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Post #641915

Author
Spaced Ranger
Parent topic
Song Of The South - many projects, much info & discussion thread (Released)
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/641915/action/topic#641915
Date created
29-May-2013, 9:07 PM

Just in case there isn't a shift from 16mm to 35mm preservation, I wanted to demo the process using Zip Doodah's 35mm clip (the ride on the coach) as a color target. The wider the color spectrum in the target, the better the overall correction ... and one setting might suffice as a final or master setting.

In a paint program's histogram function, the individual R-G-B spectrums are filled out using low and high. Then gamma shifts the bulk of the spectrum lower or higher as needed. Usually that's enough. If the R-G-B's seem too weak or too strong, then midtones can expand or compress (dilute or concentrate) the center area of the spectrums. This usually requires some back and forth adjustments before the combined coloring falls into place:

histogram   lo    gamma    hi    mid
R                19   1.4         162  25
G
                  6   2.5         234  20
B                  7   2.0         187  25

I find this process still can leave the saturation and/or contrast weak, but I haven't quite worked out an easy joined-R-G-B movement. Until then, a second process of a joined-RGB graph is added to compensate:

curves    1 I/O       2 I/O       3 I/O         4 I/O
RGB       0 : 0       64 : 24   128 : 128  255 : 255

The end result is a nice improvement that can be use in multiple shots:

Finally, for video processing, I use VirtualDub with the Gradation Curves plug-in. One must manually duplicate the paint program's graph to attain the same correction (this required resizing the paint program's rectangular graph to make it 1-to-1 to the plug-in's square graph):

I did this quick & sloppy, but even at that, it looks almost spot-on:

It still needs tweaking (pulling out the purple scarf and the green leaves is proving difficult as the graphs must remain smooth in the process). If Zip Doodah could post a 35mm grab (full-sized & raw) of a full color spectrum shot and then ww12345 post the same 16mm frame (again, full-sized & raw), that might just work for an overall color correction.