Patent Publication Number: US-6705777-B2

Title: System and method for digital film development using visible light

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/751,378, filed Dec. 29, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,061, entitled Improved System and Method for Digital Film Development Using Visible Light, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/173,775, filed Dec. 30, 1999, entitled Improved System and Method for Digital Film Development Using Visible Light, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     This application is related to the following copending United States Patent Applications: System and Method for Digital Film Development Using Visible Light, Ser. No. 09/752,013, having a priority date of Dec. 30, 1999; Method and System for Capturing Film Images, Ser. No. 09/774,544, having a priority date of Feb. 3, 2000; and System and Method for Digital Dye Color Film Processing, Ser. No. 09/751,473, having a priority date of Dec. 30, 1999; as well as the following abandoned United States Patent Application: Apparatus and Digital Film Processing Method, Ser. No. 09/751,403 having a priority date of Dec. 30, 1999. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of electronic film processing and more particularly to an improved system and method for digital film development using visible light. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Images are used to communicate information and ideas. Images, including print pictures, film negatives, documents and the like, are often digitized to produce a digital image that can then be instantly communicated, viewed, enhanced, modified, printed or stored. The flexibility of digital images, as well as the ability to instantly communicate digital images, has led to a rising demand for improved systems and methods for film processing and the digitization of film based images into digital images. Film based images are traditionally digitized by electronically scanning a film negative or film positive that has been conventionally developed using a wet chemical developing process, as generally described below. 
     Undeveloped film generally includes a clear base and one or more emulsion layers containing a dye coupler and a photosensitive material, such as silver halide, that is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, i.e., light. In color films, independent emulsion layers are sensitized to different bands, or colors, of light. In general, one or more emulsion layers are sensitized to light associated with the colors of red, green and blue. When a picture is taken, the photosensitive material is exposed to light from a scene and undergoes a chemical change. The greater the intensity of light interacting with the photosensitive material, the greater the chemical change in the photosensitive material. The photographic film can then be chemically processed to produce a fixed image of the scene based on this chemical change. 
     In a traditional wet chemical developing process, the film is immersed and agitated in a series of tanks containing different processing solutions. The first tank typically contains a developing solution. The developing solution chemically reacts with the exposed silver halide to produce elemental silver grains in each emulsion layer of the film. The metallic silver forms a silver image within each emulsion layer of the film. The by-product of the chemical reaction combines with the dye coupler in each emulsion layer to create a dye cloud. The color of the dye cloud is complementary to the band of light the emulsion layer has been sensitized to. For example, the red sensitized layer typically produces a cyan dye image, the green sensitized layer a magenta dye image, and the blue sensitized layer a yellow dye image. The density of the silver image and the corresponding dye image in each emulsion layer are directly proportional to the intensity of light the film was exposed to. The developing process is generally stopped by removing the film from the developer tank and rinsing the developing solution from the film with water or and acidic solution. 
     Conventional wet chemical developing processes remove both the silver image and the undeveloped silver halide grains from the film to produce a film negative having only a dye image within the film negative. To remove the silver image and undeveloped silver halide, the developed film is immersed and agitated in a tank of bleaching solution. The bleaching solution chemically oxidizes the metallic silver forming the silver image and converts the silver image into silver halide. The bleached film is then immersed and agitated in a tank of fixer solution. The fixer solution removes the silver halide from the film by substantially dissolving the silver halide crystals. The fixer solution is thereby contaminated with dissolved silver compounds and becomes a hazardous waste byproduct of the wet chemical developing process. The film is then washed, stabilized and dried to produce a conventional film negative. The film negative can then be used to produce a corresponding image on photographic paper by methods known to those skilled in the art. 
     Conventional film digitization processes scan the film negative using a conventional electronic scanner to produce a digital image that electronically represents the photographed image. Conventional electronic film scanners generally operate by directing white light through the film negative. The light interacts with the dye clouds forming the image and the intensity of the colors red, green and blue are recorded by a sensor. The sensor data is used to produce the digital image. 
     A relatively new process under development is digital film processing (DFP). DFP systems directly scan the film during the development process. In particular, instead of scanning the dye image in the film, conventional DFP systems scan the silver image formed in the emulsion layers while the film is developing. In conventional DFP systems, the film is scanned using infrared light. Scanning with infrared light prevents the film from being fogged and allows the developing film to be scanned at different times during the development process in order to acquire image data at different exposure levels. 
