Producing colorimetric data from film scanners using a spectral characterization target

With the increasing popularity of device-independent color reproduction systems, obtaining predictable data from color scanning devices plays an important role in both workflow productivity and maintaining consistency of color communication. A major obstacle lies in the fact that characteristics of scanners vary from one manufacturer to another and even across units of the same model. The problem is further complicated by the phenomenon of scanner metamerism. This paper describes the results of using an optical filter assembly to spectrally characterize a desktop film scanner. Together with effective spectral representation schemes for different media types, captured color across various scanners and media types can be made predictable and consistent.