YUVTools vs. RGB Workflows: When to Use Each Format

Advanced YUVTools Tricks for Professional Video Editing

1. Inspect codec-level artifacts with macroblock overlays

• How: Enable MB/block grid overlays in the player to reveal macroblock boundaries.
• Why: Quickly spot blocking, incorrect chroma placement, or codec alignment issues for MPEG/H.264 workflows.

2. Use PSNR and frame-difference reports for objective quality checks

• How: Run the analyzer to compute PSNR and save difference maps between reference and processed YUV files.
• Why: Quantify quality loss after encoding/transcoding and locate frames with highest degradation.

3. Compare chroma subsampling conversions visually and numerically

• How: Convert between 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0 using the converter, then view side-by-side and calculate per-plane differences.
• Why: Evaluate color-bleeding or aliasing introduced by subsampling before final delivery.

4. Visualize motion vectors and inter-frame change for encoder tuning

• How: Use frame comparison/motion inspection tools to highlight motion regions and temporal prediction mismatches.
• Why: Tune GOP, B-frame placement, and motion-search settings to reduce artifacts in high-motion scenes.

5. Batch-convert and script repetitive preprocessing

• How: Use the command-line utilities to batch convert, crop, pad, flip, or split planes in folders of raw video.
• Why: Save time preparing test vectors, conforming legacy footage, or producing consistent inputs for encoders.

6. Create test patterns and synthetic references for encoder validation

• How: Generate single-plane test images (Y, U, V) or combined YUV patterns and use them as controlled inputs.
• Why: Isolate color/bit-depth/quantization behaviors and verify processing pipelines deterministically.

7. Inspect bit-depth and component ordering issues

• How: Toggle component order (YUV/YVU/UYVY/etc.) and bit-depth settings when opening files.
• Why: Prevent chroma swaps and incorrect levels that commonly plague multi-vendor toolchains.

8. Integrate with FFmpeg/YUView for advanced decoding and HEVC internals

• How: Use YUVTools alongside FFmpeg or YUView: decode bitstreams with FFmpeg, analyze with YUVTools or view decoder internals in YUView.
• Why: Combine strengths—robust decoding, deep visualization, and HEVC prediction/mv inspection—for thorough debugging.

9. Use per-plane histogram & overlay stats to fix level/range problems

• How: Display per-plane histograms and overlay numeric stats while adjusting levels or converting full/limited ranges.
• Why: Detect clipping, improper range conversion, and ensure legal/expected broadcast levels.

10. Preserve metadata and test delivery encodings

• How: When reconstructing AVIs or exporting, verify FOURCC, field order, and frame packing options; then re-compare to reference.
• Why: Avoid playback issues on target devices and ensure encoder settings match delivery specs.

If you want, I can convert these into a one-page troubleshooting checklist or provide exact command-line examples for batch conversions—tell me which one.