8-bit Pixel Format in Projects

VEGAS Pro supports two modes for 8-bit projects:

8-bit (video level)

This mode is the same as the 8-bit mode in VEGAS Pro and previous versions. In this mode, VEGAS Pro decodes many common video formats like AVC, MPEG2, HEVC files to studio RGB levels (video levels) regardless of whether they are full range files or not, which could cause information to be lost in deep blacks and bright whites. This mode ignores the color range metadata information available in many files and does not perform any automatic level conversion when converting Y'CbCr format to RGB space. RGB video files and still images are decoded into full range RGB levels.

8-bit (full range)

In this project mode, standard video formats in limited range are converted into full range RGB space by reading color range information provided in the media files. If the media files color range is limited or undefined, then they are automatically converted full range RGB. If the color range is full, no level conversion is performed when decoding into RGB color space. Also note that, no level conversion is performed, when reading RGB format media or still images and media generators since their outputs are generally full range.

In this project mode, all the media in the timeline will be in full range and match the video preview behavior. This removes the need to apply a studio RGB to computer RGB effect in order to adjust the preview. It also eliminates the need to enable the Adjust levels from studio RGB to computer RGB option in external monitor preview settings. So, if the color range is “limited” or “Undefined” in Y’CbCr format, 16-236 and 16-255 color ranges will be converted to 0-255 RGB.

In VEGAS Pro, most of the reader plugins support the color range override option. To override the color range of a media file, right-click an event in the timeline and choose Properties from the context menu. In the Properties dialog, click the Media tab. Choose the option you want from the Color Range drop-down list. Color range information will be persisted with projects.

NOTE The color range override option is applicable only when you've set your project properties to full range mode. Currently color range override is not supported in some reader plug-ins like MVC and WMV, or in still-image readers.