Images in FCP are Darker than in Color

The definitive answer comes via HP who have been writing several white-papers on using the DreamColor monitor in Video post productions scenarios.

The very simple answer is that Color uses OS X's colour management system to display its image on the grading monitor while FCP does not. FCP assume the Cinema Desktop monitor has a gamma of 1.8 regardless of what it actually is and makes the adjustment resulting in darker images if you've graded in Color on a monitor with a gamma of 2.2 or thereabouts.

It is widely acknowledged that Snow Leopard OS X 10.6 will do away with the references to 1.8 gamma and so will later versions of Final Cut Studio. GREAT!!!

In the meantime the best workaround is to have two monitor profiles for your preview monitor one for FCP that has a 1.8 gamma and one set at 2.2 for Color. Oh, and remember to switch off the FCP compatibility switch in QT Pro if using the 2.2 gamma profile.

While OS X has some of the best colour management features in any operating system it is left to the programmer to decide whether the application uses it or not. Apple are not exactly the best advocates of consistent colour management in their application with Quick View, Safari and Preview having wildly different implementations.

I sincerely hope that all applications under Snow Leopard will adhere to colour management best practice.

HP DreamColor Monitor

I've just returned my monitor because of screen consistency issues albeit very slight but still noticeable and on a monitor designed for critical colour work not as easy to accept as on my cheap and cheerful Dell.

The hue shift was very slight but noticeable in the grey interface elements of OS X although not when a moving image or photo was displayed full screen. My view was that if I can see it my clients will probably see it so the monitor had to be exchanged. After all the DreamColor is a £2100 monitor and not a cheap and cheerful Dell.

I'll write my thoughts on the monitor when I get the replacement.