wally@cornell.UUCP (Wally Dietrich) (10/14/83)
Print processors typically balance colors prints so that the average shade
in the print is grey. (A machine takes the average color over the entire
frame and then sets the filtration.) As you might expect, this works fine
for average photographs. At the better processing labs, a human looks at
the final prints and decides whether the color balance is right. That's
one reason Kodak's prints usually look better than the ones from the corner
drug store. I've seen articles in Pop Photo about filtration for color
printing but don't remember the details since I can't afford to do it
myself. Have you looked for any books on color printing?
Wally Dietrichhyder@hammer.UUCP (Paul K. Hyder) (10/16/83)
The machines in current use for photofinishing resemble
the old Integrate To Gray 5-S printers about like vaxen resemble
the first computers. There are still some of the old printers
left and that may be the source of poor color quality. For the
record:
1. Color is usually not checked in large photofinishing
labs at the end. It cost too much and competition
is driving prices down. If you get a print that is
bad, SEND IT BACK. You become their final inspector
and you work cheap. [Side note, there are still
lots of people out there that don't know a color
print can be printed in any color desired.]
2. Current printers in use scan the negatives, usually
in over 100 points. The resulting matrix is used
to color balance the print, computers everywhere.
They produce results that are outstanding, at over
12000 prints per hour. One person can run several
of the beasts.
3. Reprints are sometimes made on older printers, watch
the quality of reprints.
4. For stable results send your film to a large
photofinisher, find out where your film is going.
Remember that stores change their labs rather
fast. [And if money is no object use a small local
custom lab.]
Lots of luck. More information of color balance is easily
found in your local camera shop. (And there's this great school
in Rochester, N.Y. if you have a year and want to really learn
color.)
Paul Hyder {...tektronix!tekecs!hyder}