Lasergraphics Scanners - How To?

[Roland]

With an AviSynth filter, I can achieve this. There’s nothing wrong with lowering the saturation in this example.

If AviSynth isn’t your cup of tea, there’s a small piece of software called “Film9,” version 3.2.

http://www.gratilog.net/xoops/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?cid=150&lid=3221

This outdated software is no longer supported and installing it may cause you problems, but if you don’t run into any issues, it automatically handles the color correction. However, color depth is limited, and the resolution must not exceed Full HD.

[PM490]

@Roland

With an AviSynth filter, I can achieve this.

Very nice results @Roland
I have not used AviSynth. I looked at it a long ago, but now I see that there is Avisynth+ with high bit-depth and other interesting improvements.

[Roland]

I’m already using AviSynth+ and only the x64 DLLs. Don’t expect miracles.

You can indeed get resolutions beyond Full HD, but the speed isn’t great.

The filter that works wonders for color is the GamMac filter—I think that’s the only real positive. The downside is that setting all this up is a bit of a hassle and takes quite a long time to learn.

[PM490]

After a bit more testing/work, here is what I got out of Resolve.

[DPXTIF]

That looks great, how did you achieve that result?

[PM490]

@DPXTIF let me start for sharing my typical Resolve 19 to work in a wide color space. Then the particulars for the image (nodes 2 - node 4).

The purpose of the project settings and timeline nodes is to correct in a linear wide color space, and only convert -at the final timeline node- to the output color space and output gamma.
All corrector nodes are all operating on linear data on a wide color space.
Important: On all Nodes adjust the Soft Clip as highlighted in the Third Node to avoid dark / light clipping or distortion. If Soft clipping is needed apply only at the final corrector node of the clip.

Project Settings: Color Space & Transforms
Color science: Davinci YRGB
[x} Use separate color space and gamma
Timeline color space: Davinci WG - Linear
Output color space: Rec.709 - Gamma 2.4

Color tab, node section - Timeline
Setup a Color Space Transform Node (CST)
Input Color Space: Davinci Wide Gamut
Input Gamma: Linear
Output Color Space: Rec 709
Output Gamma: Gamma 2.4

Color tab, node section, Clip node

First Node
Set the input to the content color space
Set the output to Davinci Wide Gamut - Linear

In this particular case, I am using the jpeg downloaded from the forum so the Input Color Space was set to sRGB - Gamma 2.4.

Second Node - DEFADE
Using only the GAMMA Primary Color Wheel, adjust in the direction opposite to the predominant color of the fade until the RGB parade looks about balanced and centered.

Third Node - CURVE
Using Custom Curves, adjust as needed to fine-tune color fading. In the same node, increase Saturation and slightly adjust Hue to align skin color to vector-skin-color marker.

Fourth Node - FINE TUNE
Small adjustments in Primaries - Color Wheels, Offset, Gain, Gamma, Saturation, and Hue to obtain desired final colors. For Offset, Gain, and Gamma, it will require multiple iterations until all three achieve the desired color.

Hint: The vectorscope All - Low - Mid - High is your friend when fine tuning balance (centering Offset, Gamma, and Gain) on the fourth node.

Hope this helps.

[DPXTIF]

When setting up the “Defade” node, my result is noticeably darker than yours. The input color space for the MOV transfer is Rec.709, so I used that instead of sRGB

[PM490]

@DPXTIF

noticeably darker than yours

Do you have the timeline node converting color spaces and gamma from davinci wg - linear to what you wish to output (Rec709 Gamma 2.4?)

[DPXTIF]

Like this?

[PM490]

Yes. You should now see similar levels than what is shown in the step by step.
The timeline node applies to all clips.
If you still see big difference in the clip levels compared with illustrations, confirm what gamma encoding is used in the MOV.

[DPXTIF]

I’m still not getting the exact result shown in your step-by-step when starting out with the Defade node. Input color space is BT.709 but I still don’t know the gamma. I’ve been using BT.709 but my result is still too dark. Perhaps providing a sample of the ProRes scan will help things?

[PM490]

One way to find out details of the file is using mediainfo. If you like to share a small clip I can check it out.

[DPXTIF]

Her’s a small clip: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mPBgQMfRBNrU75GyOZfaxnTvF7OqBkqA/view?usp=share_link

[PM490]

The sample file is Rec709.

Applying the same nodes in the example above (even with Gamma 2.4) the output was good… so not sure why you are unable to get there.

I regraded starting with 709/709, In the link is a video showing the Resolve settings.

DPXTIF - Google Drive

The key in the corrector defade is to stretch down the red waveform while keeping green and blue. When all three look about the same, adjust gain and offset to get the necessary range.
Important: Make sure the Soft Clip (Low and High) settings are as depicted, the corrector nodes default is to have soft clipping in the middle.
The fine tune node adjusts each color curve slightly to maintain color balance for lows, middle and highs.

It takes a bit of practice and many iterations, but you can get there.

[DPXTIF]

EDIT: I realized that you had the Lift for Red at 0.06 in the Defade node. I did that and the colors now seem accurate. I’ll keep working with it.

I reset all settings to follow along with the initial post and the video.

• Project settings were correct.
• Timeline node settings were correct.
• CST clip node settings were correct.

But when I get to that second node, that’s where things start becoming incorrect. In your video, the RGB parade shows almost even colors. When I add the node, G and B seem correct, but R is wildly incorrect with the same settings.

[DPXTIF]

I think I got it!

[PM490]

@DPXTIF

I reset all settings to follow along with the initial post and the video

Keep in mind that on the initial post I was going from RGB/Gamma 2.4 (jpeg image), in the video is from 709/709. So two different settings.

If you use the posting, and keep the Color Space Transform source as RGB/Gamma 2.4, the colors will be ok with the sample.mov.

But since the sample is encoded as 709/709, I did a new setup (in the screen video)

[DPXTIF]

I made sure to use 709/709 and kept the CST settings the same. I’m very happy with how the result looks. Thanks for the extensive information and help! I’m looking forward to trying this with more faded film scans.

[DPXTIF]

I’d like some feedback on this.

[friolator]

too magenta. You can see in the skin tone. The I-Line on your vectorscope is critical here. Get that more or less lined up, and you should be good.

When you’ve got the skin tones balanced, you should see the white along the edges of the film in a dramatically different olor.