CineStill has introduced a new calibrated light source — the CS-LITE+ SpectraCOLOR™ — designed for digital camera scanning setups.
Using a poor light source when scanning film with a digital camera can lead to problems. Colors may look dull or develop an incorrect color cast that is difficult to fully correct. The best outcomes are achieved with light sources that combine color LEDs in a finely tuned manner to mimic natural, full-spectrum lighting as closely as possible.
CineStill's latest light source design has been completely reimagined to enhance color accuracy specifically for film scans captured with digital cameras: “The CS-LITE+ converts the light from ultra-bright single-band LEDs into targeted multispectral wavelengths. It operates via a standard 5V/1.5A USB cable and features a single dimmable on/off switch, with three modes for Color Negative, Black & White, and Slide film.”
According to CineStill, their innovation offers superior results compared to many existing high-quality light sources on the market: “Most currently available light sources aren’t specifically designed for film scanning and often fail, even with high CRI, due to inadequate control and generic design. These sources can cause color cross-talk, resulting in diminished contrast, lower saturation, and unwanted color casts in scanned images. The CS-LITE+ provides spectrally-optimized light that produces only the precise, ultra-narrowband wavelengths needed for scanning color negative film—something traditional LED technology cannot achieve. This methodology aligns the color channels of digital capture with the distinct color layers of film, making authentic film scans a reality.”
The package will also include various filter gels for further optimization according to the type of film (black-and-white/color-negative/color-positive) and a mask to minimize reflections from the sides during the scanning process. It is compatible with film carriers from VALOI, Negative Supply, Lomography, and others. As anticipated, it will work seamlessly with popular film negative inversion software, such as film Q (analog.cafe/app/filmq).
The development of this new light took the company three years of research and experimentation.
CS-LITE+ is now available for $89.95 as an introductory price at cinestillfilm.com, with more information and examples provided. Other retailers will start shipping by Fall 2025.
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An inadequate light source can lead to problems when digitizing film with a digital camera. The colors might look dull or display a color cast that is difficult to correct fully. Optimal results are achieved with sources that utilize a carefully adjusted mix of color LEDs to produce light that closely resembles natural, full-spectrum lighting. #editorial.