     The DFP scanning process is generally accomplished by measuring infrared light reflected from the developed silver image in the front and back emulsion layers, and measuring the infrared light transmitted through the film. The reflected and transmitted light measurements of the film provide data on the blue, red, and green sensitized emulsion layers, respectively. The measured reflected and transmitted light data is processed to produce the digital image. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the invention is an improved digital film processing system. In this embodiment, the improved digital film processing system includes a scanning system and a data processing system. The scanning system scans film and produces sensor data that is communicated to the data processing system. The film scanned by the scanning system includes silver and at least one dye cloud disposed within the film. The silver contained within the film may comprise developed metallic silver, silver halide, or both. The data processing system processes the sensor data to produce a full color digital image. The digital image can be output to any suitable output device, such as a monitor, printer, memory device, and/or the Internet. In a particular embodiment, the digital color film processing system is embodied as a self-service kiosk for processing film. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is a system for developing and processing film to produce a digital image. In this embodiment, the system includes a film processing system, a scanning system, and a data processing system. The film processing system operates to coat a processing solution onto the film that initiates development of a silver image and at least one dye cloud within the film. In a particular embodiment, the film processing system includes a halt station that operates to retard development of the coated film after the film has been developed for a predetermined amount of time. The halt station may operate by applying a halt solution to the coated film, chilling the film, drying the film, or any other suitable method for slowing the development of the film prior to scanning the film. The scanning system scans at least one of the dye images (cyan, magenta, yellow) within the coated film and outputs sensor data to the data processing system. The scanning system scans the coated film using at least one frequency of light within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The data processing system receives and processes the sensor data to produce the digital image. The light used to scan the film may comprise blue light, red light, green light, any combination thereof, and any other suitable light, including infrared light. The scanning system may also operate to scan the film by measuring light transmitted through the film, reflected from the film, reflected and transmitted through the film, or any other suitable combination. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is a system for digitizing a developed film coated with a processing solution. In this embodiment, the system comprises at least one lighting system and at least one sensor system. The lighting system operates to illuminate the coated film with visible light. The sensor system operates to measure the light from the coated film and produce sensor data. In particular embodiments, the visible light includes blue light, green light, red light, or a suitable combination thereof. In yet another particular embodiment, the lighting system also operates to illuminate the film with infrared light. 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention is a film processing system. In this embodiment, the film processing system comprises an applicator station and a development station. The applicator station operates to coat a processing solution onto the film, wherein the processing solution initiates development of a silver image and at least one dye image within the film. The development station operates to substantially control the environment surrounding the coated film during development of the film. The film processing system may also include a halt station that operates to retard the development of the film after development of the film. In a particular embodiment, the halt station applies a halt solution to the film. The halt solution may comprise a fixer solution, bleach solution, stop solution, blix (bleach plus fixer) solution, any combination thereof, or any other suitable solution. 
     One implementation of the invention is a method for developing and digitizing exposed film having multiple emulsion layers containing silver halide. In this implementation, the method comprises coating a processing solution on the film to develop the exposed silver halide grains and produce at least one dye image within the coated film. The coated film is then scanned with light within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to produce a dye-silver record that is output as sensor data. The sensor data is then processed to produce a digital image. In a particular implementation, processing the sensor data includes processing the dye-silver record using a silver record to substantially remove the effects of silver within the film. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is the production of digital images produced by digitally processing film that has a silver image and at least one dye image within the film. Digitally processing the film comprises scanning the film with light having at least one frequency within the visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and processing the scan data to produce the digital images. In a particular embodiment, the light used to scan the film comprises red, green, and infrared light. In other embodiments, the film is scanned using light transmitted through the film, reflected from the film, reflected and transmitted through the film, or any other suitable combination. 
     The invention has several important technical advantages. Various embodiments of the invention may have none, some, or all of these advantages. An advantage of at least one embodiment is that environmentally hazardous effluents are not created by the removal of silver from the film. In particular, no water plumbing is required to process the film in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. As a result, this embodiment is less expensive that conventional wet chemical processing systems and can be located at any location. In contrast, conventional wet chemical processing of film requires water plumbing and removes the silver from the film, which produces environmentally hazardous effluents that are controlled by many government regulatory agencies. 
     Another advantage of at least one embodiment of the invention is that the invention can be embodied in a simple user operated film processing system, such as a self-service kiosk. In this embodiment, skilled technicians are not required, thereby reducing the cost associated with developing and processing film. In addition, at least one embodiment of the invention allows the film to be developed and processed faster than conventional wet chemical processing of the film. 
     Another advantage of at least one embodiment of the invention is that data corresponding to the dye clouds in the film is used to produce the digital image. In other embodiments, data corresponding to the silver image in the film is also used to produce the digital image. In contrast, conventional digital film processing generally uses infrared light to collect data corresponding only to the silver to produce a digital image. Accordingly, at least one embodiment produces a better digital image than produced by conventional digital film processing. 
     Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an improved digital film development system in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a development system as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of the development system shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 2B-1 through  2 B- 4  are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodiments of a halt station shown in FIG. 2B; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning system shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 4A-4D are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodiments of a scanning station shown in FIG. 3; and 
     FIGS. 5A-5B are flow charts illustrating various methods of improved digital film development in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 through 5B illustrate various embodiments of an improved method and system for digital film processing system using visible light. During the film development process, each exposed frame of film produces a silver image and a corresponding dye image. As described in greater detail below, the digital color dye film processing system and method utilizes light within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to scan color dye image without washing the silver from the film. In certain embodiments, other frequencies of light, such as light in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, is utilized to scan at least one of the silver images. The scan data is then used to produce a digital image of the photographed scene. In a conventional photographic development process, the metallic silver and silver halide are removed from the film and the film is dried to produce a film negative. A conventional film scanner can then be used to scan the film negative to produce a digital image. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram of an improved digital film development system  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the system  100  comprises a data processing system  102  and a film processing system  104  that operates to digitize a film  106  to produce a digital image  108  that can be output to an output device  110 . Film  106 , as used herein, includes color, black and white, x-ray, infrared or any other type of film and is not meant to refer to any specific type of film or a specific manufacturer. 
