Hey Guys,

Got a few videos with my new Kodak digital camera.

Unfortunately, many are too dark to enjoy.

Anybody know or have any software that can 'brighten' MOV type files??

OR can they be converted to something else that can be brightened with
other software?

The real problem is that obviously the camera flash won't function with movies,
and the viewfinder appears to indicate good light ... so I think I'm getting something
OK .... only to see the 'dark' results.

Appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

This is what comes to my mind at the first thought, but, there should be somting simpler than this...

extract all the frames, to jpg/ bmp format using insta avi split or a suitable video ripper
use a software like irfanview to batch convert them using brightness/ sharpen and other desired options....
Next use a compiler/ editor like Adobe Premiere to recompile the frames to avi format

Don't worry more help should be coming your way...
Sun

Hi jerryh

Before doing any changes to your videos clips like sunaabh said, make sure you make a new folder, and put on the desktop, or in your 'My Picture' folder, and copy your video clips to it, and use those to practice on, that way, if you make a mistake, you will still have the original.

Hi Sun, I also have a couple video clips that are too dark, I'll have to try your suggestion out.

Lorraine

Yeah, Lorraine is absolutely right..... Actually I had tried the above procedure to add some special effects to a movie clip during a practical on a short clip of about a 600 frames [ @30 FPS, a full 100min movie would contain 100x60x30 =18000 frames] during my Multimedia Course test @ Arena and it worked. At that time however, instead of irfanview, I made use of the automate option of Photoshop to process the frames to purely to consolidate my grades . But in the back of my mind, I always have this nagging feeling that thre must be some other easier way out.

Sun

Thanks Folks,

Unfortunately, I'm too much a novice to catch up to what you're
suggesting.....

Let's see... I need a "splitter", like 'insta avi split'???? Where do I find that?

Next step.... irfanview, OK got that as a freeware download.

Then.... a compiler, like Adobe Premiere ??? Wow, that's really pricey!!! $800.

Please, folks....I'm on a REAL budget, just trying to get along.

I guess I'm looking for inexpensive solutions. If they exist.

Thanks again for your responses. I'll keep looking around for what
you're suggesting.

Jerry

Hi jerryh

I found this, it's PhotoShop, HERE
they have a free version, but not sure what's all on it, probable not much. They have a few tutorials in there you can check out.

Someone said Windows Movie Maker will work, but I never used it. This all looks too time consuming.

The best thing is to make sure when you take a movie clip on your digital still camera, that's there's a lot of light around, or take them outside.

What ever you, I wish you luck, I know what these clips might mean to you, and don't forget to make copies.

Lorraine

Hi Jerryh, Hi Lorraine,

Adobe products have never come for free and they are stiffly priced too.... I've seen the free tutorial thingy at my cousin's place... its not worth a try unless you are planning to buy the actual products... Adobe Photshop, Illustrator, Premier products are not meant for rookies.... If you know how to use them they are all fabulous software... you need a certain amount of expertise to use them [ it took me 12 months to master them] ... Not to worry Jerryh, lemme see what i can find for you so that you can get your job done.... stick around, I'll post soon..
Sun

Hi Jerryh,

Thankyou for bearing with the delay. I was looking for an all in one userfriendly freeware/ software for you to take care of your need. I got it and tried it out my self before posting it here. I guess Virtualdub 1.6.17 is just the thing right for you... you can download the FREEWARE from HERE . You may also visit this link to see what the creator of this program has to say.

I have found the software to effectively address your particular need.
Do post in here if you have any querries regarding the software, I'll try to address them.


Sun.

I hope jerryh stops back Sun, and give your link a try...I know what you mean about most image, and video programs are pricey, and hard to understand. I have three image programs, and use PhotoImpact the most, and still have a hard time with it.

Yeah lets hope jerryh stops back.. I read someone write somewhere [I don't remember where....], "good movie editors never come free.."

I came accross this one and I'm trying it out... it looks cool... Its free, easy to use and can address the requirements of home movie encoders who are not able to afford the expensive pros.

Thanks sun I will save the link till needed. But the little video I take with my digitals I do on sunny days outdoors so I hope I won't need it for to brighten the vids. Just what else does it do. I ask because your using it, right.

Hello Sir,

Actually, I've just started using it, but from the contents of the menu bar, I see that it can perform quite a few stints to help in the making of home videos. Though not at par with the pricey leaders, I guess its the King amongst the video encoding freewares. I guess with the tools provided and a little bit of imagination a home brewn video of reasonable good quality can be obtained. I've done some preliminary experiments with my Bikaner and Jaipur videos and so far, I am impressed. I'll keep you posted of the details later.

Sun

I thank you my friend. please do let me know more. I haven't done much with video's yet. I do have a lot of VCR's that I want to convert to disk. Some very good movies that can't be found anymore. And other family vids from the old VCR camcorder. I have a newer Sony camcorder (it uses the small tapes) but haven't used it yet. It was a anniversary gift to Donna 2 years ago. The manual is so full of info. So it will take some time.

Thanks all of you.

Sunaabh ..... I appreciate the VirtualDub suggestion. However, I guess I'm
missing something important, because I can't even OPEN a .MOV file with the
program, much less see if it can do what I need.

Sorry if I'm really stupid about this matter, but ........

Am I missing or overlooking something really important??

Never thought of myself as requiring "hand holding" but I'm completely
stumped here.

