Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: "Before I Fall"

This is topic "Before I Fall" - VERY dark in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 03-24-2017, 02:48 AM:

Did anyone here have a problem with this title? I don't recall us running into anything we nearly couldn't play. This one looks like it'll be first.

The entire show is nearly unwatchable, and once the lights come up, you might as well forget about the credits.

Yes... tried it on all 3 screens. It's not the equipment.

It's running as a 2nd feature... suspect it's too late to do anything about it this weekend.

Posted by Martin Murray (Member # 162) on 03-26-2017, 05:15 AM:

Drive-in dcp's should be addressed. No reason it can't be done.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-26-2017, 10:58 AM:

A couple things that can be done on dark DCPs for the likes of drive ins. If there is a 3D version of it available and you have an HDSDI system, run the 3D version that is already timed for low-light and just use one eye (set up a preset that just looks at HDSDI A OR B). Try lowering the gamma a bit easier to do on some projectors than others BUT if you have the gamma files, they can be loaded onto any DLP projector. Working directly with the ICP program, it is possible to raise the "brightness level" too because basically your black level is too low unless you are near 14fL and most DIs are not.

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 03-26-2017, 04:15 PM:

Ok with lowering the gamma but I disagree on the black level! Yes, raising the brightness will *also* raise the lower levels of the picture but it will also raise the black level indeed, which is already mediocre on DLP machines.
I wouldn't recommend touching gamma or brightness on D-Cinema content to be honest - there is no way a DLP can get that wrong and if your picture is dark the only solution is to make sure you are hitting the 14fL target - or report the issue to the distribution.
If cinemas start tinkering with gamma and brightness on their projectors, it'll only get worse!

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-26-2017, 07:10 PM:

When you are talking about a drive in, hitting 14fL may not be practical. And even if you do hit 14fL, the typical drive in screen looks UGLY.

Remember too, sometimes what you are combating in an outdoor environment is light polution too, including from mother nature herself. So raising the black level isn't really hurting you...you were never going to see those details anyway.

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 03-27-2017, 09:28 AM:

I didn't realise we were talking about a Drive in.

I'm still shivering to the idea that the average cinema may decide to compensate for poor light levels by tinkering with the ICP though!

Posted by Steve Wilson (Member # 2411) on 04-01-2017, 01:35 AM:

I saw Star Wars: Rogue One at a local theater. I compalined to myself that the owner was too cheap to put in a new bulb. Then I had the same movie at my Drive In Theater and it was just as dark and unplayable as I had remembered it at the indoors theater. As Martin Says, it easy to make drive in prints a bit lighter and the time has come especially given all the different exposures given over to Imax theaters and their limited numbers. Go Martin GOL