Modern films go through many stages of processing before the audience sees them on the screens. What is colorization and how does the process of coloring black and white films occur?

How is colorization carried out?

The development of computer technology has given the world digital colorization. Studios began to color films by marking the color shade in one frame (static picture on film).

Based on such a frame, the computer automatically copies the color scheme to images that are present in the editing frame. This process was invented by Brian Hunt and Wilson Markle.

Interesting fact: The digital colorization process was first applied in 1970, when it became necessary to color the images of the lunar surface and the moon itself during the Apollo program.

The easiest way to do digital colorization is from the original negative. To do this, a high-quality copy is removed from the film. Next, a mask of color schemes is formed. Here the colors can be distributed, for example, according to the level of gray color or the movement of the object.

The color mask inherent in the frame can be used as the basis for processing subsequent fragments. The final stage is the combination of a black and white base with flowers, and at the exit we will see a color film.

Initially, during the colorization, the films came out with faded, dim colors. However, with the development of computer technology, the situation improved significantly, and films began to look more believable.

To this day, a big problem of labor costs remains.After all, each frame must be divided into special zones, and each of them should be given a certain color.

Technology does not stand still and many companies are working on improving color coloration. For example, a technology was created that uses mechanisms to recreate the background and forms.

The technology is able to change the shape of the masks and move them from one frame to another. The background is painted separately, taking into account all the data that are responsible for the movement of the camera. After the background is completely ready, the usual application of masks of color schemes occurs.

These technologies use neural networks that can distinguish the boundaries of an object, as well as apply more saturated colors.

Coloring old movies

The colorization of old films became an interesting idea. In 2009, in particular, such well-known paintings as “Only the elderly go into battle” and “Seventeen Moments of Spring” gained color. At the same time, the films underwent a slight correction: some episodes became shorter, and some completely disappeared.

Interesting fact: The film “Seventeen Moments of Spring” contains more than 1 million frames. About 1,500 key ones were chosen among them, on the basis of which they painted the entire film.

“Seventeen Moments of Spring” has also undergone restoration - from the original it was converted to digital format and improved image quality. After these premieres, the mass colorization of Soviet films began: "Funny Guys", "Volga, Volga", "Officers" and many others.

Processing modern films

Modern movies are handled differently. Usually, the five most common schemes are used:

1. Complementary considered the most common. It is based on a combination of two opposite color schemes. It gives a believable picture, because the combination of warm and cold tones looks very harmonious.
2. Similar The scheme is often used to create a “cozy” picture. To avoid contrast, neighboring colors are used, and the picture comes out in the same style.
3. Trinity scheme - these are colors that are located at a certain distance. Here, one shade prevails over others. The color scheme does not have excessive saturation.
4. Split complementary sounds like the first, but instead of two shades, three are involved here. The contrast is preserved, but not very pronounced.
5. Tetraid The scheme is diverse and consists of 2 pairs of opposite tones. However, the main tone is one. The opposite color scheme gives emphasis, and the next pair complements. Such a scheme is rare in use, since it often overloads the frame.

Coloring of old films is based on key frames (static images of film strip). Specialists in the field of colorization select such frames and colors suitable for them. Then comes the turn of digital technology. A computer based on a given color scheme gives shades to other frames. In the future, the work is completed manually, changes are made to make the image look realistic.