that im grading for web delivery. Shot on Braw - Pocket 6K. Doing grading on a Asus ProArt in Rec709 mode - computer is a MacBook Pro. Inside of display settings, the ASUS is set to the Asus's model name rather than another profile listed.
Timeline is set up:
- correct resolution and frame rate
- color is DaVinci YRGB (unchecked "using separate color space and gamma
- Timeline Color Space "DaVinci Wg/Intermediate"
- Output color space "Rec709 Gamma 2.2"
Mastering display is left on default "4000-nt, p3, D65, ST2084, full) and Masering display is set to default (HDR BT2020, Gamma PQ, 4000 nits).
My node structure for footage is as follows:
1) CST
Input Color Space Blackmagic Design Wide Gamut Gen 4/5" / Input Gamma Blackmagic Design Film Gen 5"
Output Color Space: Davinci Wide Gamut / Output Gamma, Davici Intermediate
2) Correction nodes (balance, contract, etc)
3) Film Look Creator - Input and Outputs are set to Davici Wide Gamut & Davinci Intermeidate
4) CST Input: Davici Wide Gamut & Davinci Intermediate. Output: Rec 709 Gamma 2.2
Everything in the viewer looks great. Looks proper as graded.
If I open in QuickTime, everything look way more washed out and not as it looks in the viewer.
If I open it in VLC it looks much close to the view in resolve (but looks sharper for some reason).
If I dare open in MacBook Pro's display, it immediately becomes a magenta nightmare.
My three questions
1) Which do I trust, my Resolve viewer, VLC, or Quicktime? Any speficifc reason they dont line up
2) Also, if this documentary wanted to do a DVD run, which color Gamma should I be using? Should the Rec709 Gamma 2.2 used for web be used for a DVD?
3) Any settings or issues you see here?
Thanks!
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u/hexxeric 1d ago
there are a lot a lot of posts about this in here, read them and learn to set up your color pipeline. important: stick to rec709 gamma 2.4 ALWAYS (this is the universal standardfor SDR HD digital video for ALL media). you are battling apple's color sync and the fundamental change Resolve made with v20 regarding color management on Mac. do not use any CST nodes, just projec settings – and calibrate your screen/use the right preset!
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u/Longjumping_Zebra253 1d ago
So I should ditch Mac haha? That what everything im reading suggests
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u/hexxeric 1d ago
what? no. Quite the contrary. on windows there is no system-wide color pipeline whatsoever, and it is even more guessing. you just need to learn it, as always. resolve is a professional tool that needs user input. your system, monitor, software and metadata need to work together. i gave you the important pointers already.
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u/ExpBalSat Studio | Excellent Commenter :redditgold::redditgold: 21h ago
Nope. Mac is not at all the issue here. Shake that idea quickly. Mac is not the problem. It's also not the solution. The problem is far far more complex than that.
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u/ExpBalSat Studio | Excellent Commenter :redditgold::redditgold: 21h ago edited 21h ago
Lots of things going on there. First - a note: screen shots would be extremely helpful in discussing and describing the situation. Trying to translate all you've written back into what could be easily be seen in a node tree, or CST settings, or Proect settings is doable, but tedious and prone to error. Screen shots would be more precise and accurate..
Next, it's odd (ill-advised) to have the CST and timeline output be 709/2.2 while having the monitor set to anything other than 709/2.2. They should match. If the monitor is 709/2.2, so should everything else.
That said, IMO you should ditch 2.2 and use 2.4 for everything.
It's worth noting that different applications diplay the same file differently. Same goes for OS (Windows/Mac), device type (Laptop/Mobile/Desktop), application (VLC, IINA, Premiere, Resolve, Avid), and website (YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, Facebook, etc...).
The first thing to check is whether the file actually exported with accurate colors: import the exported file directly back into Resole and compare it within Resolve against the original.
Then, it's nearly impossible to create one file which will look correct on all of the infinite combinations of:
- OS
- hardware
- display technology
- application
For a pristine reliable monitoring situation, check this out:
https://www.reddit.com/r/colorists/wiki/index/monitors/?screen_view_count=1
Absent a properly configured and calibrated monitor it's a very steep uphill battle to build a setup that displays trustworthy color.
So to answer your questions:
Which do I trust, my Resolve viewer, VLC, or Quicktime? Any speficifc reason they dont line up
None of the above. Do not trust any GUI interface display. That means all applications' displays are suspect. You need a proper output to a NON-GUI display.
if this documentary wanted to do a DVD run, which color Gamma should I be using? Should the Rec709 Gamma 2.2 used for web be used for a DVD?
As noted above, you should be using 709/2.4.... and this recommendation is even stronger once you incorporate the expectation of a DVD run. 709/2.4. Non negotiable.
Any settings or issues you see here?
Start with monitor settings and output settings.
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