[Released] Harry Potter saga - open matte

[deleted user]

Here's a 3-way comparison for Goblet of Fire (which is not entirely Open Matte by the way - it adds a little bit on the top and bottom and cuts off some of the sides; it's also entirely pan and scan for some effects shots).

Blu-ray vs Amazon vs Fundamental Collection
http://www.imagebam.com/image/d36ae3707233053
http://www.imagebam.com/image/ec8912707233083
http://www.imagebam.com/image/da64dc707233113

http://www.imagebam.com/image/443f0c707233413
http://www.imagebam.com/image/82c431707233423
http://www.imagebam.com/image/5212b1707233443

http://www.imagebam.com/image/b6f6f3707233353
http://www.imagebam.com/image/adde55707233383
http://www.imagebam.com/image/7098df707233393

http://www.imagebam.com/image/201be2707233123
http://www.imagebam.com/image/cbc1c4707233163
http://www.imagebam.com/image/3d883b707233173

http://www.imagebam.com/image/2b603d707232953
http://www.imagebam.com/image/6cf130707232973
http://www.imagebam.com/image/02ebed707233013

The Amazon open matte versions look far superior to my eye. There is way too much sharpening and grain on the Fundamental Collection in comparison - grain that was never in the original release nor intended by the filmmakers as far as I can tell. And a lot of the detail is lost because of it. Which isn't to take away from the spectacular work that sp0rv did with the material on hand, it's just that we've finally gotten better source material.

Didn't think I would but I actually agree with you here (from a quick look at the first screenshot comparison) - although I expect spoRv ones to retain more detail in fast-paced scenes as Amazon encodes sometimes struggle with these - also the detail probably isn't lost as much as obfuscated through the grain and will appear better in a moving image - but yeah I am also skeptical about applying grain to footage without it - I don't know how the HDTV looked though - DNRed Blu Ray masters are not really uncommon

[nightstalkerpoet]

Honestly, there's no shame in liking an official release. Sporv created these partially due to a lack of availability. What I'm enjoying here is the fact that there are additional lines of image in that release (more image at th top for Amazon, more image at the bottom for Fundamental. This could offer a unique of option of a slightly pillarboxed release, which could benefit even more from a slightly downscaled image which, at least temporally, could retain more detail than either source.

The fourth comparison does show an example of Fundamental being superior - this is apparent in the faces of the students.

[deleted user]

Honestly, there's no shame in liking an official release. Sporv created these partially due to a lack of availability. What I'm enjoying here is the fact that there are additional lines of image in that release (more image at th top for Amazon, more image at the bottom for Fundamental. This could offer a unique of option of a slightly pillarboxed release, which could benefit even more from a slightly downscaled image which, at least temporally, could retain more detail than either source.

The fourth comparison does show an example of Fundamental being superior - this is apparent in the faces of the students.

Why pillarbox and not simply extend the vertical resolution? Blu Ray compatibility?

[nightstalkerpoet]

Yeah, the BD compatibility aspect. It would be such a minimal pillarbox I doubt it would negatively impact the experience.

[nightstalkerpoet]

I'm also curious - are these the extended versions?

[fres202]

I'm also curious - are these the extended versions?

Unfortunately no.

[spoRv]

So, is there a point to release remastered versions, adding DTS:X, for all, and UHD as source for HP3 and HP7? Maybe a different color grading?

[deleted user]

If you go for a remaster, maybe look into those sharpening settings. In those comparison shots to AMZN WEB-DL, I found that there was something in your encode that looked a bit like warp-sharp, a kind of waxy micro-pattern. I had noticed this already when I saw the first screens, but I had assumed that was inherent to the source. Perhaps that can be improved upon?

Otherwise, yarp, good ideas. If someone is adventurous enough to write down the cropped scenes of the other movies, maybe even those can be switched with UHD

[spoRv]

Maybe a slight regrade, keeping the whole color "spirit" the same, but correcting something here and there, plus more contrast, could be interesting...

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/128055
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/128056

I know that in some shots the white clipping is exagerated, but overall I like a lot the regrade (bear in mind that they used all the same settings!); the improved contrast is more "film-like" somehow, and turn the image less "foggy", while the regrading, even if a bit cold (maybe it needs also more saturation), helps to take back a bit of the natural colors in some scenes.

If someone is adventurous enough to write down the cropped scenes of the other movies, maybe even those can be switched with UHD

Don't count on me!

[Freddy]

Maybe a slight regrade, keeping the whole color "spirit" the same, but correcting something here and there, plus more contrast, could be interesting...

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/128055
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/128056

I know that in some shots the white clipping is exagerated, but overall I like a lot the regrade (bear in mind that they used all the same settings!); the improved contrast is more "film-like" somehow, and turn the image less "foggy", while the regrading, even if a bit cold (maybe it needs also more saturation), helps to take back a bit of the natural colors in some scenes.

Hello again,

I've looked at your regrading examples and there were two things I noticed:

- first, as you've noticed yourself already, the colder colors. I think that's a pitty as, especially the first few movies thrive on their warmth;
- and second, the higher contrast is tricky. It's kinda like the HDR problem some of the new UHDs have: I think in a lot of shots, the higher contrast gives you the feeling the studio lights are still on. I mean it looks like it really did when they shot it, not like how the director wanted you to see things. Some of the post-production effects are lost this way. I'm just saying, be careful with that.