     Data processing system  102  comprises any type of computer or processor operable to process data. For example, data processing system  102  may comprise a personal computer manufactured by Apple Computing, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. or International Business Machines of New York. Data processing system  102  may also comprise any number of computers or individual processors, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Data processing system  102  may include an input device  112  operable to allow a user to input information into the system  100 . Although input device  112  is illustrated as a keyboard, input device  112  may comprise any input device, such as a keypad, mouse, point-of-sale device, voice recognition system, memory reading device such as a flash card reader, or any other suitable data input device. 
     Data processing system  102  includes image processing software  114  resident on the data processing system  102 . Data processing system  102  receives sensor data  116  from film processing system  104 . As described in greater detail below, sensor data  116  is representative of the colors and silver in the film  106  at each discrete location, or pixel, of the film  106 . The sensor data  116  is processed by image processing software  114  to produce the digital image  108 . The image processing software  114  operates to compensate for the silver in the film  106 . In one embodiment, image processing software  114  comprises software based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/999,421, entitled Defect Channel Nulling, which is incorporated herein by reference. In this embodiment, any silver remaining in the film  106  is treated as a defect and each individual pixel color record is compensated to remove the effect of the silver. Digitally compensating for the silver in the film  106  instead of chemically removing the silver from film  106  substantially reduces or eliminates the production of hazardous chemical effluents that are generally produced during conventional film processing methods. Although the image processing software  114  is described in terms of actual software, the image processing software  114  may be embodied as hardware, such as an ASIC. The color records for each pixel form the digital image  108 ; which is then communicated to one or more output devices  110 . 
     Output device  110  may comprise any type or combination of suitable devices for displaying, storing, printing, transmitting or otherwise outputting the digital image  108 . For example, as illustrated, output device  110  may comprise a monitor  110   a,  a printer  110   b,  a network system  110   c,  a mass storage device  110   d,  a computer system  110   e,  or any other suitable output device. Network system  118   c  may be any network system, such as the Internet, a local area network, and the like. Mass storage device  110   d  may be a magnetic or optical storage device, such as a floppy drive, hard drive, removable hard drive, optical drive, CD-ROM drive, and the like. Computer system  110   e  may be used to further process or enhance the digital image  108 . 
     As described in greater detail below, film processing system  104  operates electronically scan the film  106  to produce the sensor data  116 . Light used to scan the film  106  includes light within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. As illustrated, film processing system  104  comprises a transport system  120 , a development system  122 , and a scanning system  124 . Although the system  100  is illustrated with a development system  122 , alternative embodiments of the system  100  do not require the development system  122 . For example, film  106  may have been preprocessed and not require the development process described below. 
     Transport system  120  operates to dispense and move the film  106  through the film processing system  104 . In a preferred embodiment, the transport system  120  comprises a leader transport system in which a leader is spliced to the film  106  and a series of rollers advances the film  106  through the film processing system  104 , with care taken that the image surface of the film  106  is not contacted. Similar transport systems  120  are found in film products manufactured by, for example, Noritsu Koki Co. of Wakayama, Japan, and are available to those in the art. 
     The development system  122  operates to apply a processing solution to the film  106 , as described in greater detail in FIG.  2 . The processing solution initiates development of the dye clouds and the metallic silver grains within the film  106 . Additional processing solutions may also be applied to the film  106 . For example, stop solutions, inhibitors, accelerators, bleach solutions, fixer solutions, and the like, may be applied to the film  106 . 
     The scanning system  124  scans the film  106  through the processing solutions applied to the film  106 , as described in greater detail in FIG.  3 . In other words, the processing solutions are not removed from the film  106  prior to the scanning process. In contrast, conventional film processing systems remove the processing solution and dry the film to create a conventional film negative prior to any digitization process. The scanning station  124  scans the film  106  using light within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The visible light measures the intensity associated with the dye clouds as well as the silver within the film  106 . In particular, one or more bands of visible light may be used to scan the film  106 . For example, the film  106  may be scanned using visible light within the red, green and/or blue portions of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. In addition to scanning the film  106  using visible light, the scanning system  124  may also scan the film  106  using light from other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. For example, in one embodiment, infrared light is also used to scan the film  106 . The infrared light scans the silver image by measuring the density of the metallic silver grains within the film  106 . In contrast, conventional film processing systems remove substantially all the silver, both silver halide and metallic silver, from the film  106  prior to any conventional scanning processes. Silver, whether metallic silver or silver halide crystals, in the film negative interferes with the transmission of light through the film negative and would be digitized along with the image. Any silver in the film negative would appear as defects in the resulting digital image. 
     In operation, exposed, but undeveloped film  106  is fed into the transport system  120 . The film  106  is transported through the development system  122 . The development system  122  applies a processing solution to the film  106  that develops the film  106 . The transport system  120  moves the film  106  through the scanning system  124 . The scanning system  124  scans the film  106  using light within at least one portion of the visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Light from the film  106  is measured by the sensor system, which produces sensor data  116 . The sensor data  116  represents the dyes images plus the silver in the film  106  at each pixel. The sensor data  116  is communicated to data processing system  102 . The data processing system  102  processes the sensor data  116  using image processing software  114  to produce the digital image  108 . The data processing system  102  may also operate to enhance or otherwise modify the digital image  108 . The data processing system  102  communicates the digital image  108  to the output device  110  for viewing, storage, printing, communicating, or any combination of the above. 
