Matching color balance between digital files (TIFF & JPEG)

[Pushkal Arora]

I posted a similar post some days ago asking about the scan quality of some negatives and thankfully I also got my answers. But one more similar question popped up in my digitisation process. As I earlier told I got some of my old C-41 color negatives scanned at 16-bit and set at the highest resolution with Noritsu lab. For some of the rolls the lab didn't got the colors right(Having green tint) and told aging as the reason.
Now I am arranging to get my leftover prints scanned and got confused whether I should get those prints scanned whose original negative scan (Scanned recently and years later than original prints) gave wrong color accuracy results. Because in terms of resolution, the TIFFS of scanned negatives are wayy better but in color accuracy the original prints are 100% accurate. Can someone help me ascertain whether it's possible to easily calibrate TIFF colors to a precise level of original prints? I have very basic knowledge of post-processing and I have no clue.
At bottom is the G-DIVE link. These are five TIFF and JPEGs pairs. JPEGs are original prints shot through a phone camera to give the idea of original colors when the rolls were developed two decades ago. Each pair has the same name except one is starting with TIFF and one is starting with JPEG.

NOTE:- I am having HARDEST time with calibrating colors if TIFF Roll 1 Picture 2 with it's JPEG counterpart.

Scanned Tiffs and original prints

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

I looked at one of these, and I would not bother with the TIFFs. They're bad. Really bad, with a lot of color crossover that is impossible to fix. I'm a very good editor and the best I could do with it still looked awful. Here's my best result with the TIFF:

The JPEG was actually easier to edit. I got pretty good results with it:

If you want the full-size layered PSD files that I created, let me know and I'll put them on my server and PM a download link to you.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Chris: how did you edit? What program?

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

As an aside, my Epson V600 and V850 flatbed scanners have a color correction editing button that really improves the colors of old prints that have faded. Also, the scanner has ICE which corrects dust, lines, minor cracks on old prints as well. It's not perfect. But improves on the original print a lot.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Chris: how did you edit? What program?

Photoshop. I used curves adjustment layers. Because I was finding that getting correct color in the light tones made the dark tones look bad, and correcting the color balance of the dark tones made the light tones look bad, I had to use some unusual curve shapes, lightening one of the three curves colors (the primaries red, blue, and green) in the light tones and darkening the same color in the dark tones, or vice-versa. All three of the primary colors required this kind of treatment. The TIFF versions that the OP uploaded were so bad that even this couldn't fix them but it worked on the JPEG version, which was not a screwed up.

 

[Pushkal Arora]

I looked at one of these, and I would not bother with the TIFFs. They're bad. Really bad, with a lot of color crossover that is impossible to fix. I'm a very good editor and the best I could do with it still looked awful. Here's my best result with the TIFF:


View attachment 323225


The JPEG was actually easier to edit. I got pretty good results with it:


View attachment 323224



If you want the full-size layered PSD files that I created, let me know and I'll put them on my server and PM a download link to you.

Thank you very much for your help. I will opt for scanning my prints by reading about these problems with my negatives. Your review of these scans really does matter to me and made my decision to scan prints far easier.
Sorry for late reply.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Scanning prints are fine for the web. But if you plan on reprinting them, especially if larger, you really need to scan the film.

 

[jtk]

Pushcal, just scan the prints as JPEG, that will keep the process as simple as possible. Ignore the negatives.

Correcting print images is easier than scanning film images.

JPEG loses nothing except when you make multiple corrections. You probably want to increase contrast to compensate for the film's obvious issues

Nice image!

 

[gone]

Can someone help me ascertain whether it's possible to easily calibrate TIFF colors to a precise level of original prints?

No. That's the short answer anyway. I mean, just about anything is possible, but when you factor in differences in monitors (calibrated or not, your room lighting is just one of many factors), just fix things up like you want them and call it a day. This is the sort of thing could go on and on forever. Load up your camera w/ film, and go make some photos.

 

[jtk]

momus is right..."precise" is impossible, but "reasonably close" is easy. Very simple Photoshop adjustments. If you can't use PS you should pay somebody who can.

Don't try to adjust with scanner, adjust print only using Photoshop. Fiddling with scanner adjustments is a huge waste of emotion.

The original neg/slide is likely to be very badly processed/stored so the job will be to re-create something that isn't in the film, if it ever was.

 

[brbo]

Very simple Photoshop adjustments.

I'm no PS wizard, but I would LOVE to see anyone get a decent final image from the negative scans that OP posted here.

Shouldn't take much work if it just a few simple PS adjustments...