Correcting Color Casts

Prints made in the 1970s and 1980s often seem to suffer from a "color cast". The original prints looked fine, but over time certain colors disappear, leaving the print almost monochrome, and frequently faded. This is presumably due to incorrect fixation of the print, and whilst negatives may be unaffected, who can find thirty year old negatives when they need them?

The prints themselves usually contain sufficient information to enable a restoration of the original image. In this first example, left, the print had developed a strong orange cast, but was otherwise in good condition. The restored image is shown far left, with colors restored.

This photograph was in serious trouble. It was heavily discolored, and also very faded and dark. Nevertheless, sufficient information was still present to produce a pretty satisfactory restored image, in which the people can be clearly seen.

This photograph of a swampy pond had faded and turned rather yellow. Colors were restored, and the image was sharpened slightly, bringing out more detail of the foliage.

This is a photograph of Lanyon Quoit, a neolithic stone structure in Cornwall, U.K., dating from around 2500 BCE. It is thought to have formed the burial chamber of a long barrow. This photograph had faded and developed a green cast, and was also a little out of focus. Color corrected and sharpened, the structure is clearly visible, and its size apparent from the figure standing beside it (for devotees of Spinal Tap...)

A pink or purple cast is also commonly found in prints of the 70s and 80s. Here is an example - the proud owner and his first car - color corrected and sharpened.

Here is another example of a pink-tinged photograph. The thunder clouds look more ominous when corrected to their true color (pink thunder clouds - not too scary).