Any clarifying advice???

Thanks again.

Jerry

Hi jerryh

sunaabh is from India, and is sleeping now, but should be back around 7:00PM or 8:00PM, that will be about 4 or 5 hours from now. Just though I would let you know.

Lorraine

Hi Jerryh, Hi Lorrain... wish you a very Good morning in a very Good afternoon!

Lorraine is right about the time thingy while its around 4:30 in the afternoon here, it must be too early a morning your place.... this is another good thing about this forum at SAF... SAF NEVER SLEEPS Hahaha... Perhaps it would be prudent if we say " THE SUN NEVER SETS AT SAF! "

Alright coming to your problem... it seems the movie you are recording save in .MOV format. Now there are two ways to get over this issue of saving the movie.

1. If there is an option to save movie in another format try doing it using the software/ utilities avilable with the camera.

if this is not possible here is another way to do it.

2.Download RAD video tools from HERE

3.Next follow the instructions ON THIS PAGE to covert your .MOV files to .avi format.

4. Once the batch convertion [changing the file format process] process is over, Like Lorraine mewntioned in many of her earlier posts, copy the converted .avi files to another folder on the desk top... lets name it ...say... "video works"
5. Now try using virtual dub to process your video files. It should work
6. Once processed use a DVD or a VCD maker such as NERO Burning Rom Software to encode them to a VCD or a DVD. You will require a DVD burner to burn your DVDs. A simple cd writer will write your VCDs.
I guess now you are on your way to make some fantastivc home movies... all the best.

Keep posting and let us know how it goes.... Another thing don't worry if it take a while to get things started.. all of us need a little time to master a thing we havn't done before so there is nothing to feel bad about asking for help. SAF is here to help you out the best possible.

Sun

Sorry Sun

I really feel stupid.

Got the converter - runs OK. Converts the MOV to AVI - great.

Got the VirtualDub ?????

What's it supposed to do? Where did the BRIGHTENING come in?

I guess I missed that.

In reviewing the posts, it seemed that InfraView should brighten - but
I choose the Advanced Option and RUN but I don't see anything happening.

I've got to be missing something.

Can you try again? Got a dark AVI video. What's next?

Thanks for being patient - HEY - that goes for all of you checking in.

Jerry
\

Hi Jerryh

Nice you could convert the .mov file to a .avi file.

Now that you have got the avi movie, I'll show you how to add filters to it using virtual dub so that you can apply some stunning and corrective effecta to your mivie.

On starting Vdub, you'll get a blank scree with lots of pull down menus;

1. Got to options menu and click on it. Ensure that display input video and display output video options are checked. If not press F9 and F10 function keys on your key board to activate them. This exercise ensures that you are able to monitor both the input and the output videos on your Vdub screen.Click to view attachment
2. Next go to File menu and select open video file option. After clicking on this tab you will be prompted to browse and locate the .avi video file you want to process. After selecting the file click okClick to view attachment
3. continued in next post.....
   

1. You will now see two panels showing a preview of the input and the output videos. By default the left preview screen shows the input video. From the menu bar, select option Video. Clicking on it will give you a number of pull down option. To begin with, click on the first option titled Filters.Click to view attachment
2. You will be presented with a blank Filters dialogue box. Nothing to worry. Click on the ADD tab.Click to view attachment
3. Continued in next post
   

1. You will be presented with a ADD Filter dialogue box. Select the desired filter in this case brightness/ contrast and click OK. Do not click load.Click to view attachment
2. You will be presented with a control bar screen to control the brighness/ contrast of the avi movie [ as a whole or if you want a selected portion also I'll not discuss here how to select a portion of the movie, this is not a difficult task and I'll leave it to you to do some experimenting with the software] After setting the desired adjustments in the Brt/ Cont levels, click OK Click to view attachment
   
3. In a similar way you can select other filter options for use.
4. If you are not satisfied with a filter setting, you can readjust the setting by clicking the configure tab in the Filter dialogue box. If you want to remove a filter setting altogether, select the filter in the dialogue box and hit delete. On compltion of filter selections, press OK Click to view attachment
5. Continued in next post.....

1. You can now preview the results of the filters in the main Vdub window by pressing the third arrow from the bottom left corner of the window. To stop preview, click the first button at the left hand bottom corner of the window which has a square on it Click to view attachment
2. If you are satisfied with the result, Stop the preview by clicking Stop button mentioned above. Click on File menu and select one of the many options to save the file as a processed avi movie file... in this case I would recommend saving as " save as AVI" or " save ol format avi". Click to view attachment
3. The resulting AVI file can be encoded to a VCD or a DVD using a suitable burning software.

Virtual Dub has some excellent filters, light and easy to use and is a great software to use. I'm sure you will enjoy using it and churn out some excellent movies. Hope this will help you, do keep posting...... Good Luck !

Sun.

Hello Sunaabh,

SO Sorry for the delay in responding.

I also apologize for requiring such detailed procedures.

That said .... it works GREAT!

The conversion went well and the 'brightening' was easily attained.

Thanks so much for your help, and all the other contributors as well.
I know this was not an easy task.

Thanks again, Jerry

Hi Jerry,
You are welcome... first things first, you need not apologise or be sorry for anything... good to know that SAF has been of help to you, do keep visiting SAF and join us in other threads you will find here. Do keep posting in SAF forums .
Take care,
Sun.