What is the difference between a waveform and a vectorscope?

A waveform monitor measures brightness (luminance) from black (0 IRE) to white (100 IRE) and maps values left-to-right across your image. A vectorscope measures color (hue and saturation) on a circular display. Together, they cover both the grayscale and color information in your footage. Think of the waveform as your brightness tool and the vectorscope as your color tool.

How do I read video scopes in Premiere Pro?

Open Lumetri Scopes via Window > Lumetri Scopes, then right-click the panel to select which scopes to display. The waveform shows exposure; the vectorscope shows color; the RGB Parade shows per-channel color balance; and the histogram shows overall brightness distribution. For the best results, keep at least a waveform and vectorscope open while grading.

What is the skin tone line on a vectorscope?

The skin tone line is a diagonal marker (around the 10:30 position on the vectorscope) that represents the universal hue of blood under skin. All human skin tones, regardless of ethnicity, should fall on or very close to this line. What changes between individuals is the brightness level (visible on the waveform), not the hue. This makes the skin tone line an incredibly reliable reference for natural-looking color.

What IRE levels should my video stay within?

For broadcast-safe content, keep your luminance between 0 and 100 IRE. Levels below 0 (super-black) or above 100 (super-white) may cause your content to be rejected by broadcasters. For web-only delivery (YouTube, social media), slight super-whites are generally acceptable, but it is still good practice to keep levels in range to ensure consistent appearance across different screens.

Do I need all four video scopes open at once?

Not necessarily. For most color correction work, a waveform plus vectorscope combo covers the majority of tasks. Add the RGB Parade when you are fixing white balance or matching shots. Use the histogram for a quick exposure overview. Open all four simultaneously only when you are doing broadcast quality control or want the most complete picture of your signal.

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2 Posts Found

How to Read Video Scopes Fast: Waveform, Vectorscope, RGB Parade and Histogram Explained

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