PDB's Color Regrade Experiments (Matrix, Aliens, etc)

[PDB]

I combined the Matrix and Aliens Color Regrade Experiment threads into one large thread and will put future experiments here.

Color Regrade Experiment #1 The Matrix UHD regraded to the 1999 DVD: The.Matrix.1999.DVD.Regrade.2160p.SDR.HEVC.Cinema.DTS.5.1.v1.0
Color Regrade Experiment #2 Aliens BD Upscaled and regraded to the Quad DVD: Aliens.1986.TC.DVD.Regrade.and.Upscale.2160p.SDR.HEVC.LD.PCM.2.0.v1.0
Color Regrade Experiment #3 Bram Stoker's Dracula UHD regraded to the 1st Gen DVD: Bram.Stoker's.Dracula.1992.1st.Gen.DVD.Regrade.2160p.SDR.HEVC.LD.PCM.2.0.v1.0

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The.Matrix.1999.DVD.Regrade.2160p.SDR.HEVC.Cinema.DTS.5.1.v1.0 (Color Regrade Experiment #1)

This is a regrade of the UHD of The Matrix to the old 1999 DVD. Using The Matrix DVD has less to do with any debate over the movie's colors, it's more about me testing different regrade processes.

The Matrix turned out to be a terrible test project. Even though the UHD's grading isn't as extreme as the BD's grade, it still graded to within an inch of its life. That makes it is very difficult to pull it back to something looking like the DVD.

1999 DVD/UHD/Regraded UHD (2160p-SDR)
https://imgur.com/RdbYx4I

Original UHD/Regraded UHD (2160p-SDR)
https://imgur.com/RlYBKZz
Its not 100%, still some artifacts, some highlight and luma issues but slowly working out the bugs. I think I have progressed far enough to take what I've learned put it into this project and see how it works. Having said that I do expect some errors in the final product while I sort things out.

Video:
The UHD regraded to the 1999 DVD in SDR 2160p

Audio: (Tentative)
DTS-HD MA 5.1 (from the Cinema DTS discs)
Dolby Digital 5.1 (from the DVD)
Dolby Digital 2.0 (from the DVD)
DTS-HD MA 5.1 (from the BD)
Dolby Digital 2.0 (Philosophers Commentary by Dr. Cornel West, and Ken Wilber)
Dolby Digital 2.0 (Critics Commentary by Todd McCarthy, John Powers, and David Thomson)
Dolby Digital 2.0 (Cast & Crew Commentary by Carrie-Anne Moss, Zach Staenberg, and John Gaeta)
Dolby Digital 2.0 (Composer Commentary by Don Davis with Music-Only Track)

Sync and Size:
Synced to the original UHD

Pics:


More Pics
https://imgur.com/YIhnPj5
https://imgur.com/tHq9ZRg
https://imgur.com/5Sdd5mx

Coming Soon

[Stamper]

Finally I can watch the film, again! I hate the way it looks on both the remastered Blu-ray and the UHD and also on old Blu-ray. I own like 3 copies of the original DVD (Pal, NTSC etc.) and I'm fine with them.

[Virtualcrane]

@PDB

Wow! That looks really good. I’m impressed. I wouldn’t be too hard on yourself, that first comparison pic looks seamless between the DVD and your regrade. I say this having grown up with and being used to the DVD colors. Any chance you’re looking for previewers? I’d be happy to take a look at it on my setup.

[emy54]

As much as the actual 4K UHD grading is as close as the OG 1999 35mm prints, compared to the old-green-tinted 2008 Blu-Ray, THIS has always been my favorite grading for the movie.
Matter of fact I still have a 1080p HDTV copy with the same grading that I have been watching for years.
You get both the green-tint during the scenes shot within the Matrix, as well more natural-looking flesh tones.
And I wish they would've sticked with this grading, rather than go with the OG Theatrical grading which, IMO, it might have looked great in theaters, but for home viewing it definitely miss A LOT of details.

[PDB]

Aliens.1986.TC.DVD.Regrade.and.Upscale.2160p.SDR.HEVC.LD.PCM.2.0.v1.0 (Color Experiment #2)

This is also an experimental regrade similar to The Matrix. Just more of me testing different regrading techniques.

Quad DVD/BD/Regraded BD (1080p-SDR)
https://imgur.com/Uxk87LW
https://imgur.com/NXCsdDj
Also not 100% yet, still some artifacts, but its slowly getting there as I work out the bugs. Some more examples:

Original BD/Regraded BD (1080p-SDR)
https://imgur.com/ofHNtR8
Since I've done many Aliens project I added the standard fixes to the "fixes". Putting the knife marks back in, the fingerprints, the incorrect gun/flamethrower order and the bishop hole.

Video:
The BD regraded to the Quad DVD (with a slight adjustment) with parts patched from older HDTV broadcast (cleaned of dirt) to restore the movie before "fixes". That video was then upscaled to 2160p resolution.

Audio:
PCM 2.0 Dolby Surround (from the P&S LD 2.0)
FLAC 5.1 (upmix of the P&S LD 2.0)
PCM 2.0 Dolby Surround (from the THX LD 2.0)
Dolby Digital 5.1 (from the THX LD)
Dolby Digital 5.1 (from the Quad DVD)
Dolby Digital 4.1 (from the BD)
DTS-HD MA 5.1 (from the BD)
Dolby Digital 2.0 (Commentary  by James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd, Stan Winston, Robert Skotak, Dennis Skotak, Pat McClung Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, Carrie Henn and Christopher Henn - from the BD)
Dolby Digital 5.1 (Final Theatrical Isolated score - from the BD)
Dolby Digital 5.1 (Alternative Score - from the BD)

Sync and Size:
Synced to the original BD

Pics:


More Pics
https://imgur.com/v0GihVN
https://imgur.com/3kJGMyE
https://imgur.com/ssjYSca

[PDB]

Still working on The Matrix Some shots came out weak because of the HDR to SDR conversion I did on the UHD. First time Hable has failed me. Anyway, I now have a better SDR version of the 4K which I'm going to use to fix some of those few shots.

[dvdmike]

Had to use a VPN to see the pics (bloody Imgur) but looks amazing

[Beber]

Didn't the HDTV already have the look of the Quadrilogy DVD?

[PDB]

Had to use a VPN to see the pics (bloody Imgur) but looks amazing

Odd you are the second person from the UK to say Imgur is not working. I wonder if that is on the UK's ISP side or Imgur's side.

I'm not married to Imgur, it was just easy to embedded the images. If someone has a good alternative, I'd love to hear it.

Didn't the HDTV already have the look of the Quadrilogy DVD?

It sure did (well 95% the same) and I did a release of the HDTV a few years ago. This is the color from the DVD/HDTV just with the better scan/detail of the BD. The BD is a much better scan even with its host of issues.

I'm trying a few tests color regrades and I still have a giant Aliens project folder full of video and audio, so it makes a good test subject.

[Hitcher]

Didn't the HDTV already have the look of the Quadrilogy DVD?

I use this method and it works perfectly.

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/thread...33/page-29