     In a particular embodiment of the improved digital film development system  100  the system  100  is adapted to a self service film processing system, such as a kiosk. Such a self service film processing system is uniquely suited to new locations because no plumbing is required to operate the self service film processing system. In addition, the developed images can be prescreened by the user before they are printed, thereby reducing costs and improving user satisfaction. In addition, the self service film processing system can be packaged in a relatively small size to reduce the amount of floor space required. As a result of these advantages, a self service film processing system can be located in hotels, college dorms, airports, copy centers, or any other suitable location. In other embodiments, the system  100  may be used for commercial film lab processing applications. Again, because there is no plumbing and the environmental impact of processing the film  106  is substantially reduced or eliminated, the installation cost and the legal liability for operating such a film lab is reduced. The system  100  can be adapted to any suitable application without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     FIG. 2A illustrates one embodiment of a development system  122 . In this embodiment, a development system  122   a  comprises an applicator station  200  and a development station  202 . The applicator station  200  operates to apply a relatively uniform coating of a processing solution  204  to the film  106 . In one embodiment, the processing solution  204  comprises a color developer solution, such as Flexicolor Developer for Process C-41 available from the Eastman Kodak Company. In other embodiments, the processing solution  204  comprises other suitable solutions. For example, the processing solution  204  may comprise a monobath solution that acts as a developer and stop solution. 
     The applicator station  200  comprises an applicator  206 , a fluid delivery system  208 , and a reservoir  210 . The applicator  206  operates to coat the film  106  with the processing solution  204 . In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the applicator  206  comprises a slot coater device. In alternative embodiments, the applicator  206  comprises an ink jet applicator, a tank, an aerosol applicator, drip applicator, sponge applicator, or any other suitable device for applying the processing solution  204  to the film  106 . The fluid delivery system  208  delivers the processing solution  204  from the reservoir  210  to the applicator  206 . In an embodiment in which the applicator  206  comprises a slot coater device, the fluid delivery system  208  generally delivers the processing solution  204  at a constant volumetric flow rate to help insure uniformity of coating of processing solution  204  on the film  106 . The reservoir  210  contains a sufficient volume of processing solution  204  to process multiple rolls of film  106 . In the preferred embodiment, the reservoir  210  comprises a replaceable cartridge. In other embodiments, the reservoir  210  comprises a refillable tank. The applicator station  200  may comprise other suitable systems and devices for applying the processing solution  204  to the film  106 . 
     The development station  202  operates to give the film  106  time to develop prior to being scanned by the scanning system  124 . In the embodiment illustrated, the development station  202  forms that portion of the transport system  120  between the applicator  206  and the scanning system  124 . The length of the development station  202  is generally dependent upon the development time of the film  106 . In particular, depending upon the environment and chemical nature of the processing solution  204 , development of the film  106  may require as little as a few seconds to as long as several minutes. 
     As illustrated, the development station  202  comprises a cover  212  that protects the film  106  during development. The cover  212  forms an environmental chamber  214  surrounding the film  106 . The temperature and humidity within the environmental chamber  214  are strictly controlled. To facilitate controlling the temperature and humidity, the environmental chamber  214  has a minimum volume surrounding the film  106 . The cover  212  may be insulated to maintain a substantially constant temperature as the film  106  is developed. In order to maintain the temperature, the development station  202  preferably includes a heating system  216 . As illustrated, the heating system  216  may include a heated roller  218  and heating element  220 . In addition, the heating system  216  may include a processing solution heating system (not expressly shown) that heats the processing solution  204  prior to its application to the film  106 . 
     In operation, transport system  120  transports the film  106  through the applicator station  200 . Fluid delivery system  208  dispenses the processing solution  204  from the reservoir  210  through the applicator  206  onto the film  106 . The processing solution  204  initiates development of the dye image and silver image within the film  106 . The coated film  106  is then transported through the development station  202 . As discussed above, the development station  202  allows the film  106  time to develop within a controlled environment. The film  106  is then transported by the transport system  120  to the scanning system  124 . As described above, the processing solution  204  coated on the film  106  is not removed, but remains on the film  106  as the film  106  is transported to the scanning system  124 . 
     FIG. 2B illustrates an alternative development system  122   b.  In this embodiment, the development system  122   b  comprises an applicator station  200 , a development station  202 , and a halt station  222 . The developer applicator station  200  and the development station  202  were previously discussed in FIG.  2 A. The applicator station  200  again applies the processing solution  204  to the film  106  that initiates development of the silver image and dye image within the film  106 . Halt station  222  operates to retard or substantially stop the continued development of the film  106 . Retarding or substantially stopping the continued development of the film  106  increases the amount of time the film  106  can be exposed to visible light without substantially fogging of the film  106 . FIGS.  2 B- 1 - 2 B 4  illustrate different examples of the halt station  222 . 
