Color Picture Reproduction using a High-Resolution Television System

A high-resolution, 2-in return beam vidicon (RBV) television camera and a laser beam image reproducer (LBIR) have been selected by RCA as major components in an Earth Resources Satellite System. As part of a data handling study for the U.S. Department of the Interior, the RBV camera and LBIR were used to reproduce color picture transparencies to determine how well the camera/laser system could reproduce picture content, both photometrically and geometrically, and hence provide an indication as to what could be expected from its application in space observation systems. Fifteen color IR and Ektachrome transparencies, representing a wide variety of Gemini, Apollo and aerial photos, were selected for reproduction. Each transparency was mounted on a light source, and pictures were taken by the TV camera using in turn red, blue and green filters. Each video picture was transmitted to the laser reproducer and recorded on Hyscan film. This provided sets of color separation negatives which could be processed and registered using dye transfer techniques to form multicolor composites. An evaluation of these color prints indicates that the vidicon/Iaser system has the capability of reproducing to a high degree the photometric and geometric fidelity of the original scene; the high-resolution capability of the system enables the reproduction of much detail. Besides describing the features and operation of the RBV/-LBIR that make an effective observation system, the picture processing techniques are discussed and typical picture outputs are presented.