Calibration (especially for older film types)

[gtackett]

I am new to the film scanning world. I have a lot of older (1970's and 1980's era) slides and negatives on the versions of Ektachrome, Kodachrome, and Kodacolor that were available back then, in various speeds of each. I probably also have some on one of the Kodak Professional color films from back then--I can't recall the names--that I used to use for portraits.

I also have a little Pan-X B/W and a roll or two of a Kodak infrared (color) transparency film, but I'm less concerned about these.

I don't know anything about calibrating SilverFast to begin with, so learning about how to do that is the first step. I've been a little frustrated with what I've come across so far on the subject. Is there a good reference?

Also, are there film profiles for these old films, or something similar, that I need to download? And where from?

Any advice is appreciated. If it's too large to post here easily you can e-mail me at gltackett1@netscape.net.

Thanks!

[UrbanVoyeur]

Silverfast has excellent calibration capabilities. It is the main reason I use it. (Silverfast has other issues, but that's another story)

To get the most out of the film type choices, you should really purchase the IT-8 calibration option for your scanner. The color chart along with the software will give you a color neutral "baseline" profile which will correct for the particular color characteristics of your scanner. From there it will be MUCH easier to obtain color accurate scans.

The process is simple, once you have the upgrade. Basically you put the slide or reflective chart in the scanner, prescan, crop and hit the calibrate button.

It really makes all the difference in the world.

Good luck

[gtackett]

I think I may already have IT8--at least, I got a calibration slide with the SilverFast version that came with my Polaroid scanner, and there was a calibrate button on the screen.

I also bought the upgrade to the new "Ai" version but haven't had a chance to play with it much yet. Does it include IT8?

[gtackett]

Well, does anybody know the answer to the question I asked in my last reply to this topic?

[Tomaz Klinc]

gtackett, it looks like you've got the IT8 calibration, but did not activate it; to do that read instructions that came with it and request the "Second Serial Number" from LaserSoft. As for scanning Kodachromes, it was said here and elsewhere, IT8 calibration with Ektachrome target will make things only much worse, at least with Nikon scanners. It was reported that a Q60K3 target on Kodachrome film can be ordered from Kodak, but I don't know if LSI can provide it, and I don't know what the result would be like.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Tomaz Klinc on 2002-04-13 20:41 ]</font>

[gherman]

I calibrated initially with the provided slide and was disappointed. I bought the Kodachrome target from Kodak and calibrated using it. I made all the difference in the world!

[gtackett]

Thanks to everyone for your help.

I may already have the second password to activate IT8. I'll have to check my records and obtain it if not. And the Kodachrome calibration target is certainly worth knowing about!

I also have one or two cool shots on Kodak infrared color slide film--at least, they looked good 28 years ago! Color accuracy is scarcely a concern there, of course; but they could be fun to play around with.

Again, thanks...

[Plato]

On 2002-04-14 20:14, gherman wrote:
I calibrated initially with the provided slide and was disappointed. I bought the Kodachrome target from Kodak and calibrated using it. I made all the difference in the world!

Can you tell me where you got the Kodachrome target from please - can I order it over the net?

[Primus]

I ordered the Kodachrome 35 mm target from Kodak directly by calling their toll-free number (sorry, forgot the number). It cost me about $58 IIRC.

The catalog number from Kodak is 157 5141 and the target is K3 1999.10

The tdf file is available from their ftp website.