Histogram display options in Final Cut Pro

The histogram provides a statistical analysis of the image by calculating the total number of pixels of each color or luma level and creating a graph that shows the number of pixels at each percentage of luma or color. Each increment of the scale from left to right represents a percentage of luma or color, and the height of each segment of the histogram graph shows the number of pixels that correspond to that percentage.

The Scope menu in the upper-right corner of the histogram provides a variety of display options:

Luma: Shows only the luma component of the video. The height of the graph at each step on the scale represents the number of pixels in the image at that percentage of luma, relative to all the other values. For example, if an image has few highlights, the histogram shows a large cluster of values in the midtones.
Using the Luma histogram view, you can quickly compare the luma of two shots so that you can adjust their shadows, midtones, and highlights to match more closely.
The shape of the graph also helps you determine the amount of contrast in an image. A low-contrast image has a concentrated clump of values nearer to the center of the graph. By comparison, a high-contrast image has a wider distribution of values across the entire width of the graph.
RGB Overlay: Combines waveforms for the red, green, and blue color components in one display. If the image being examined has equal levels of two or more colors, you see the combined color:
- Equal levels of green and blue appear as cyan.
- Equal levels of green and red appear as yellow.
- Equal levels of red and blue appear as magenta.
- Equal levels of red, green, and blue appear as gray.
RGB Parade: Presents three graphs that display your video as separate red, green, and blue components. The waveforms are tinted red, green, and blue so that you can easily identify them.
You can use the RGB Parade view to compare the relative distribution of each color channel across the tonal range of the image. For example, images with a red color cast have either a significantly stronger red graph or weaker green and blue graphs.
Red: Shows only the red color channel.
Green: Shows only the green color channel.
Blue: Shows only the blue color channel.

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Final Cut Pro User Guide

Histogram display options in Final Cut Pro