Abstract: In a method and apparatus for conversion of color values of a color negative according to a positive/negative reversal function [Rp, Gp, Bp=f(Rn, Gn, Bn)] color values (Rn, Gn, Bn) for the three color components are acquired by optoelectronic scanning of a color negative in a color scanner. The image luminance value (BLr, BLg, BLb) and the image depth value (BTr, BTg, BTb) of the color negative as well as the corresponding density ranges (&Dgr;Dr, &Dgr;Dg, &Dgr;Db) are determined from the color values (Rn, Gn, Bn) in an image analysis unit for each color component. The positive/negative reversal function is determined in a calculating stage from the density ranges (&Dgr;Dr, &Dgr;Dg, &Dgr;Db) and a defined density range (&Dgr;D′). The positive/negative reversal function is deposited in a table memory as a value table. The color values (Rn, Gn, Bn) of the color negative are then converted into the color values (Rp, Gp, Bp) of the corresponding color positive with the stored value table.