The Kodak Shirley Card - Aperion True Balance- Scanning with Purpose in 2025
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skin tone corrected by eye then overall color corrected using a curves adjustment layer to grey balance off the card then use the layer mask reveal the correct skin tone
1975 Ektacolor - 35mm
The negative has a yellow stain band across the image likely due to dye shifting over the years - dry scanned on Epson V850 using TruView Museum glass atop the Epson Fluid mounting adapter that sits above the platen.
2½x3½ guide print included printed on Kodak paper stock from 1975
scanning a 50+ year old color negative reveals challenges in creating an optimal color balance. Ektacolor film was C-41 process. It was difficult to get a pleasing skin tone on the subject while maintaining neutrality in the overall color. The grey background and card next to model appear red according to RGB readings. When attempting to neutralize and force it with equal RGB colors, the skin tones shift noticeably cyan and green. I prefer the warmer skin, but there is a red shift in the hair.
So how do these 50 year old color printing balance negatives help with with scanning film in 2025?
Film scanning with Silverfast Ai Studio 9
Linear Scan in Photoshop - Curves adjustment for density - Grey balance eye dropper off grey patch
Negafix: Kodak VR 100 and Pipette neutral off of the grey card
Original C-22 Negative and Original Print 1966
Kodak Ektacolor/Kodacolor X Shirley Card 1963
Kodak Ektacolor/Kodacolor X Shirley Card 1963
I made my own balance card using a 12x18 piece of grey felt from a craft store as the background. I placed a Kodak Color Control Patch and DataColor Spyderchecker 24 chart on the felt and made an exposure on Kodak Ultramax 400 35mm film. I processed in my home lab with Cinestill C-41. Scanned on the Epson V850 Pro. I can now use this scan to create a custom "Negafix" channel in Silverfast Ai Studio 9.
The Aperion True Balance 2
The Aperion True Balance 2
This system was manufactured by Aperion. The 35mm negative included grey patches and color patches with CMY and RGB with 2 flesh tones blocks and a mannequin. Aperion made these for almost every film type manufactured in the late 1990's through around 2005. There were sold individually or in tri-fold kits with popular film stocks. Kodak Gold 100 or Gold 200 was the "lab standard" that was used for color balancing the RA-4 color printer line. They were available in "Normal" for standard "box speed" exposure and one stop underexposed. and one stop overexposed. If anyone still has any these Aperion Kits or individual negatives for sale, please contact me. I would love to purchase! I can't locate any information about his company in 2025
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