     FIG. 2B-1 illustrates a halt station  222   a  that operates to apply at least one halt solution  224  to the film  106  coated with processing solution  204 . The halt solution  224  retards or substantially stops the continued development of the film  106 . In the embodiment illustrated, the halt station  222   a  comprises an applicator  206   b,  a fluid delivery system  208   b,  and a reservoir  210   b,  similar in function and design as described in FIG.  2 A. Although a single applicator  206   b,  fluid delivery system  208   b,  and reservoir  210   b  are illustrated, the halt station  222   a  may comprise any number of applicators  206   b,  fluid delivery systems  208   b,  and reservoirs  210   b  that apply other suitable halt solutions  224  and other suitable solutions. 
     In one embodiment, the halt solution  224  comprises a bleach solution. In this embodiment, the bleach solution substantially oxidizes the metallic silver grains forming the silver image into a silver compound, which may improve the transmission of light through the film  106  during the scanning operation. In another embodiment, the halt solution  224  comprises a fixer solution. In this embodiment, the fixer solution substantially dissolves the silver halide, which can also improve the transmission of light through the film  106 . In yet another embodiment, multiple halt solutions  224  are applied to the film  106 . For example, a fixer solution can be applied to the film  106  and then a stabilizer solution can be applied to the film  106 . In this example, the addition of the stabilizer desensitizes the silver halide within the film  106  and may allow the film  106  to be stored for long periods of time without sensitivity to light. The halt solution  224  may comprise any other suitable processing solution. For example, the halt solution  224  may comprise an aqueous solution, a blix solution (mixture of bleach and fix solutions), a stop solution, or any other suitable solution or combination of processing solutions for retarding or substantially stopping the continued development of the film  106 . 
     FIG. 2B-2 illustrates a halt station  222   b  that operates to chill the developing film  106 . Chilling the developing film  106  substantially slows the chemical developing action of the processing solution  204 . In the embodiment illustrated, the chill station  222   b  comprises an electrical cooling plate  226  and insulation shield  228 . In this embodiment, the cooling plate  226  is electronically maintained at a cool temperature that substantially arrests the chemical reaction of the processing solution  204 . The insulation shield  228  substantially reduces the heat transfer to the cooling plate  226 . The chill halt station  222   b  may comprise any other suitable system and device for chilling the developing film  106 . 
     FIG. 2B-3 illustrates a halt station  222   c  that operates to dry the processing solution  204  on the coated film  106 . Drying the processing solution  204  substantially stops further development of the film  106 . In the embodiment illustrated, the halt station  222   c  comprises an optional cooling plate  226 , as described in FIG. 2B-2, and a drying system  230 . Although heating the coated film  106  would facilitate drying the processing solution  204 , the higher temperature would also have the effect of accelerating the chemical reaction of the processing solution  204  and film  106 . Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, the film  106  is cooled to retard the chemical action of the processing solution  204  and then dried to effectively freeze-dry the coated film  106 . Although chilling the film  106  is preferred, heating the film  106  to dry the film  106  can also be accomplished by incorporating the accelerated action of the developer solution  204  into the development time for the film  106 . In another embodiment in which a suitable halt solution  224  is applied to the film  106 , the chemical action of the processing solution  204  is already minimized and the film  106  can be dried using heat without substantially effecting the development of the film  106 . As illustrated, the drying system  230  circulates air over the film  106  to dry the processing solution  204  and depending upon the embodiment, the halt solution  224 . The halt station  222   c  may comprise any other suitable system for drying the film  106 . 
     FIG. 2B-4 illustrates a halt station  222   d  that operates to substantially remove excess processing solution  204 , and any excess halt solution  224 , from the film  106 . The halt station  222   d  does not remove the solutions  204 ,  224  that are absorbed into the film  106 . In other words, even after the wiping action, the film  106  includes some solution  204 ,  224 . Removing any excess processing solution  204  will retard the continued development of the film  106 . In addition, wiping any excess solutions  204 ,  224  from the film  106  may improve the light reflectance and transmissivity properties of the coated film  106 . In particular, removal of the excess solutions  204 ,  224  may reduce any surface irregularities in the coating surface, which can degrade the scanning operations described in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the embodiment illustrated, the halt station  222   d  comprises a wiper  232  operable to substantially remove excess processing solution  204  and any halt solution  224 . In a particular embodiment, the wiper  232  includes an absorbent material that wicks away the excess solutions  204 ,  224 . In another embodiment, the wiper  232  comprises a squeegee that mechanically removes substantially all the excess solutions  204 ,  224 . The halt station  222   d  may comprise any suitable device or system operable to substantially remove any excess solutions  204 ,  224 . 
     Although specific embodiments of the halt station  222  have been described above, the halt station  222  may comprise any suitable device or system for retarding or substantially stopping the continued development of the film  106 . In particular, the halt station  222  may comprise any suitable combination of the above embodiments. For example, the halt station  222  may comprise an applicator station  200   b  for applying a halt solution  224 , a cooling plate  226 , and a drying system  230 . As another example, the halt station  222  may comprise a wiper  232  and a drying system  230 . 
