Color reproduction of images from color films

Claim 1

A color photographic film element, comprising: a substrate and a plurality of image capture color photosensitive layers formed over the substrate, the substrate being divided into first and second regions with a scene image being captured in the first region; and a film processing and exposure conditions reference profile chart having patches including neutral patches ranging from white to black and color patches formed in the film element by exposure in the second region at a reference exposure prior to scene image capture, the color patches including information which permits the mapping of a digitized color image from a developed image captured in the color photosensitive layers to construct a color and density film to output device profile using the neutral patches ranging from white to black and the color patches to create a digital signal processing transform converting film color values to output device color values after scene image capture and having color management information usable in modifying the digital image by any digital device which is capable of using the profile to modify digital images for optimized presentation of the digital image and allowing processing to be customized from film element to film element.

Claim 3

A method of producing an improved digital image, comprising: scanning a color photographic film which includes an image and a test chart added to the film prior to the capturing of the image and the chart having patches including neutral patches ranging from white to black and color patches including color management information which permits the mapping of a digitized color image from a developed image captured in the color photosensitive layers; constructing a color and density profile using the neutral patches ranging from white to black and the color patches to create a digital signal processing transform converting film color values to output device color values after image capture from the scanned patches useable in modifying the digital image; and using the profile to modify the scanned digital image allowing film element by film element customized processing.

Claim 4

A method of producing an improved digital image, comprising: scanning a color photographic film which includes an image and a test chart added to the film prior to the capturing of the image and the chart having patches including neutral patches ranging from white to black and color patches including color management information which permits the mapping of a digitized color image from a developed image captured in the color photosensitive layers; constructing a color and density profile using the neutral patches ranging from white to black and the color patches to create a digital signal processing transform converting film color values to output device color values after image capture from the scanned patches useable in modifying the digital image; and using the profile to modify the scanned digital image allowing film element by film element customized processing.

Claim 9

A method of printing color digitized images produced from a developed color photographic film element having a captured image and a chart with patches formed in the color photographic film, the chart added to the film element prior to image capture, comprising: digitizing the patches wherein the patches define a test chart and include neutral patches ranging from white to black and color patches; building a color and density profile using the neutral patches ranging from white to black and the color patches to create a digital signal processing transform converting film color values to printing output device color values subsequent to image capture from the patches to include color management information to permit the printing of desired color and tone characteristics of the color digitized image; and using the profile to adjust signals sent to a digital printer which produces a print from the color digitized image allowing film element by film element customized processing.

Claim 10

A method of printing color digitized images produced from a developed color photographic film element having a captured image and a chart with patches formed in the color photographic film, the chart added to the film element prior to image capture, comprising: digitizing the patches wherein the patches define a test chart and include neutral patches ranging from white to black and color patches; building a color and density profile using the neutral patches ranging from white to black and the color patches to create a digital signal processing transform converting film color values to printing output device color values subsequent to image capture from the patches to include color management information to permit the printing of desired color and tone characteristics of the color digitized image; and using the profile to adjust signals sent to a digital printer which produces a print from the color digitized image allowing film element by film element customized processing.

Claim 11

A method for producing a color film element, comprising: providing on a substrate a plurality of image capture color photosensitive layers formed over the substrate; exposing a test chart having patches including neutral patches ranging from white to black and color patches onto the color film element which permits the use of color management information to map colors captured by the color film element to build a color and density profile using the neutral patches ranging from white to black and the color patches to create a digital signal processing transform converting film color values to printing output device color values to permit the printing of digitized images from developed color images; and capturing an image on the film element and with the profile allowing film element by film element customized processing.

Claim 12

A method for producing a color film element, comprising: providing on a substrate a plurality of image capture color photosensitive layers formed over the substrate; exposing a test chart having patches including neutral patches ranging from white to black and color patches onto the color film element which permits the use of color management information to map colors captured by the color film element to build a color and density profile using the neutral patches ranging from white to black and the color patches to create a digital signal processing transform converting film color values to printing output device color values to permit the printing of digitized images from developed color images; and capturing an image on the film element and with the profile allowing film element by film element customized processing.