signalapp
Sending HDR video converts it to SDR but ends up washed out
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- [x] I have searched searched open and closed issues for duplicates
- [x] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
- [x] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic
Bug description
When I send any HDR video I have made with my Pixel 9 Pro, Signal converts it to SDR and the colors are off and washed out. My guess is perhaps improper tone mapping or no tone mapping used at all during conversion.
Screenshots
No response
Device
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Android version
Android 15
Signal version
7.33.2
Link to debug log
No response
I have this same problem. Files uploaded for comparison.
From signal: https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/930df6ce-7f52-4708-846c-5bd4f2f0effc
Compressed original: https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b0e3050d-e25f-4c58-ac48-6ad47c104137
It is not related only to Pixel 9 family ( https://www.reddit.com/r/signal/s/ycVEOb0PDG ).
Unfortunately sending videos over Signal are quite unusable because of this issue on Google Pixel phones.
On my Samsung S24 Ultra (and even earlier models), when sharing HDR/High bit-rate videos, there's an option to convert it first before sending, which is what I've been doing with my HDR videos that get sent on signal. What I don't understand, if my phone can convert to SDR without washing out the colors, why can't signal's video processing do it? This doesn't make any sense. If there are already "workarounds" to SDR the video first externally from signal, can't Signal just use the same process instead of having to break the workflow? This seems odd to me that this is something that hasn't been resolved relatively easily yet.
Same problem here. Galaxy S25 Plus. Sending HDR videos via Signal will result in colourless videos. Even trying to send them as file is not possible, since it triggers the video send GUI. Yes ofc I can use the Samsung Galarie App to convert the HDR video to SDR, but that's just unnecessary steps.
This needs to be addressed, especially as more and more phones get HDR. Wouldn't be surprised if most new phones have it by default now.
Learned today that my phone can convert it, but I have to share through the gallery app, while I often prefer doing it straight from Signal.
Pixel here, the video fidelity is abysmal after the conversion... Green colors seem to be particularly mauled by it and most of my stories are of nature.
This is a cropped screenshot of the before from my gallery app:
And a screenshot of it in Signal:
If you don't want to deal with the extra bandwidth of HDR that's fine but please at least do better tone mapping so it doesn't look so bad.
The only workaround for Pixels besides finding a 3rd party app to do the conversion for you is to record the video in Signal so it isn't HDR to begin with but then you lose the niceties of using the Google Camera and don't have a high quality version for yourself.
Videos that I received from contact who uses Samsung phone and shoots in HDR10+ all have colours that are totally off.
Looks like the Signal codes are detecting the HDR video but the tone-mapping/color-gamut-mapping is not happening at all. This needs to be fixed.
For those who received washed-out videos from contacts who use Samsung phones, the following FFmpeg command can restore the video somewhat but the quality isn't good due to heavy compression by Signal.
ffmpeg -i signal-recieved.mp4 -bsf:v h264_metadata=colour_primaries=9:transfer_characteristics=16:matrix_coefficients=9 -color_primaries 9 -color_trc 16 -colorspace 9 -c copy output.mp4
I am sure most users would prefer the solution to be Signal supporting HDR videos rather than developing/testing for an HDR->SDR conversion that does proper job of tone mapping.
But I wanted to state that this would be my preference for a solution.
I am sure most users would prefer the solution to be Signal supporting HDR videos
Yes I would want to preserve HDR videos (I would want better resolution too) as well as HDR photos with gainmap but for videos I think the issue is that some phones may not be able to playback HDR videos so maybe there has to be an option that the sender can choose. For images there is no issue as images containing gainmaps are already designed to be backward-compatible.
As there are server bandwidth concerns, I think it would be great if there is a feature where a video or photo can be sent in original quality but performed p2p like video calls when both devices are online and both parties agree to the transfer.
The same on my S23. It's a bugger, especially as it plays into the cards of the people who are critical/sceptical of Signal and are therefore reluctant to switch to Signal. I hope this gets fixed before people start switching back to WhatsApp!
True @PentKJ. I noticed that this is actually happening right now with some of my friends and family.
When converting the file manually on my Samsung phone, the SDR video looks normal on Signal.
