Color Correcting Damaged Film

“If you don’t think photography is important, wait until photos are the only thing you have left.”

We’ll be diving deep into color theory, photo editing, and color correction through color curves and artificial intelligence workflows in Adobe Lightroom. A general understanding of color theory and photography will be helpful in this conversation.

As a child, I was babysat by my grandma every day.

I would gaze at the large shelves housing books, VHS tapes, and vinyls that she would collect throughout her life. The very top shelf was home to about forty identical boxes. It wasn’t until 2023 that I realized that they were boxes of Kodak slide decks that housed anywhere from 80 to 160 color-positive film slides. Thousands of individual memories were unlocked such as my father’s youth, my grandparent’s wedding day, what parties looked like in the seventies, and much more.

I was able to scan each photograph and relive the memories of my family while sharing them with the subjects who were still alive, allowing them to relive their youth 50 years later.

Now that we have mass storage available through hard drives the method of storing photos is fundamentally different than how it originated, allowing us to preserve history in a much more efficient way.

Photography started with a chemical process in which photons are physically remembered through photographic film. The downside of this is that throughout time, improper storage can lead to damaged film. Variables such as heat, humidity, and exposure to sunlight are some examples of what can cause film to be altered such as the image in our example.

If you happen to come across old film like me, I will show you how to restore it so that the emotions are closer to how they were when it was captured.

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

1. You can use select Filter>Neural Filters>Colorize. This one-click method utilizes artificial intelligence to guess what the image should look like.

   • PROS: Quick and easy. Ideal for high-volume edits. It gives you a great foundation to work off of.

   • CONS: Not as much fine control.

ADOBE LIGHTROOM

Color Curves

There is the Y Curve and the RGB Curves. The Y Curve focuses on the dark to bright elements of the photograph; it will adjust the luminance contrast of the image. The RGB curves are going to be the tools that shift color in the global sense. In our example, we pushed more blue into the image through the red curve to offset the prominent red that is prevalent in the image.

Lightroom AI

Lightroom has a great method of quickly selecting elements within a photograph with a precise mask. I will use this to mask out the subject and background and correct general contrast and major edit changes. It can even identify people within it and make precise selections such as skin, hair, clothes, etc. This is very useful when we are ensuring that details such as skin tones and other elements appear natural.

Additional AI

Other software such as Topaz Photo AI is also a great means to upscaling a photograph if the initial was not high resolution. There are means to color correcting in this software as well which may be useful for high-volume projects. I prefer to manually do it in Lightroom because I get better results when I do it myself.

Some additional tips:

Store in a Cool and Dry Place:

• Keep the film in a cool and dry environment. High temperatures and humidity can accelerate the degradation of film material.

1. Avoid Extreme Temperatures:

   • Do not store film in places with extreme temperatures, such as attics or basements. Optimal temperature is around 65°F (18°C).

2. Control Humidity:

   • Maintain a humidity level between 30-50%. High humidity can lead to mold growth, while low humidity can make the film brittle.

3. Use Archival Storage Materials:

   • Store film in archival-quality sleeves, boxes, or containers. These materials are designed to protect against environmental factors.

4. Handle with Clean Hands:

   • Before touching the film, wash and dry your hands thoroughly to avoid transferring oils and dirt. Handle film by the edges to minimize contact with the emulsion.

5. Keep Away from Light:

   • Protect film from direct sunlight and artificial light. Exposure to light over time can cause fading and deterioration.

6. Store Upright:

   • Store film reels or canisters upright to prevent warping. Avoid stacking them, as this can lead to compression and damage.

7. Regular Inspection:

   • Periodically check the condition of the film. Look for signs of deterioration, discoloration, or mold. If any issues are detected, take necessary steps to address them.

8. Digitize for Backup:

   • Consider digitizing the film to create a backup copy. Digital formats are easier to store and share, and they can be preserved indefinitely if stored properly.

9. Consult Professionals:

   • If the film is already showing signs of deterioration, consult with professionals who specialize in film restoration and preservation.

10. Avoid Magnetic Fields:

    • If you have motion picture film such as 8mm or 16mm, keep film away from strong magnetic fields, as they can damage the magnetic audio tracks on some formats.

11. Follow Manufacturer's Recommendations:

    • If the film comes with specific storage recommendations from the manufacturer, follow them diligently for optimal preservation.