Kodachrome target and calibration questions
PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 3:04 am
Thus far I’ve scanned about 500 of 6,000 35mm slides from the years 1958 to 1990. Most of these slides are Kodachrome, but I have no Kodachrome IT8 target with which to calibrate my Plustek 7600i scanner. I’ve been getting decent results by making multiple scans for each slide and making adjustments for color with each scan and then comparing the resulting .tifs and selecting the best image to keep out of the bunch.
I’m wondering, first, how important is it for me to have the scanner calibrated with a Kodachrome target? Will it make a big difference in the accuracy of the color? Will it save me time?
I’ve of course calibrated the scanner with the SilverFast Ektachrome IT8 target. Does this help in any way with Kodachrome slides?
In this forum thread LSI_Ketelhohn said:
"In SilverFast we also offer the Kodachrome mode which requires a special Kodachrome target for calibration."
Does that mean I should not choose Kodachrome from the pulldown menu if the scanner has not been calibrated with a Kodachrome target? I have sometimes used the Kodachrome setting thinking even though the scanner hasn’t been calibrated for Kodachrome, the software was making its best educated guess for Kodachrome color based on the Ektachrome calibration.
Any suggestions on how or where I can find a Kodachrome target? I’d purchase one simply for the piece of mind at this point, but I know they aren’t produced anymore, and it seems they are virtually non-existent 2nd hand, which is most frustrating. I’ve only seen one being auctioned and it’s attached to other items totaling over $2,000. Is there a Secret Society of the Kodachrome Target I could join?
I think I'm right in saying there is now a limited supply of Kodachrome targets in the world, and their numbers can only decline. Knowing this, it seems like someone could be making money (and helping a great many people like myself at the same time) by renting Kodachrome targets through the mail for a small fee. The customer would keep the slide just long enough to calibrate the scanner, and then the slide would go back to the owner to wait until the next person needs it. Does this make sense?
I’m wondering, first, how important is it for me to have the scanner calibrated with a Kodachrome target? Will it make a big difference in the accuracy of the color? Will it save me time?
I’ve of course calibrated the scanner with the SilverFast Ektachrome IT8 target. Does this help in any way with Kodachrome slides?
In this forum thread LSI_Ketelhohn said:
"In SilverFast we also offer the Kodachrome mode which requires a special Kodachrome target for calibration."
Does that mean I should not choose Kodachrome from the pulldown menu if the scanner has not been calibrated with a Kodachrome target? I have sometimes used the Kodachrome setting thinking even though the scanner hasn’t been calibrated for Kodachrome, the software was making its best educated guess for Kodachrome color based on the Ektachrome calibration.
Any suggestions on how or where I can find a Kodachrome target? I’d purchase one simply for the piece of mind at this point, but I know they aren’t produced anymore, and it seems they are virtually non-existent 2nd hand, which is most frustrating. I’ve only seen one being auctioned and it’s attached to other items totaling over $2,000. Is there a Secret Society of the Kodachrome Target I could join?
I think I'm right in saying there is now a limited supply of Kodachrome targets in the world, and their numbers can only decline. Knowing this, it seems like someone could be making money (and helping a great many people like myself at the same time) by renting Kodachrome targets through the mail for a small fee. The customer would keep the slide just long enough to calibrate the scanner, and then the slide would go back to the owner to wait until the next person needs it. Does this make sense?