I keep kicking around this dumb idea. I've already seen why it won't work. Well, in my limited knowledge I've seen some of the reasons it wouldn't work. Someone who knows more about film would probably see even more flaws in the idea.
Film is already DX coded. Why couldn't film have a color wheel at the beginning of each roll? Well, not a wheel, but a color band? ---- ---- ---- ---- And it would differ from roll type to roll type. Red would be a different red on some films (faster/slower ISO, etc.). But there would be an overall color standard that was used. That it could be compared to. That would work for setting a color standard on machines -- for doing compensation. The machine could be set to the known color band and then compensated for the differences in the band on that particular role. Only, it wouldn't show the exposure used. Drat. So I was thinking that the photographer could EXPOSE that built-in band, like in the first shot. Maybe against a white background. At this point I realized that I am trying to find a digital (computer solution) to an analog problem. Just too used to computers, where you can tackle the problem and come up with a hardware/software solution that can effectively standardize the solution. But it does seem that the technology of developing color negatives could be a bit better (more standardized) at this point in time. And even should be. Maybe standardization could just involve more standardization from lab to lab of having those newer machines that William mentioned. Anyway, thanks to everyone again. I am going to print out ALL the replies. Too much good info. to lose. Doe aka Marnie :-) And even though I like/understand computers, I still don't trust them. There are such things as hard disk crashes, dogs gnawing on cords, theft, and electrical black outs/brown outs.
