Adobe Premiere Pro is a powerful video editing software that is used by professionals and hobbyists alike. However, one common issue that users encounter is desaturated colors in their exports. This can be a frustrating problem, as it can make your videos look washed-out and unprofessional.
In this guide, we will discuss the reasons why desaturated colors occur in Premiere Pro exports and how to fix them. We will also provide some tips for preventing this issue from happening in the first place.
Understanding the Color Shift
When you export a video from Premiere Pro, the colors may appear different than they did in the preview window. This is because Premiere Pro uses a different color space for its display than most other applications.
Premiere Pro uses the Rec.709 color space, which is a standard for displaying video on computer monitors and televisions. However, most other applications, such as web browsers and media players, use the sRGB color space.
The difference between these two color spaces is that sRGB has a wider gamut, which means that it can display a wider range of colors. This can result in videos appearing more saturated when viewed in sRGB applications.
Fixing Desaturated Colors
There are two main ways to fix desaturated colors in Premiere Pro exports:
1. Apply a LUT
A LUT (Look Up Table) is a file that can be used to transform colors from one color space to another. There are several LUTs available that can be used to correct the color shift between Rec.709 and sRGB.
One LUT that is specifically designed to fix this issue is the “Adobe Rec.709 to sRGB LUT”. This LUT can be downloaded from the Adobe website.
To apply a LUT to your export, follow these steps:
- In the Export Settings dialog box, go to the Effects tab.
- Click on the Lumetri Color/LUT effect.
- In the Input LUT drop-down menu, select “Adobe Rec.709 to sRGB LUT”.
- Click on the Export button.
2. Adjust the contrast under the Video tab
The second main way to fix desaturated colors in Premiere Pro exports is to adjust the contrast and saturation of your video. This can be done in the Export Settings dialog box, under the Video tab.
Here are the steps on how to adjust the contrast and saturation:
- Open the Export Settings dialog box.
- Go to the Video tab.
- Under the Basic Video Settings section, find the Contrast and Saturation sliders.
- Adjust the Contrast and Saturation sliders to your liking. You can increase the saturation to make the colors more vivid and increase the contrast to make the blacks darker and the whites brighter.
- Click on the Export button to export your video with the adjusted contrast and saturation settings.
Preventing Desaturated Colors
There are a few things you can do to prevent desaturated colors from happening in the first place:
- Use the sRGB color space: If you are planning on sharing your videos online or playing them on a computer monitor, you should use the sRGB color space when you are editing your video. This will help to ensure that the colors in your video look consistent with what viewers will see.
- Use a color checker: A color checker is a tool that can be used to calibrate your monitor and ensure that it is displaying colors accurately. This can help to prevent color shifts from occurring when you export your video.
- Use a reference monitor: If you are working with professional video equipment, you should use a reference monitor to view your video. Reference monitors are calibrated to display colors accurately, so you can be sure that your video will look its best when exported.
After reading this, check out our other articles on:
- How To Create Masks In Adobe Premiere Pro Like A Pro
- How To Edit Videos Like A Pro: Tips And Techniques
- Create Stunning Video Content With These Premiere Pro Export Secrets
Conclusion
Desaturated colors in Premiere Pro exports can be a frustrating problem, but it is one that can be easily fixed. By following the tips in this guide, you can ensure that your videos always look their best.
