Color Consistency Across Macs and PCs?

We have an encoding and creative workflow that is entirely mac/FC Studio base, but authoring is done on a PC.
We have run into a very peculiar problem involving color shifting...
M2Vs and Still Images (Tiffs) are exported from Motion Projects using Compressor. The last frame of the m2v is identical to the Still Image.
When opened in quicktime the colors appear identical.
When brought into DVD studio pro and Authored, the jump from the M2V to the Still Image is seamless in terms of color.
Now when that M2V and Still Image is brought into our PC authoring Software, there is a noticeable shift in color between the two. The still image is significantly darker than the M2V. (A HUGE PROBLEM)
So the above is based on exporting a still image and an M2v from Motion Projects, what if we simply exported the last frame of the M2V from quicktime or compressor as a still image. SAME EXACT RESULTS.
Next I brought the M2V into After Effects and Exported the last frame as a Tiff. In DVD Studio Pro that Tiff appears significantly BRIGHTER than the M2V, but when brought over to our PC there is NO shift at all!!
For a number of reason our workflow can not accommodate a dependency on After Effects to provide us with color consistent Still Images for our PC Authoring Software.
Is there anyone out there, a guru in the ways of color management perhaps, that can lend some insight into how I can ensure that the Still Images I export from Quicktime/Final Cut Studio will not display a shift in color from the M2Vs on the PC?
Thank you so much,
ryan

Ryan,
Your issue is primarily related to gamma, and also related to color space conversion issues. If you search these very forums, and google, you will find extensive threads discussing this.
Managing gamma in a FCS-based post workflow that involves still images, multiple platforms, and multiple color spaces, requires special attention.
The various applications inside FCS deal with gamma and color spaces in different ways. There are a LOT of intricacies, from Final Cut's bypassing of ColorSync, to default gamma settings for RGB content, to DVDSP's handling of still image color space conversion. You'll need to sit down and spend some time building the knowledge you'll need to navigate the waters.
Start with these links, and go from there:
http://www.poynton.com/notes/colourandgamma/GammaFAQ.html
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93794
http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7384256
http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=23956
The very short version of your problem is related to the fact that Mac uses a default display gamma of 1.8, and just about everything else in the world related to your video pipeline (including your PC) uses 2.2 to 2.5. It's more complex than that, but the links above will get into detail.
On the bright side, your problem is completely solvable once you learn the gamma side of things, and carefully maintain proper gamma from start to finish in the workflow.
-Matt

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