     FIG. 3 is a diagram of the scanning system  124 . Scanning system  124  comprises one or more scanning stations  300 . Individual scanning stations  300  may have the same or different architectures and embodiments. Each scanning station  300  comprises a lighting system  302  and a sensor system  304 . The lighting system  302  includes one or more light sources  306  and optional optics  308 . The sensor system  304  includes one or more detectors  310  and optional optics  312 . In operation, the lighting system  302  operates to produce suitable light  320  that is directed onto the film  106 . The sensor system  304  operates to measure the light  320  from the film  106  and produce sensor data  116  that is communicated to the to the data processing system  102 . 
     Each scanning station  300  utilizes electromagnetic radiation, i.e., light, to scan the film  106 . Individual scanning stations  300  may have different architectures and scan the film  106  using different colors, or frequency bands (wavelengths), and color combinations. In particular, different colors of light interact differently with the film  106 . Visible light interacts with the dye image and silver within the film  106 . Whereas, infrared light interacts with the silver, but the dye image is generally transparent to infrared light. The term “color” is used to generally describe specific frequency bands of electromagnetic radiation, including visible and non-visible light. 
     Visible light, as used herein, means electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength or band generally within the electromagnetic spectrum of near infrared light (&gt;700 nm) to near ultraviolet light (&lt;400 nm). Visible light can be separated into specific bandwidths. For example, the color red is generally associated with light within a frequency band of approximately 600 nm to 700 nm, the color green is generally associated with light within a frequency band of approximately 500 nm to 600 nm, and the color blue is generally associated with light having a wavelength of approximately 400 nm to 500 nm. Near infrared light is generally associated with radiation having a wavelength of approximately 700 nm to 1500 nm. Although specific colors and wavelengths are described herein, the scanning station  300  may utilize other suitable colors and wavelengths (frequency) ranges without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     The light source  306  may comprise one or more devices or a system that produces suitable light  320 . In the preferred embodiment, the light source  306 , comprises an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In this embodiment, different LEDs within the array may be used to produce different colors of light  320 , including infrared light. In particular, specific colors of LEDs can be controlled to produce short duration pulses of light  320 . In another embodiment, the light source  306  comprises a broad spectrum light source  306 , such as a fluorescent, incandescent, tungsten-halogen, direct gas discharge lamps, and the like. In this embodiment, the sensor system  304  may include filters for spectrally separating the colors of light  320  from the film  106 . For example, as described below, a RGB filtered trilinear array of detectors may be used to spectrally separate the light  320  from the film  106 . In another embodiment of a broad-spectrum light source, the light source  306  includes a filter, such as a color wheel, to produce the specified colors of light  320 . In yet another embodiment, the light source  306  comprises a point light source, such as a laser. For example, the point light source may be a gallium arsenide or an indium gallium phosphide laser. In this embodiment, the width of the laser beam is preferably the same size as a pixel on the film  106  (˜12 microns). Filters, such as a color wheel, or other suitable wavelength modifiers or limiters maybe used to provide the specified color or colors of light  320 . 
     Optional optics  308  for the lighting system  302  directs the light  320  to the film  106 . In the preferred embodiment, the optics  308  comprises a waveguide that directs the light  320  onto the film  106 . In other embodiment, the optics  320  includes a lens system for focusing the light  320 . In a particular embodiment, the lens system includes a polarizing filter to condition the light  320 . The optics  308  may also include a light baffle  322   a.  The light baffle  322   a  constrains illumination of the light  320  within a scan area in order to reduce light leakage that could cause fogging of the film  106 . In one embodiment, the light baffle  322   a  comprises a coated member adjacent the film  106 . The coating is generally a light absorbing material to prevent reflecting light  320  that could cause fogging of the film  106 . 
     The detector  310  comprises one or more photodetectors that convert light  320  from the film  106  into data signals  116 . In the preferred embodiment, the detector  310  comprises a linear charge coupled device (CCD) array. In another embodiment, the detector  310  comprises an area array. The detector  310  may also comprise a photodiode, phototransistor, photoresistor, and the like. The detector  310  may include filters to limit the bandwidth, or color, detected by individual photodetectors. For example, a trilinear array often includes separate lines of photodetectors with each line of photodetectors having a color filter to allow only one color of light to be measured by the photodetector. Specifically, in a trilinear array, the array generally includes individual red, green, and blue filters over separate lines in the array. This allows the simultaneous measurement of red, green, and blue components of the light  320 . Other suitable types of filters may be used. For example, a hot mirror and a cold mirror can be used to separate infrared light from visible light. 
     Optional optics  312  for the sensor system  304  directs the light  320  from the film  106  onto the detector  310 . In the preferred embodiment, the optics  312  comprises a lens system that directs the light  320  from the film  106  onto the detector  310 . In a particular embodiment, the optics  312  include polarized lenses. The optics  312  may also include a light baffle  322   b.  The light baffle  322   b  is similar in function to light baffle  322   a  to help prevent fogging of the film  106 . 
