How can I improve colour in old videos?
I have Super 8 video footage taken in Mauritius between 1968 and 1970 that’s been copied to DVD, but the colour is not what it was. Is there any way to improve the colour, as you can with old photographs? I’ve looked online, but can’t see whether any programs will actually do this.
Enhancing the colour in a video isn’t as easy as in photos, but it can still be done. The best program to use for this is Davinci Resolve 17 ( www.snipca. com/38963), which is a professional-level video editor that’s been used on many Hollywood films.
The free version offers all the tools you’re likely to need. Run it, click the New Project button at the bottom, then give your project a name. Drag your video clips from your hard drive to the media pool, then drag the first one you want to edit to the timeline below. Click the Colour button at the bottom ( 1 in our screenshot) to open the colour panel.
Use the Curves option 2 to adjust the tonal range (colour and tone, including brightness), and move the sliders to the right to adjust the red, green and blue hues. They will move in tandem, so click the link above them to adjust them separately.
If that sounds like too much hard work, you can ask Davinci Resolve to try and fix the colours for you. Click the Color Wheels button (a circle with a dot in it 3 ), then click the A (Auto Balance) button 4 and wait while it analyses the video and tries to fix any problems.
Save your project at any time by pressing Ctrl+s and export the video by clicking the Deliver (rocket) button at the bottom. Click ‘Add to Render Queue’ to finish exporting your home movie. 5
Do you need our advice on what software to use? Just email us at letters@computeractive.co.uk