@msycamore = it's more a case of my mind won't let me put this stuff down. I keep playing with stuff in Gimp and then five minutes after I've done it I think the envelope can be pushed again. Even though my logical brain understands these laserdisc/vhs sources are limited containers for a 35mm print, that much has been filtered out through the transfer, that correcting one range in the picture will throw out something else in the picture (or in the next scene) - I still keep hoping for a miracle tweak, because I want to be able to see Star Wars in a semi-analogue form (meaning retaining some of the special qualities of organic film photography not an over CGI'd form (apologies to those who grew up with the special edition and GL but that's not MY film!!!). I posted my tweak not because I doubt you were working towards the best overall balance for the film (I wouldnt want to watch my tweaks for very long because I always end up creating harsh contrasts and blown out whites just so I can get to a fleshtone I like which lies in the mid range - sacrificing everything for skintone). I post some stuff a) to rally the experts b) to see if anyone knows how to produce the next tweak to gain a new bit of ground. Tweaking is addictive at first because you can see something magically improve but then it becomes diminishing returns of what you can squeeze out. I have a hard time learning theory and tend to learn some things better through repetition and pictures/diagrams. Unfortunately with Star Wars there's no 100% definitive visual example to point to unreservedly say this is the full or near to full cinematic experience... yet (?). I saw the special edition at the cinema in 1997 and I was really disappointed not by the CGI additions but by the cold / modern colours. It felt like a completely other alien film to me. This was more depressing to my world view than the Phantom Menace. Having seen the Senator screening media I then realized I had never even seen the film properly in the first place. What cruelty! :O) I'm hoping a newly finessed laserdisc, vhs or even gout version will give me at least a semi decent semi authentic film experience back!!!