One of the interesting things about working with the GOUT, the GKAR and TB 97 SE, and the blu-ray is that I’ve noticed a lot of changes implemented in the blu-ray that may have escaped notice. I’ve also come to the conclusion that the 97 SE has the worst color of the three. Meaning it is all over the place. I can pretty well align the GOUT to the blu-rays, it doesn’t work for every scene, but in general it gets close. But for the 97 SE, in particular for A New Hope, there are fewer scenes that match up and some of the scenes are way off. So while the end result of the DVD/blu-ray transfer is something garish, at least the original scan seems to have been done with an attempt to get close to the original colors. The f*** ups seemed to happen after that point. It gives me hope that I can bring it close. Also, some of the magenta and blue issues I have with the ANH BR have the same problem in the 97 SE, so I think I am right that it is a fading issue that hasn’t been, or can’t be, properly corrected for.
Where I’m at right now is that I think I have the best correction for the GOUT versions (and it is mostly toning down the red and converting it from the VHS/LD/Broadcast Master we have on the 2006 bonus discs to a more modern digital image with darker blacks and more vibrant colors), a close pass on the blu-rays, and my first full attempt at the 97 SE.
Why the GOUT when we have the 35 mm versions? Well, the 35 mm versions have their problems (missing frames and such) and as I am going for color correction and not image quality (intending my GOUT color restoration be a bonus in a larger project) and with the nature of the release of the first movie (the whole issue with Team Negative 1), I though it best to just not use that. My main focus is the blu-rays anyway. Also, I based my correction on some of the 35 mm work. DrDre did a very nice version of the majority of reel one using his automated color correction tool and it came out very close to what I was doing with the GOUT. That, along with the age and quality of the prints both come from put the GOUT as a better choice for me to use for color correcting.
I should have some frame captures in a few days after I have Return of the Jedi SE processed. That will just leave The Phantom Menace, which I worked on before, but will need to revisit.