Graphics are exported darker than in timeline if Loudness Normalization is enabled in export window

[Skippermark]

Problem:

If the Loudness Normalization option is enabled in the export settings, any non-video graphics (still image, text, shapes, titles...) are exported much darker than shown in the timeline. The exported graphics have a brightness of about 100 nits. When the option is disabled, exported graphics appear at the proper luminance levels. To test, I installed Premiere on a MacBook Air and tested and got the same results.

Premiere Pro Version:

 24.3.0 (Build 59)

OS Version:

Mac OS Sonoma 14.4.1 (latest version)

Windows 11 22631.3447 (23H2)

CPU/RAM/GPU/HD:

Mac Mini M1

16GB RAM

8 internal graphics cores

2TB internal SSD

4TB Thunderbold 3 external SSD

MacBook Air M1

16GB RAM

8 internal graphics cores

2TB internal SSD

Video Format:

3840x2160

Rec.2100 HLG & Rec.2100 PQ

Workflow Details:

To test this issue, I am creating a short project with 4 clips. They include a 5 second HDR HLG clip of a product, a still JPG image of the same product, a white (#FFFFFF) text clip, which is created in Premiere Pro using the text tool that says "TEST TEXT." The last clip is a white (#FFFFFF) square that's 1/4 of the screen resolution.

The HDR clip has a max brightness of about 800 nits. The still has a max brightness of about 200, but I tone map it manually to match the video and have a brightness of 800. The text, is mapped to 203 nits, and the white box 1000 nits.

My export settings are: HEVC (H.265), Max Depth, Max Render Quality, Hardware Encoding, Profile: Main 10, Level: 5.1, Tier: High, Color Space: Rec. 2100 HLG or Rec.2100PQ, depending on if the sequence project settings are set for HLG or PQ.

If I enable the "Loudness Normalization" option in the Effects section of the Export Window, the still image, text and white box get darkened to a maximum brightness of 100 nits.

If the "Loudness Normalization" option is not enabled, those same graphics export at the same brightness levels as in the timeline - 800, 203 and 1000 nits.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. To produce the problem, I enable the "Loudness Normalization" options in the Effects section of the Export Window.

2. The problem doesn't happen if "Loudness Normalization" is not enabled.

Expected Result:

Exported video should have audio levels normalized and any graphics luminance levels should be the same as in the project's timeline.

Actual Result:

Audio levels are properly normalized, but graphics are darkened and have a max brightness of 100 nits.

[clemensp86420325]

Bumping this question up as I have the same issues. Thanks

[R Neil Haugen]

@mattchristensen @Wes Howell  ... can someone check this out?

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hello Skippermark,

I'm Kevin, one of the moderators here. Thanks very much for filing the bug report. Great information, so, thanks! I see that at least one other person seems to be having this issue. I hope the team can reproduce this issue and assist with a fix. Sorry for this problem.

Thanks,

Kevin

[Kevin-Monahan]

The status of this bug has been updated.

[Skippermark]

Hi @Kevin-Monahan. Any update on this? Thanks!

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hello @Skippermark,

I do not know of an update. I hope that a product team member might comment. @Annika Koenig, is this a known issue? Sorry for the continued frustration on this issue.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Skippermark]

No worries, @Kevin-Monahan I appreciate you trying. Unfortuantely, this was a big issue with my workflow, and I had to switch to other software.

[Skippermark]

Back in July I posted a detailed report about graphics getting darker (decreased Luma) when exporting a project with Loudness Normalization enabled in the export settings, but when the Loudness Normalization feature was disabled, the Luma levels exported correctly. Others have commented on the issue & there are posts about it in other internet forums.

I just installed version 25.0.0 (Build 61) final, and the issue still persists, but now it's worse - the "dark" issues persists, and the exported clips are very oversaturated. The original post is still 100% current as for settings & screenshots, so I didn't take all new screenshots to post here.

Here's a link to the original post. Thanks!

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-bugs/graphics-are-exported-darker-than-in-timeline-if-lo...

[R Neil Haugen]

Thanks for posting. I'll test this tomorrow on my rig, see if I can replicate.

[Skippermark]

Hi @R Neil Haugen. I did some more testing and found a partial fix to get the video clips to export correctly, but the titles and graphics are always adjusted down to 203 nits if "Loudness Normalization" is enabled in the Effects export settings.

To be honest, I don't edit with Premiere very often because this is always an issue when I work with HDR, but I'd like to make it my main editor if I can get it working right, so if you have any thoughts, I'd really appreciate it.

My settings and testing methods detailed in my original post are the same, but I'm not testing on my PC desktop or laptop since the Mac is my primary editing machine. Here's a quick refresher with some updates.

• I'm using a Rec. 2100 HLG clip from an iPhone, a standard Rec. 709 clip and a basic text title. All are edited to have a 1000 nit peak brightness.
• I've tested with a Rec. 2100 HLG Color Space and Rec. 2100 PQ (with and without HDR10 metadata for the PQ) and get the same results with both.
• Viewer Gamma is 2.4 (Broadcast).
• I have Display Color Management and Extended Dynamic Range Monitoring enabled and am editing with a Mac M1 desktop connected to an LG C3 TV through the HMDI port, not through through an UltraStudio type interface.

Everything displays correctly in the viewers/scopes, and the issue only occurs upon export when using the "Loudness Normalization" feature in the Effects export settings.

If I have that setting disabled, everything exports correctly and looks identical to my project in the viewers and scopes. But, if I enable that setting, things change. The title brightness drops to 203 nits, and the video clips get way oversaturated.

However, if I disable "Auto Tone Map Media" in the Lumetri Color Settings, the video clips export correctly, but the title brightness still drops to 203 nits.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[R Neil Haugen]

Thanks for the post! All good information to see. I'll spend some time with this in a couple hours.

[R Neil Haugen]

Ok, I just did call Rec.709 Export, Adaptive Medium H.264, Loudness Normalization export option set on, to EBU R128.

I didn't get any darkening of the mogrt graphics, background or text.

I'm on a Ryzen 3960x 128GB RAM and 2080Ti GPU desktop.

[Skippermark]

It needs to be an HDR projet - either HLG or PQ. It doesn't happen with Rec. 709.

[Skippermark]

Forgot to add that it has to be exported in HDR too. Doesn't matter if it's PQ or HLG for the export. Both are affected. Easiest way is to add a title - make it 800-1000 nits and export that. But, you can add an SDR clip if you don't have any HDR ones and just manully inverse tone map it to 800-1000 nits. You seem to be knowledgeable about HDR, but if I didn't explain it well, just let me know.

[R Neil Haugen]

Ok, I'll test again!

[R Neil Haugen]

Using the HLG mp4 preset with a max of 1,000 nits,  on reimport the graphics white part was at 800 nits.

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi,

Please provide the developers with more information. See, How do I write a bug report?

Thanks,
Kevin

[jamieclarke]

Updating Status