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ericb44748166
ericb44748166
Participant
August 1, 2022

Bug: Adobe Media Encoder is shifting color when rendering to h264 codec MP4

  • August 1, 2022
  • 16 replies
  • 6688 views
After Effects and Adobe Media Encoder 2020 are rendering h264 codec MP4s too bright. The colors are washed out slightly and what I'm assuming is a gamma shift. I'm using Windows 10, After Effects v17.1.4, Adobe Media Encoder v14.4, and Nvidia driver 451.77.

This issue does not exist on After Effects 2019 and Adobe Media Encoder 2019. The MP4s look as you would expect, using identical settings for export.

One additional finding was that using After Codecs plugin, I'm able to export an MP4 using the x264 codec and the colors are correct. That is also using AE and AME 2020. So, from what I'm gathering there is definitely an issue with AME 2020.

I find this annoying issue with nearly every release of AME, and have had it pop up off and on since 2004. This is not an issue with playback between video players, but specifically a color shift in the actual render. I'm not using any display profiles, and have After Effects set to not use a Workspace color profile in Project settings. Have also tested rendering the files with and without Hardware encoding turned on.

Would be happy to send additional info or files if needed. Thank you!

    16 replies

    O
    olivial65460117
    Participant
    August 19, 2025

    I agree. I work on a MacOS setup, and renderinfg first in AE (ProRes), then converting to MP4 (H.264) in ME retains the color. Otherwise, all renders in AE to and form of H.264 shifts color.

    T
    trainofthought
    Participating Frequently
    January 6, 2025

    I found @axelk15601774's solution worked for me: Composition > "Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue" results in no colour / brightness shift whereas "Queue in AME" from the Render Queue does. A dreadful and obvious bug that has been going on through multiple versions of After Effects / Media Encoder (2024 included) and one that Adobe needs to fix ASAP. It's so completely unprofessional.

      D
      dylman3001
      Known Participant
      December 15, 2022

      Ahh, so glad to see this is a bug, I was worried my knowledge of colour management was wrong or that I was missing something. My workarounds for this are:
      Turning off colour management and ensuring all my source assets have the sRGB profile embedded 
      OR

      Exporting a MOV from After Effects, then converting that file in Media Encoder to the output settings I require.

        E
        Edward Kwok Media
        Participant
        August 1, 2022
        I had the same problem. To solve it, I created a "MOV" file from After Effects and then adding it to Adobe Media Encoder to create the "MP4" file. Alternatively, make sure the "Working (Colour) Space" is set to "None" in the "Project Settings" in After Effects. Hope this helps. 🙂
          V
          Vipera
          Participant
          August 1, 2022
          I am having the same problem. When I submit encoding to H.265 from AfterEffects to MediaEncoder, I have color shift. The output is brighter and colors are washed out. If I render output directly from AE to TGA sequence the output colors are fine. If I load this TGA sequence to Media Encoder and make H.265 MP4 file then output is fine. Color connection between AfterEffects and MediaEncoder is broken.
          L
          lume360
          Known Participant
          August 1, 2022
          I don't know if it helps, but I found the solution to my colour shift here:
          https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects/after-effects-is-exporting-vector-file-animation-pixelated/td-p/10545209
          "Try to change VBR to CBR and/or bitrate to at least 20mbps"
          M
          marg43956372
          Participant
          August 1, 2022
          Same issue, plus now my files are not looking HD. I am working with vectors, continuously raster is on. I don't get it.
          A
          Adbul Gafur Kalburgi5FCE
          Participant
          August 1, 2022
          Same issue here please help, its taking **** lot of time to export , export from after effects and then re export from premier to get h264
          vjsaw
          vjsaw
          Participating Frequently
          August 1, 2022
          Same issue. Same issue. Same issue. Same issue!
          ITS INSANE! I Hello Adobe, are you still alive!? Im going to switch to Davinci Resolve as soon as possible,. Im not taking this mismanagement any longer! And because AE is rendering now and blocking me from working on it,, I got a lot of time trying out Davinci Resolve.
          J
          jans49376883
          Participant
          August 1, 2022
          I have this issue for years. 😞
          Countless work hours lost because of it.
          Show more replies
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