Production of second-generation camera-original control tool

Abstract

A method of predictably producing accurate photoprocessing reference image tool photographs to be used for adjusting the parameters of photographic devices, in which a first-generation camera-original image of a scene containing preselected background and subject content is photographed onto a first photographic recording medium. A second first-generation camera-original image of charts containing photoprocessing parameter control information is photographed under the same conditions as the first exposure, onto a second photographic recording medium. The first image is photodigitized into a first digitized image which is stored in a primary digital image data metric in a digital image data base. One or more parameters of the first digitized image are selectively adjusted. Photoprocessing control element(s) (e.g., calibration patch(es)), whose characteristics are derived from analysis of the second first-generation camera-original image of the charts, is digitally inserted onto the first digitized image to produce a composite digital image. The composite digital image is selectively adjusted and digitally recorded onto a photographic recording medium via a digital output recording device. The composite image that has been recorded, as a transparency, on the photographic recording medium is backlit and photographed. Photographs taken of the composite image transparency obtained are then developed to provide second-generation camera-original photoprocessing control tool photographs whose frequency response, tone and color characteristics are indistinguishable from those of a first-generation camera-original photograph on the same film type.