8mm Forum: Anyone use a filter for faded prints?

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Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on July 23, 2012, 10:56 PM:

I know this has occasionally been mentioned but I failed to find anything via a search. I know people have differing views but I once saw a filter used on a faded print at the BFCC and I think it improved the look of it. Does anyone use any sort of readily available filter that they can recommend?

Posted by Allan Broadfield (Member # 2298) on July 24, 2012, 02:04 AM:

Having worked in the sensitometric control dept of several labs, I had access to colour correction filters both for printing and filming, and found limited success in correcting my faded prints. When used in the lab this was called subtractive printing, which was rightly named, as it reduced the amount of light dramatically. Using in projection the light loss was so marked that any success in correcting the colour was mostly lost.
Would be interested also in any suggestions

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on July 24, 2012, 03:39 AM:

I still have some of the professional Gels used in stage and film
work and find them very effectivein rectifying the colour of faded
and red print. Red prints are a problem,but using these filters
does remove the "fire" and make them at least watchable.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on July 24, 2012, 07:03 AM:

I have tried using cyan or blue filters when projecting severely faded prints and I found that it essentially turns the print into a black and white picture on the screen.

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on July 24, 2012, 08:01 AM:

No, the gels I use Paul give very acceptable results,and that is
a light blue and yellow combination that brings back flesh tones
and greens to foliage,the only give away is a green tinge to blue
skies,but small price to pay to get away from washed out colour.
I have seen some prints done on Youtube with a blue filter and
it does look like b/w, I prefer the red print to that.I have used these for a number of years now, and am quite happy with the
results knowing that a faded print can at least look like like
Duocolor,the cheapo answer to Technicolor from Hollywood.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on July 24, 2012, 09:25 AM:

Adrian,

Here's a review of Wittner's Color Rebalance Filter. The comments after the review also have information about filtering faded prints.

Doug

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on July 24, 2012, 09:52 AM:

Very informative post Doug,but I think I'll stick with my gels, they
give results comparable with Wittners glass and were a lot
cheaper, plus I can mix n' match.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 24, 2012, 12:02 PM:

I wouldn't mind finding one of those Wittner filters!

Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on July 24, 2012, 06:05 PM:

I use a basic blue/cyan filter that I found on eBay, a thin layer of coloured plastic. It's made for B&H 16mm projectors, but fits my ELMOs quite nicely.

I've had variable results, and would love to try a proper gel filter instead.

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on July 25, 2012, 09:44 AM:

For me filters are just ok on red 16mm prints, but make the image too dark on super 8 prints...I prefer bright glorious red!

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 25, 2012, 12:46 PM:

Glorious Red? [Big Grin]

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on July 25, 2012, 06:20 PM:

Many thanks for all the replies. If someone is just going to own one filter, it must be hard to beat the Wittner, but this looks like it could be a good buy for anyone with very limited funds:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cromatek-Colour-Color-Cyan- C7-C-7-Cokin-NEW-/230820788850?pt=Camera_Filters&hash=item35bdfdba72

Incidentally, regarding mounting, I'd mostly use a filter with a 16mm projector with a scope bracket permanently attached, so I'm thinking in terms of putting some Blu-tac round the edge of the scope bracket!

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