mltframework / mltframework/shotcut

Colour hues of imported videos are sometimes unexpectedly different

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C++
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Description

OS and Version (please complete the following information):

  • Operating System: Debian Trixie
  • Shotcut Version: shotcut-linux-x86_64-26.4.26.txz from the project download page

Describe the bug
Colour hues of imported videos are sometimes unexpectedly different even for identical displayed clip properties.

Steps To Reproduce

  1. Download green.mp4 from https://www.metalevel.at/shotcut/green.mp4
  2. Create a copy of green.mp4 with: ffmpeg -i green.mp4 -colorspace 1 copy.mp4
  3. Start Shotcut, create a new project and append both videos to the timeline.
  4. The properties of the two videos show the same value for Color space: ITU-R BT.709.
  5. Yet the hue of the green differs visibly and measurably between the two clips. In the clip corresponding to green.mp4, the green value is measured as 225, whereas in that of copy.mp4 it is 238.

Expected behavior

I would expect the green hue to be exactly the same in the two clips, since the -colorspace option of ffmpeg is meant to set the frame attribute that was, according to the shown properties, apparently implicitly already taken to be bt709 for green.mp4, and explicitly set to that same value for copy.mp4.

If the difference in hues is unavoidable, I would expect one of the clip "Properties" to show a difference between one of the attributes pertaining to colours.

Screenshots

green.mp4:

Image

copy.mp4:

Image

Identical video properties for both clips, in particular ITU-R BT.709:

Image

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the difference with green.mp4 and the copy.mp4 generated by the listed ffmpeg command, then compare the color attributes shown in Shotcut's clip Properties. Measure the rendered green values for both clips and trace why identical displayed properties produce different hues. Done means the discrepancy is corrected or the missing color distinction is exposed in Properties.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
audio-video-rtc, desktop
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
38/100

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