     As discussed previously, individual scanning stations  300  may have different architectures. For example, light  320  sensed by the sensor system  304  may be transmitted light or reflected light. Light  320  reflected from the film  106  is generally representative of the emulsion layer on the same side of the film  106  as the sensor system  304 . Specifically, light  320  reflected from the front side (emulsion side) of the film  106  represents the blue sensitive layer and light  320  reflected from the back side of the film  106  represents the red sensitive layer. Light  320  transmitted through the film  106  collects information from all layers of the film  106 . Different colors of light  320  are used to measure different characteristics of the film  106 . For example, visible light interacts with the dye image and silver within the film  106 , and infrared light interacts with the silver in the film  106 . 
     Different architectures and embodiments of the scanning station  300  may scan the film  106  differently. In particular, the lighting system  302  and sensor system  304  operate in concert to illuminate and sense the light  320  from the film  106  to produce suitable sensor data  116 . In one embodiment, the lighting system  302  separately applies distinct colors of light  320  to the film  106 . In this embodiment, the sensor system  304  generally comprises a non-filtered detector  310  that measures in series the corresponding colors of light  320  from the film  106 . In another embodiment, multiple unique color combinations are simultaneously applied to the film  106 , and individual color records are derived from the sensor data  116 . In another embodiment, the lighting system  302  simultaneously applies multiple colors of light  320  to the film  106 . In this embodiment, the sensor system  304  generally comprises a filtered detector  310  that allows the simultaneous measurement of individual colors of light  320 . Other suitable scanning methods may be used to obtain the required color records. 
     The use of the halt station  222  may improve the scanning properties of the film  106  in addition to retarding or substantially stopping the continued development of the film  106 . For example, the intensity of light  320  transmitted through the film  106  may be partially blocked, or occluded, by the silver within the film  106 . In particular, both the silver image and silver halide within the film  106  occlude light  320 . On the whole, the silver image within the film  106  absorbs light  320 , and the silver halide reflects light  320 . The halt solutions  224  may be used to improve the scanning properties of the film  106 . For example, applying a bleach solution to the film  106  reduces the optical density of the silver image within the film  106 . Applying a fixer solution to the film  106  reduces optical density of silver halide within the film  106 . Another method for improving the scanning properties of the film  106  is drying the film  106 . Drying the film  106  improves the clarity of the film  106 . 
     As described above, the scanning system  124  may include one or more individual scanning stations  300 . Specific examples of scanner station  300  architectures are illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D. The scanning system  124  may comprise any illustrated example, combination of examples, or other suitable methods or systems for scanning the film  106 . 
     FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning station  300   a  having a transmission architecture. As illustrated, the transmission scanning station  300   a  comprises a lighting system  302   a  and a sensor system  304   a.  Lighting system  302   a  produces light  320   a  that is transmitted through the film  106  and measured by the sensor system  304   a.  The sensor system  304   a  produces sensor data  116   a  that is communicated to the data processing system  102 . Lighting system  302   a  and sensor system  304   a  are similar in design and function as lighting system  302  and sensor system  304 , respectively. Although FIG. 4A illustrates the light  320   a  being transmitted through the film  106  from the backside to the frontside of the film  106 , the light  320   a  can also be transmitted through the film  106  from the frontside to the backside of the film  106  without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     In one embodiment of the scanning station  300   a,  the light  320   a  produced by the lighting system  302   a  comprises visible light. The visible light  320   a  may comprise broadband visible light individual visible light colors, or combinations of visible light colors. The visible light  320   a  interacts with the silver and at least one dye cloud within the film  106 . In particular, depending upon the embodiment of the development system  122 , the silver remaining in the film  106  may be metallic silver, silver compound, or both. 
     In an embodiment in which the visible light  320   a  interacts with the magenta, cyan and yellow dye images within the film  106 , as well as the silver within the film  106 , the sensor system  304   a  records the intensity of visible light  320   a  from the film  106  and produces sensor data  116   a.  The sensor data  116   a  generally comprises a red, green, and blue record corresponding to the cyan, magenta, and yellow dye images, respectively. Each of the red, green, and blue records includes a silver record. As previously discussed, the silver partially occludes the visible light  320   a  being transmitted through the film  106 . Accordingly, the red, green, and blue records are generally processed by the data processing system  102  to correct the records for the occlusion caused by the silver image in the film  106 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the transmission scanning station  300   a,  the light  320   a  produced by the lighting system  302   a  comprises visible light and infrared light. As discussed above, the visible light may comprise broadband visible light, individual visible light colors, or combinations of visible light colors. The infrared light may comprise infrared, near infrared, or any suitable combination. The visible light  320   a  interacts with the silver and at least one dye image, i.e. cyan, magenta, or yellow dye images, within the film  106  to produce a red, green, and/or blue record that includes a silver record. The infrared light interacts with the silver within the film  106  and produces a silver record. The silver image record can then be used to remove, at least in part, the silver metal record contained in the red, green, and blue records. This embodiment is analogous to the defect correction electronic scanners described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,805, entitled System and Method for Image Recovery, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. In this embodiment, the silver is analogous to a defect that obstructs the optical path of the infrared light. The amount of occlusion is used as a basis for modifying the color records. For example, in pixels having a high silver density, the individual color records are significantly increased, whereas in pixels having a low silver density, the individual color records are relatively unchanged. 
