Motion picture telecine balanced for negative scanning

摘要

A motion picture telecine scanner interposes a motion picture negative or print film (10) in an optical light path (12) between a light source (14) and a pickup stage (16) that develops a plurality of separate color output signals (R, G, B). By balancing the scanner so that the pickup stage provides substantially equivalent output levels in the respective colors for color transmissions substantially equivalent to like transmissions through the base density of a negative film, substantial signal-to-noise performance is realized during negative scanning. The base density is provided during a calibration mode by an optical filter (44) that is inserted into the light path with the motion picture film removed. In addition, the optical filter (44) is kept in the light path (12) during motion picture print scanning without any loss in signal-to-noise performance.