Kodak Portra 160VC

[NYArtboy]

Hey all, I finally had a chance to lift my head up from shooting to ask this question. I have been busy shooting away with my recent RB67 addition and having a great time with it. I will start posting some stuff this week for sure.

My question is right now I am scanning in my own negatives with a CanoScan 8800F. Its a fine scanner for the price and I can get a full resolution B&W scan of a 6x7 format negative up to about 44" and it looks awesome. I am actually showing 2 prints (42x32 and 32x24) from the scanner at an art show this week.

My problem is when I am scanning color. I am not sure I am getting the true color from the film. I usually scan with every feature of the scanner off so that it doesn't try and 'adjust' on its own. I shot 2 rolls of Kodak Portra 160vc last week and I probably should have gotten a contact sheet but I decided not to. Now I am wondering if I should have because I am not sure about the overall tone of the scans I am getting. I used the vc version witch is supposed to be 'vibrant color'.

Does anyone know the proper charateristics of this film. Do they tend to be warm or cold? Anyone with a sample scan of this film from a drum scanner or equivalent that I can make my own judgement from? I checked the kodak site but its all a bunch of marketing huey.

Any help would be great!

[drg]

Have you profiled your scanner?

You will need to shoot a color checker chart/card (such as one from Gretag MacBeth) on the film in question then scan that negative and at minimum go through a color matching/correction process in Photoshop or editor of your choice to build a profile.

This usually works best by taking a photo of the color card under the same light as part of the actual shoot.

This is a saturated or Vivid film, i.e. not a 'true color' film. It is meant to be bright and pretty and accentuate colors for scanning and printing purposes. It is O.K. for skin tones, but not my favorite. This film generally to be used in what is often called flat lighting. Good if not high contrast with wide exposure possibility/latitude. The KODAK web sites do give technical information if you dig through them long enough, or search.

Your best answers may come from a PORTA authorized shop, who maintains a calibrated processing 'channel'. I've seen these films come out beautifully and also just like any other color film.

It is a combo of color matching (after processing the light used to expose the print has to also be correct) and the best paper.

[NYArtboy]

Makes perfect sense now and I understand. My question should have been phrased how can I get as close to lab color and print from my scanner and doing a profile with a color card would help me know what I am getting and not just from Portra but any color film. If I can at least get good working color scans at home I can keep my budget tight and still produce true images.

Thanks so much! Good advice!