A Multispectral Scanning and Post-Processing Workflow for Historical Film Colors
A multispectral digitization workflow that uses a uniform distribution of spectral bands across the visible spectrum can significantly improve results and provide reliable documentation of heterogeneous archival color film stocks. It also enhances versatility for innovative renderings compatible with future projection technologies. Reducing subjective interventions in film digitization remains a cornerstone of restoration ethics. Multispectral scanning directly leverages the information embedded in historical film stocks, enabling a robust, material-based technology that respects the unique properties of each film element. An integrated multispectral digitization and post-processing chain supports physically accurate rendering of scans by including measurements from various cinema projection illuminants. The goal of this workflow is to represent the color appearance as it would have been perceived on the cinema screen. Building on more than a decade of research into the technology and aesthetics of historical film colors and scanning, we have integrated this knowledge into a practical solution.
- Print ISSN
- 1545-0279
- Electronic ISSN
- 2160-2492
- Published
- 2026-07
- Content type
- Original Research
- Keywords
- digitization, multispectral scanning, film color, color science, cultural heritage
- DOI
- 10.5594/JMI.2026/GWFJ9049