YouTube only uploading my 720 video at 360 max

Question

I am using a 15" MacBook Pro (2012)  750GB HD, 16GB RAM
OS X 10.9.5
2.4GHz Intel Core i7
After Effects CC 13.0.2.3
Media Encoder CC
So I rendered my movie  in the After Effects Render Que as a mov. file and the colors came out slightly, different but enough where I could live with it.  Then I tried to convert it to H.246 Codec and all that by using Media Encoder's "YouTube 720 HD" present, since I primarily want to upload the movie to YouTube.  My movie project is 1280x720 so this was the appropriate preset.  Except when it converted the colors came out even worse. Certain reds came out more pinkish.  I tried sending my project straight to media encoder and rendering it to the "YouTube 720 HD preset" but the same discoloring occured...So I thought I might just upload the 1.68GB mov. file straight to YouTube to try and preserve the decent coloring, since I heard they compress their videos automatically anyway.  But then when it finally uploaded after 25mins the video colors where fine but it would only go up to 360 Definition and it looked horrible (my options were 240 or 360).  I thought it might have something to do with me uploading the large mov. file since I had never done that before.  So I tried uploading the 112MB mp4. file (with the distorted color) and when it uploaded to YouTube the colors were still distorted but the more aggravating part was it STILL only went up to 360. I don't get it?!
When I watch my movie in Quicktime, or iTunes or even when I drag the finished mov. or mp4. file into a new composition in After Effects it all looks good and goes up to a 720 HD.  Also interesting fact, when I drag the mp4. file into a new After Effects composition the distorted coloring goes away but then if I try to render it out from that new composition using H.264 YouTube 720HD preset the discoloring still appears on all my media playing platforms (Quicktime, iTunes, YouTube)

Answer 1

About 80% of my projects are 32 bit with color space set to NONE. Some are set to color space profiles defined by my clients. Some projects are set to Display, mine is calibrated with a calibration tool - not by eye. My favorite is the X-Rite: EODIS3 : i1Display Pro. The color space you use depends entirely on the workflow and delivery specifications. If you loose the ability to set a color space anywhere in the project or are worried about that possibility then choose NONE. If you are sure you can maintain control, establish and prove your color management workflow before you deliver your product.
I'm also very careful with color values in my projects. Some things, like 100% red Helvetica at 40 pixels on a black or white background are going to fall apart when compressed or broadcast so you have to use values that will make these colors work. I do the same thing with gradients. A gradient that only changes color values from say 160 to 200 over an entire HD frame is gong to have banding with it is compressed to 8 bit, and if the gradient is moving it's really going to look bad and theres nothing you can do about it except add some noise or texture to the gradient to hide the 8 bit compression artifacts. Learning what will work takes time and experimentation. I've been doing this since you could have no values below 16 and no values about 235. We can use much more of the available color space but color compression and MPEG formats will always create color artifacts and change things if you are not careful with your design.