Modelling the image quality of colour negative films with extended dye cloud diffusion

The link between dye cloud diffusion in a colour negative film and predicted final print sharpness and graininess has been modelled. It is shown that for a given reduction in graininess with extended dye diffusion, the predicted loss in sharpness of an imaging layer decreases as the magnitude of the underlying developed silver sharpness decreases. Sharpness estimations are made from both the AMT acutance and Perceived Information Capacity (PIC) perceptual metrics. The Graininess Index metric is employed for the determination of print graininess. The likely magnitude of the sharpness-graininess trade-off with extended dye cloud diffusion is quantified for a commercial colour negative multilayer film.