Abstract: A method of scanning cinematographic film to produce digital images corresponding to images on frames of the film is provided, comprising the steps of: scanning the film and storing the digital images obtained; defining a first set of appearance attribute corrections to be applied to the images; storing a first set of appearance attribute correction parameters corresponding to the first set of appearance attribute corrections; defining at least one further set of appearance attribute corrections to be applied to the corrected images; storing a set of appearance attribute correction parameters corresponding to the or each of the further sets of appearance attribute corrections; and applying each of the stored sets of appearance attribute correction parameters to the stored images at one time.

Abstract: A system for scanning cinematographic film so as to produce digital images corresponding to the images on frames of the film is provided. The system includes means for scanning the film, means for displaying the digital images obtained by scanning the film, and image processing means. The image processing means includes means for adjusting the appearance attributes of the digital images obtained and further includes (a) means for displaying the output signal level versus time in graphical form for the images obtained, and/or (b) means for displaying the luminance, chrominance and saturation of the images obtained in graphical form on polar axes.

Abstract: A method of scanning frames of cinematographic film to generate digital values of pixels constituting images on the film frames is provided in which pixels corresponding to defects on the film are identified and the values of such pixels are adjusted to compensate for the defects, the identification of the pixels corresponding to defects on the film being carried out by identifying pixels whose value is beyond a predetermined threshold. A method of correcting for flicker in digital images obtained by scanning cinematographic film is also provided. This method comprises the steps of identifying frames in which flicker is present; identifying relatively bright regions in those frames whose brightness is above a predetermined level, and correcting digital pixels in those relatively bright regions so as to compensate for the effect of flicker.

Abstract: A method for the digital manipulation of a video image, in which an object is located and replaced by another object. To account for ambient lighting effects, a base set of appearance parameter values for the first object is determined, such as average values of hue, saturation and luminance. Selected regions of the object are analysed and in respect of each selected region the extent to which actual appearance parameter values deviate from the base set of apparatus parameter values is determined. The method includes storing data representation of the positions of the regions and the respective deviations from the base set of values. The first object is replaced by a second object, and the method then includes the step of applying to regions of the second object adjustments to appearance parameter values by reference to the stored data.

Abstract: A method for transferring images from cinematographic film to video media. The method uses a telecine machine which is associated with a digital storage device and a modification device is used to modify image data during transfer to video media. Accordingly, an operator may select a sequence of frames on the film and modify the image.

Abstract: A method of controlling a telecine machine to produce an exposure log of cinematographic film, comprising the steps of: using a telecine machine to generate video images from the cinematographic film, and displaying the video images on a monitor; generating timecode data for frames of the cinematographic film; generating image adjustment control data to adjust image parameters of the video images generated by the telecine machine so as to produce video images of a desired quality; using the image adjustment control data to generate exposure level information for frames of the cinematographic film; and logging in a film exposure logging system timecode data and exposure level information for frames of the cinematographic film so as to provide the exposure log. In one arrangement the cinematographic film is negative cinematographic film and the exposure log is used to generate exposure compensation printing settings for frames of the negative cinematographic film.

Abstract: A method of using telecine apparatus to scan cinematographic film made up of individual image frames. Each frame is scanned a number of times using detected light to generate corresponding image data. Each sub-scanned portion within a frame adjoins another sub-scanned portion to enable reproduction of the complete frame by piecing-together data from the sub-scanned portions to produce data corresponding to the complete frame. To help ensure that no positional anomalies are present between adjoining sub-scans, a correlation step is carried out to identify a correlated alignment in position between data corresponding to adjoining subscans. The data from the subscans used in the correlation step is then adjusted to optimize spatial alignment between the data corresponding to the sub-scans. The correlation and adjustment of the subscan data sets may be repeated so that all of the sub-scans in a frame are optimally aligned in space, enabling the sub-scans to be combined into the complete image frame.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a magnetic or optical disc 1, a disc controller 2, and a main data processing unit 5 communicating with the controller by means on an interface 6. The controller 2 comprises an internal processing unit which receives requests from the main data processing unit 5 for data to be read from the disc 1, and controls retrieval of the data from the disc 1 and transmission of data to the main data processing unit 5 via the interface 6. The controller 2 further comprises a buffer 3 for data read from the disc 1 prior to transmission to the main data processing unit 5. The controller 2 also comprises a look-up table 4 for modifying the data read from the disc 1 in accordance with predetermined. modification criteria prior to transmission to the main data processing unit 5. The system may be used in colour processing of image data, with the disc controller providing primary colour correction.