REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT FOR A COLOR STANDARD PROJECT WITH(Sanitized) FROM FY-1970 FUNDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05703A000200020007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 22, 2003
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: June 10, 1970
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2004/02/11 : O
aPIC/D -171--7O
1 0 JUN 1970
x iORAND,3M FOR; Assistant Deputy Director for IntelligenceL41
Request for Approval of a Contract for a
Color Standard Project with 25X1
ro :f 7Y--1970 Funds 25X1
1. This Yme-aoran.d.un requests approval for the cormmitment
of R&D funds for a "EPIC contract. The specific request is stated
in paragraph 9.
2. The advent of high definition color fil_;m, as an oper-
ational acquisition material has necsssitat:-d the development
of color image evaluation standards and techniques. Methods
and equips ent suitable for analysis of black and white ir~}agery
require extension and codification before they may he a plied
to color imagery. For certain more routine functions , s . q .
the ical process control and film exposure requiremFien.ts, star.-
lard operating conditions and instrumentation have already
been established. This is not the case for applications such
as the determination of object color from measurements made
on the fine detail of color imagery, the r?measure=ent of color
modulation transfer function and power spectral density, micro-
image resolutions and other color image quality parameters. in
addition, the response of color film layers during the scanninrs
operation in digital image manipulation must be quantitatively
dleterrinec.
3. As a prerequisite to making any of the measurer nts
mentioned above, standard instrumentation and data collection
techniques must be developed. For image evaluation and r':ani +u-
lation applications, zcsost of the data required can h -o co l,lectedl
by an instrument called a microdensitorjeter. 3ecausv thn
;measurements -ade are concerned with image areas on the order
of several microns (millionths of a meter) the microdensitome
itself must be calihr&tod extremely accurately so that varia-
tions in its output data can be assigned the proper cause,
electrical, mechanical, optical or photographic.
Declass Review by
NIMA/DOD
-- c--. L r
Approved For Release 2004/02/ YREDP78B05703A000200020007-5 Excluded fr 3n
decfbssiissaifa~ t
 Approved For Release 2004/02/11 :Orm
REJ78B05703A00a200020007-5
Request for x proval of a Contract for
ojar :standard Proita'ct i t ;
25X1
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4. Currently, a microdensitonieter for 4neasurin(r black
and white and color film is available in applied Pheto-Science
Division (APSD). This ilistrurent was designed in 1965 for use
with materials then available. While an excellent instrtf,,,ent
for black and white image analysis, precalibration experiments
on current color imagery have shown that (1) new o,-.)tics will
be required and (2) electronic, techanical, and optical tali,--
bratien standards must be developed. As currently designed
the objective lenses on the micro.-iensitolleter do not have
adequate depth of field to focus the three images in a single
image position as required. As a consequence, the output data
are dependent upon, rather than independent of, the focus psi-
tion. The situation is analogous to an improperly focused color
TV set where color fringing can be observed and the objects are
obviously not correctly reproduced. after the nucrodensito ?eter
has been properly calibrated, quality control procedures are
necessary to assure proper day--to-day operation.
5. The proposed contract with 1is desinne:a
to overcome the probler,s discussed a ove. It will be executed
in three overlapping phases during a nine-month period. Phase
one will be concerned with acquisition and calibration of new
objective lenses. Phase two will involve electronic, ntechan-
ical and optical system calibration. The optics in this phase
will include filters, mirrors, and condensers in concert with
the new objective lenses. Phase three will be concerned with
the application of the ^icrodensitometer to color transfer
function analyses, the formulation of quality control proce-
dures, and the preparation of a color microdensito eter hand-
book. This handbook: will spell out in detail the procedures
for use of the instrument and the techniques for analyzing the
data collected.. 3 anthly and final reports, the quality control
film standards, and the aandbook constitute the delivterable itenk=s.
6i has been. selected as the sole source
for ths pro ect because of their intimate knowledge of the
a ti-icrodensitometer (they installed it ori;i-
a y) , and. their extensive experience with micro lmatle quality
ansessment on both black and white and color flirts. Accordingly,
the risk associatewith the calibration portion of the Project
is very low. The adequacy of the objective lenses, however,
cannot be determjned in detail before the other variables are
pinned down. Consequently, the risk involved here is somewhat
greater; contingency plans for the redesign or modification of
the objectives have been _rzadc.
Approved For Release 2004/02/11 * CIA-RDP78B05703A000200020007-5
25X1
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Approved For Release 2004/02/11: CIA-RDP78BO5703A000200020007-5
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12 JUN 1970
3
Approved For Release 2004/02/11 ? ffly P78B05703A000200020007-5