Thanks @Stensel8, will do so in the future. But the issue still needs to be fixed quickly to keep the reluctant new Signal users on board.
True @PentKJ. I noticed that this is actually happening right now with some of my friends and family.
When converting the file manually on my Samsung phone, the SDR video looks normal on Signal.
There's a much easier way to do this directly from the share modal/dialog that pops up without having to remember to edit the video first and saving a copy that's been downgraded to SDR. When you share, you'll notice a little blue "Options >". When you tap on it, there's an option you can toggle on that says "Automatically convert images and videos" which will auto convert your entire selection before sharing to Signal. Not ideal, but more within the context of the sharing "workflow". What I don't understand is why I can't set this to be toggled ON automatically for every share.....but that's a Samsung issue, I think....
True @PentKJ. I noticed that this is actually happening right now with some of my friends and family. When converting the file manually on my Samsung phone, the SDR video looks normal on Signal.
There's a much easier way to do this directly from the share modal/dialog that pops up without having to remember to edit the video first and saving a copy that's been downgraded to SDR. When you share, you'll notice a little blue "Options >". When you tap on it, there's an option you can toggle on that says "Automatically convert images and videos" which will auto convert your entire selection before sharing to Signal. Not ideal, but more within the context of the sharing "workflow". What I don't understand is why I can't set this to be toggled ON automatically for every share.....but that's a Samsung issue, I think....
Yeah, I know, I'm using this too. But thanks for the extra info. Mine wasn't as detailed.
It is absolutely horrible indeed. For videos I need to resort to another app because its really unacceptably bad. I made two screenshots of a video before sending and after sending using Signal on Android on a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. I think its becauae of HDR mapping but I am not sure really.
Same issue here on a Google Pixel 8 with "10-bit HDR" enabled for videos in Google Camera. Colors look washed out after sending them to Signal contacts (even ones whose phones support HDR). Meanwhile, WhatsApp converts the video just fine.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp converts the video just fine.
Google Messages with RCS converts them fine too.
I've been tracking HDR video suport on various messaging platforms for awhile, and Signal on Android is now the only one I regularly use which doesn't correctly convert HDR videos to SDR (or keep it as HDR and playback correctly), which is quite frustrating as I usually record in HDR on my phone. I've gotten into the habit of switching to another platform (mainly WhatsApp) when I need to send videos to work around this issue.
Spreadsheet link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UKNo4PyKpEFdIMnfMC6xcXOqyhgmcXkDGtPkSCxX23M/edit?usp=drivesdk (tested on a Pixel 7, S21, and iPhone 12)
@FormularSumo from my test, Google Messages RCS sends as SDR. The sender can playback the video in chat in HDR but the receiving end gets a SDR 720p copy when saving. In my test the receiving phone is not HDR capable though. Don't know if that makes a difference.
Telegram works fine too. I have to resort to that for videos as all my videos are recorded using HDR with h265 codec.
This is the main issue I have and regularly encounter with Signal.
@FormularSumo from my test, Google Messages RCS sends as SDR. The sender can playback the video in chat in HDR but the receiving end gets a SDR 720p copy when saving. In my test the receiving phone is not HDR capable though. Don't know if that makes a difference.
Yep you're right. I didn't have another RCS device on hand to test with but have had a go now and they get converted to 720p SDR on the receiving end, both on Android and iOS, which is odd when on the sending device it shows the original. RCS also used to be uncompressed originally but changed awhile ago.
All others were tested receiving on another device so that shouldn't be an issue. Have updated the original message with a new screenshot.
Any dev care to comment on how urgent they regard this bug to be fixed?
Latest Samsung updates enable HDR by default for most phones. This bug is now affecting quite a large share of mobile users
I can confirm friend of mine with the newest OnePlus flagship phone is also affected when using HDR video on Signal.
I have the same problem. I basically can't send videos to people over Signal because of this. Faces end up so washed out I can barely recognize people, and backgrounds bleed into people's clothes. My Pixel 8 Pro has no easy way to disable HDR video recording.
Mistral Le Chat told me the following when I asked how this bug could be fixed. However, this is above my own knowledge.