Unwanted Color Shift When Viewing Video On YouTube Via Chrome Browser

Question

Hello Adobe Community –
 
I'm working on a commercial project and I'm running into an issue with color management after I export from Premiere Pro and upload to YouTube. For example, when viewing the uploaded video on Safari or Firefox versus Chrome, the colors seem to shift as illustrated below. The first two examples (Safari/Firefox) represent the desired output.
 
Safari - YouTube

Firefox - YouTube

Chrome - YouTube

Here's some additional information regarding equipment, raw footage specifications, and adjusted settings within Premiere Pro.
 
Computer:
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)
 
Raw Footage:
Camera: Fuji Film Degital Camera GFX 100S
Output: Apple ProRes 4444 XQ
Codec: Timecode, Linear PCM, HEVC
Color Profile: PAL (1-1-6)
Color Space: Rec. 601 (NTSC)
 
Interpret Footage:
Color Space Override: Rec. 709
 
Project Settings:
Renderer: Mecury Playback Engine GPU Acceleration (Metal)
HDR GraphicsWhite (Nits): 203 (75% HLG, 58% PQ)
3D LUT Interpolation: Tetrahedral
 
Seqeuence Settings:
Working Color Space: Rec. 709
Composite Linear Color: Checked
 
Edit Settings:
Input LUT: GFX100S_FLog_FGamut_to_FLog_BT.709_33grid_V.1.01.cube
 
Export Settings:
Format: QuickTime
Video Codec: Apple ProRes 4444 XQ
Frame Size: UHD 3840x2160
Export Color Space: Rec. 709
Depth: 8-bpc
Maximum Render Depth: Checked
Maximum Render Quality: Checked
 
I've searched countless forums and adjusted the export settings but I can't seem to calibrate the color correctly when uploaded to YouTube and viewed on Chrome. That said, when I force the Chrome Color Profile from 'Default' to 'scRGB linear (HDR where available)' the video looks as expected. However, given the purpsoe of running ads on YouTube and the majority of people using Chrome with the setting on 'Default' this doesn't seem like the most appropriate option.
 
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks much,
Andy

Andy Quella · Accepted Answer

Hi Adobe Community –

After some trial and error, I was able to achieve the desired result and the color appearance now aligns within Premiere Pro prior to exporting and how it is displayed on YouTube via Chrome. That said, in order to accomplish I was forced to scale down the final export from 4k to 1080p. Not ideal but decent short-term solution if you encounter a similar issue.

For those who replied previously, if you have any comments or suggestions to investigate further based on this additional finding please let me know. Ideally, I would like to utilize the 4k footage but feels like I'm missing something as it relates to color management and working with LUTs or how YouTube treats 4k uploads differently than traditional high definition video.

Thanks all,
Andy

@Kevin-Monahan @R Neil Haugen

R Neil Haugen · Answer

Unfortunately Kevin is correct.

I work for/with/teach professional colorists, and they must learn at the start this simple dictum:

You can't fix Gramma's green TV.

Meaning you have no control over other screens. And no one will ever see exactly what you saw.

So you set up the closest, tightest by the book color management and screen calibration on your system possible. And grade to that.

As every screen out there, no matter what browser, OS, or player, will show it at least a little if not a lot different.

But if you grade tight to the standards, your media will display like other professionally graded media on that machine. And no-one will ever notice.

Because it will look "normal" compared to what they are used to.

Neil

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