That hoary subject again . Film fade !

[David Hardy]

It may just be me but no matter how hard i try i simply cannot watch or collect film prints that have now lost their colour . Filters do not do it for me no matter what the film title or how rare the title may be on any film gauge . I am at the moment about to start checking my collection and weed out any of these rogue prints for disposal . I may throw them out or sell them on but i will decide for sure later when i come to crossing that bridge .

[Dave Bickford]

When I recently re-ignited my interest in Super 8, I bought several color prints. Sadly, ALL of them are badly faded. One is literally just pink with no hint of any other color. I quickly learned to buy only B&W prints. 🤷

[Osi Osgood]

Well Dave, it's just a matter of making sure that you demand recent screenshots of the desired film. For instance, most, almost all of the prints of the Empire Strikes Back 2X400ft are faded or badly faded, but there were a few prints struck on LPP film stock, and those prints are A OK and have lovely color, so it's just a matter of caution. That, and, amazingly, there are color treatment processes that can, if the fade is not too poorly, can literally restore darn near mint color, for a price of course, but it's something that I honestly never thought possible, thanks to Alberto.

[Melvin England]

David - That is a very tough discipline to abide by and, indeed, tough love if one of your favourite films has fade and has to fall by the wayside. It does leave you, though, with a first class collection in terms of colour / wear and tear which is to be applauded.

However, the toleration of faded prints is certainly an emotive subject with opinion ranging from your rigid standard of no fade, right across to David Baker's print toleration with his "red print theater" collection.

I don't think either is wrong. It is very pleasurable to be able to project film with perfect colour but also a joy to see those classic images from classic films projected on the big screen even where the colour leaves a lot to be desired. I would rather tolerate a good print with a loss of colour than a badly scratched colourful film.
As you may gather, my collection contains both colour and colour fade films. I do draw the line at total pink or worse, red. Indeed, I had to dig out and say farewell to one of my favourite 400'ers "The Bridge on The River Kwai" as it became total red. Strangely enough, I put it on Ebay with a full description explaining the colour issue, at a low price and DID sell it with 5-star feedback later. So somebody still wants them! (I don't think I have ever come across a copy of "Kwai" with what can be called decent colour).

If you ARE weeding out your "slight fade" copies, please sell them on via this forum or Ebay. Somebody WILL buy them and, for me, just like with vinyl records, throwing in the dumpster is just totally against my ethics.

VS is another matter........

[Douglas Meltzer]

It all depends on the title. If I like the film, I can tolerate the fade. That doesn't mean that I won't be on the lookout for a better print.

[Brian Fretwell]

Just don't show an unfaded print in the middle of faded ones, our eyes adapt to give a good colour balance and after some time they start to boost the faded colours. That's how we see well in both cloudy daylight and candle light.

[Osi Osgood]

Douglas, could we be speaking of the infamous Dr. Cyclops? I don't think that one even had passable color to begin with!

[Douglas Meltzer]

Osi,

You're right about the color on Dr. Cyclops. That was practically sepia to begin with!

[Dave Bickford]

Well Dave, it's just a matter of making sure that you demand recent screenshots of the desired film.

I eventually did start asking for screenshots. For example, I wanted to replace my lost copy of "Earthquake". I found it for sale on eBay so I asked for a screenshot. It was very red so I passed on the purchase.

[Osi Osgood]

Good man! You are on the path to acquiring vintage color prints as a habit and not by accident! It's much better to get one good color print, than myriads of frustrating faded prints, beyond that, it's far better to pay a good deal more for one unfaded print, than boo koo bucks for a lot of faded junk! Being patient, you will save money in the end, as well as have a good print for resale, that you could possibly make all of your investment back on and, perhaps, more!

[Oliver Feld]

My Frank Langella DRACULA print is red and I was very sad about it. But the scope image is so amazing that I thought, the fade matches with the film. I keep it and I fully agree with Douglas: „That doesn't mean that I won't be on the lookout for a better print.“

[David Hardy]

To be fair i suppose looking back before fade set in some of the colour copies on 8mm and Super 8mm were not that good anyway and left a lot to be desired when compared with a good 16mm or 35mm print .

[Osi Osgood]

That's quite true, David. I think my personal favorite for iffy prints from a good company, is Universal 8. Sometimes, it is hard to tell if you have a vintage color print or if it's the poor quality control from the head office. Some of those later digests, whether the 2X400ft or 1X400ft, can have spot on color for one sequence, and then have poor or barely passable color for the next sequence, or even the next shot in a sequence. The Blues Brother digest is a case in point. A lot of the early scenes have poor color, then you go from them driving in the mall parking lot to the shot of a fellow holding a muppet, asking "Do you have Miss Piggy?", and suddenly, the color is absolutely spot on, and it wasn't an issue with the source material, as the letterboxing/black bars, also show the color change, going from a pure black, to a brown or a reddish brown or flat out pink, with no cuts or splices on your digest. It's just THAT was they're iffy quality

[Mike Newell]

Osi,

You're right about the color on Dr. Cyclops. That was practically sepia to begin with!

Dr Cyclops in colour now that is funny. Remember a collector obtaining a new sealed super 8 print in the mid 1980s. When he opened and played it was as faded as all the others. I bought a eBay dvd of Cycops which orgininated from the recent Blu Ray and the print is stunning. Think the Blu Ray is still sill price. Imagine paying £30 plus for a film 😂😂😂

[Chip Gelmini]

I don’t like fade either. It doesn’t harm the movie other than color loss. So if you can tolerate it – then sit back and relax to enjoy the movie.

Among my faded prints is a copy of HEDDA with Glenda Jackson. It has gone brownish. Seems strange that in my opinion, the fade actually works because the story is a period piece. The story could have taken place late 1800’s or early 1900’s. This being said, if true color it would be gorgeous.