Washed out colors

Hi,

It is a common issue to see color shifts when importing media into video editing software, and the washed-out green/blue tint you are describing in CapCut is quite possible. Based on the screenshot and common causes, here is a likely solution and some troubleshooting steps:

Likely Cause: HDR Color Space Issue

The most probable reason for this color distortion in CapCut Desktop is related to HDR (High Dynamic Range) color space. Here's why and how to check/fix it:

• HDR vs. SDR (Standard Dynamic Range): Your original photo might be in SDR color space (standard for most photos and images online). CapCut, especially with recent updates, might be defaulting to or misinterpreting HDR color space. When SDR content is displayed as HDR, it can often look washed out, with colors appearing muted or shifted towards blue/green.
• CapCut's Color Space Setting: CapCut Desktop has a setting that lets you control the color space (HDR or SDR) for your project. If this is set incorrectly, it can cause the color issue you're seeing upon import.

Solution: Change Color Space Setting in CapCut to SDR

1. Deselect Everything on the Timeline: In CapCut Desktop, make sure you have deselected any clips or media on your timeline. Click in an empty area of the timeline or canvas so that no specific clip is selected. This is important to access the project-level settings.

2. Go to "Modify" Settings: With nothing selected on the timeline, look at the top right panel in CapCut. You should see a "Modify" option (as indicated in your screenshot - it's near the "Import" button and the preview window). Click on "Modify".

3. Check the "Color Space" Setting: In the "Modify" panel that opens, look for a setting labeled "Color Space".

   • CapCut may interpret color spaces differently, leading to color shifts. Ensure that both your photos and CapCut are using the same color space (e.g., sRGB). Mismatched color spaces can cause color inaccuracies.

4. Change from HDR to SDR: If the "Color Space" is currently set to "HDR", change it to "SDR" (Standard Dynamic Range).

5. Save and Re-Import: After changing the Color Space to SDR, save your project settings (if there's a save button, or CapCut might auto-save). Then, try re-importing your photo into CapCut.

6. Check if Colors are Correct: See if the colors of your photo now appear correctly in CapCut, matching the original image on the right side of your screenshot.

Why This Should Work: By setting CapCut to SDR color space, you are telling it to interpret and display colors in the standard range, which should be appropriate for most photos and videos that are not specifically HDR.

If Changing Color Space to SDR Doesn't Fully Fix It:

If the colors are better but still not perfect after changing to SDR, or if you don't see the "Color Space" setting, here are a few more things to try:

• Restart CapCut: Close and reopen CapCut Desktop completely after changing the color space setting and before re-importing.
• Update CapCut: Ensure you are using the latest version of CapCut Desktop. Check for updates within the application.
• Image File Format: While less likely, try importing your photo in a different image format if possible (e.g., if it's a PNG, try saving it as a high-quality JPG and importing that).
• Graphics Drivers: Make sure your computer's graphics card drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause display issues in applications. Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) to download and install the latest drivers.
• Color Adjustments in CapCut: As a workaround, even if the import color isn't perfect, you can use CapCut's built-in "Adjustment" tools (you see "Adjustment" in your top menu bar in the screenshot) to manually correct the colors after importing. You can adjust:
  • Brightness
  • Contrast
  • Saturation
  • Temperature (to reduce the blue/green tint, try slightly warming the temperature)
  • HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) - for more precise color adjustments.

Let us know if changing the Color Space to SDR in the "Modify" settings resolves the issue. If not, we can explore these other troubleshooting steps further.

If the issue continues, you might consider using another editing tool to adjust your photos before importing them into CapCut. This can help ensure the colors remain consistent.

For a video guide on fixing washed-out colors in CapCut, you might find this tutorial helpful: