RichMurphy
Supporting Actor
A response from WB MPI regarding the question about registration of three-strip elements...
We still use the ‘Ultra Res’ software although it has been updated and retrofitted to accommodate 16-bit images.
Also, once archive became a consideration, the software was locked to a single block recombine. The software is capable of splitting the images up into up to 16 squares (called blocks). It can give you the appearance of a tighter recombine. The separate layers (Y, C & M) were shot together and intended to be recombined as whole images; if they’re not easily recombining, there’s something else going on with the scans. Speaking of which, the advancements in scanning and having true archival film scanners now, has made a huge difference for the recombine process. These scans are optically registered to the perfs of each record so it’s just a better starting place. And then HDR obviously adds an enormous amount when it comes to image quality of the final product. Finally, we do also have some newer software for recombines when there are areas we feel need tightening up, which can get the alignment slightly better (with some guidance), but it is way less consistent and can go off the rails quickly so we only use it on additional passes after the colorist reviews the original ‘Ultra-Res’ pass.
Mr. Harris, thank you SO MUCH for the followup to my post #24. I appreciate the additional information. With all the bad news out there, I am heartened by these developments, which can help save our cultural heritage in a quality unimaginable just a few decades ago.