ANALOG FILM, COLOR SCIENCE ADVANCES & NEW AESTHETICS
Custom signal transforms & digital print stocks for negative film
My research into digital camera advancements and color science has significantly influenced my workflow with analog film, bringing a fresh perspective to this traditional medium. By utilizing advanced color science techniques, a more nuanced color fidelity inherent in negative film can be revealed, enhancing its reproduction and tonal depth.
Standard practices, such as basic Cineon Log to REC.709 transforms or subjective grading by eye, may make an image suitable for display and allow for further grading. However, these methods fail to unlock the richer color information encoded in negative film scans.
My approach maintains technical consistency in revealing color depth, without relying on destructive methods like color keying to enhance color separation, thereby preserving the organic authenticity of the film medium. Additionally, the transforms I design support both SDR and HDR formats.
By utilizing a specialized signal transform function to enhance tonal richness, the cinematographer gains greater control in overseeing the creation of a custom print stock, resulting in a more precise reflection of the project’s intended look and visual style.
Kodak 7219 500T (Push processed 1 stop)
DP Kimani Schumann
Kodak 5247 100T film from the 1980's
courtesy of Marc Wielage / Colour Training
standard rec.709
custom rec.709
digital print stock
signal transforms
Technical transforms play a significant role in shaping footage to serve a story. This understanding has driven my color grading practices to take on a more technical focus rooted in color science, I've come to appreciate how the design of a signal transform can profoundly impact the creative possibilities avaliable to a colorist when grading.
The images on the top row are transformed with custom built Signal to REC.709 transform.
The images on the bottom row are transformed with a standard Cineon Log to REC.709 transform.
There is no grading involved in these images, these are technical transforms which maps signal to display.
standard rec.709
custom rec.709
This contemporary stock (Kodak 7219 500T)
has around 14 stops of dynamic range
This discontinued stock (Kodak 5247 100T)
has around 8-9 stops of dynamic range
The increased dynamic range of modern cameras has introduced new visual aesthetics, such as creamy softness with a deeper contrast depth that still preserves detail. Advancements in color science now allow me to fully harness the dynamic range information of film negatives, enabling me to craft a modern take on analog film aesthetics. These technological breakthroughs have opened up exciting new possibilities, where the worlds of digital and analog can converge and evolve together aesthetically.
The ability to design custom, technically consistent signal transforms provides cinematographers with a powerful tool for creative decision-making. By blending color science with artistry, these transforms preserve and enhance the integrity of color information while expanding the possibilities for displaying dynamic range.
Once established, the transform function unlocks a deeper level of color depth, enabling the creation of a custom digital print stock that builds upon the signal transform and fully embodies the project's visual direction.
There is no grading involved in these images, these are technical transforms which maps image signals to display
custom transform 1
custom transform 2
- Custom Transform 1
Exhibit a nostalgic “film look”, with more contrast making the highlights appear harsher and more silvery, colors also appear more saturated.
- Custom Transform 2
A signal transform designed to reflect the contemporary dynamicrange aesthetics of cameras like the ARRI 35 and Sony Venice, achieving a softer and creamy appearance and a more subtle approach to color saturation while preserving the unmistakable magic of film.
An example of a custom designed digital print stock that creates a cohesive “look” and exhibits a contemporary dynamic range aesthetic .