     In yet another embodiment of the transmission scanning station  300   a,  the light produced by the lighting system  302   a  comprises infrared or near infrared light. In this embodiment, the infrared light  320   a  interacts with the silver image in the film  106  but does not substantially interact with the dye images within the film  106 . In this embodiment, the sensor data  116   a  does not spectrally distinguish the magenta, cyan, and yellow dye images. An advantage of this embodiment is that the infrared light  320   a  does not fog the film  106 . In a particular embodiment, the advantage of not fogging the film  106  allows the film  106  to be scanned at multiple development times without significantly fogging the film  106 . In this embodiment, the scanning station  300   a  can be used to determine the optimal development time for the film  106 . This embodiment may optimally be used to determine the optimal development time of the film  106 , which can then be scanned using another scanning station  300   
     FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning station  300   b  having a reflection architecture. The reflective scanning station  300   b  comprises a lighting system  302   b  and a sensor system  304   b.  Lighting system  302   b  produces light  320   b  that is reflected from the film  106  and measured by the sensor system  304   b.  The sensor system  304   b  produces sensor data  116   b  that is communicated to the data processing system  102 . Lighting system  302   b  and sensor system  304   b  are similar to lighting system  302  and sensor system  304 , respectively. 
     In one embodiment of the reflective scanning station  300   b  used to scan the blue emulsion layer of the film  106 , the light  320   b  produced by the lighting system  302   b  comprises blue light. In this embodiment, the blue light  320   b  scans the silver image and dye image within the blue layer of the film  106 . The blue light  320   b  interacts with the yellow dye image and also the silver in the blue emulsion layer. In particular, the blue light  320   b  is reflected from the silver halide and measured by the sensor system  304   b  to produce a blue record. Many conventional films  106  include a yellow filter below the blue emulsion layer that blocks the blue light  320   a  from illuminating the other emulsion layers of the film  106 . As a result, noise created by cross-talk between the blue emulsion layer and the red and green emulsion layers is substantially reduced. 
     In another embodiment of the reflective scanning station  300   b  used to scan the blue emulsion layer of the, film  106 , the light  320   b  produced by the lighting system  302   b  comprises non-blue light. It has been determined that visible light other than blue light interacts in substantially the same manner with the various emulsion layers. In this embodiment, infrared light also interacts in substantially the same manner as non-blue light, with the exception that infrared light will not fog the emulsion layers of the film  106 . In this embodiment, the non-blue light  320   b  interacts with the silver image in the blue emulsion layer of the film  106 , but is transparent to the yellow dye within the blue emulsion layer of the film  106 . This embodiment is prone to higher noise levels created by cross-talk between the blue and green emulsion layers of the film  106 . 
     In yet another embodiment of the reflective scanning station  300   b,  the light  320   b  produced by the lighting system  302   b  comprises visible and infrared light. In this embodiment, blue light interacts with the yellow dye image and the silver image in the blue emulsion layer, green light interacts with magenta dye image and the silver image in each of the emulsion layers, red light interacts with the cyan dye image and the silver in each of the emulsion layers, and the infrared light interacts with the silver in each emulsion layer of the film  106 . In this embodiment, the sensor system  304   b  generally comprises a filtered detector  310   b  (not expressly shown) that measures the red, green, blue, and infrared light  320   b  from the film  106  to produce red, green, blue, and infrared records as sensor data  116   b.    
     Although the scanning station  300   b  is illustrated with the lighting system  302   b  and the sensor system  304   b  located on front side of the film  106 , the lighting system  302   b  and the sensor system  304   b  may also be located on the back side of the film  106 . In one embodiment, the light  320   b  produced by the lighting system  302   b  may comprise red light. The red light largely interacts with the cyan dye image and silver in the red emulsion layer of the film  106  to produce a red record of the sensor data  116   b.    
     FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning station  300   c  having a transmission-reflection architecture. In this embodiment, the scanning station  300   c  comprises a first lighting system  302   c,  a second lighting system  302   d,  and a sensor system  304   c.  In the preferred embodiment, the lighting system  302   c  operates to illuminate the front side of the film  106  with light  320   c,  the second lighting system  302   d  operates to illuminate the backside of the film  106  with light  320   d,  and the sensor system  304   c  operates to measure the light  320   c  reflected from the film  106  and the light  320   d  transmitted through the film  106 . Based on the measurements of the light  320   b,    320   d,  the sensor system  304   c  produces sensor data  116   c  that is communicated to the data processing system  102 . Lighting system  302   c  and  302   d  are similar to lighting system  302 , and sensor system  304   c  is similar to the sensor system  304 . Although scanning station  300   c  is illustrated with lighting systems  302   c,    302   d,  a single light source may be used to produce light that is directed through a system of mirrors, shutters, filters, and the like, to illuminate the film  106  with the front side of the film  106  with light  320   c  and illuminate the back side of the film  106  with light  320   d.  The light  320   c,    320   d  may comprise any color or color combinations, including infrared light. 
     This embodiment of the scanning station  300   c  utilizes many of the positive characteristics of the transmission architecture scanning station  300   a  and the reflection architecture scanning station  300   b.  For example, the blue emulsion layer is viewed better by light  320   c  reflected from the film  106  than by light  320   d  transmitted through the film  106 ; the green emulsion layer is viewed better by light  320   d  transmitted through the film  106  than by light  320   c  reflected from the film  106 ; and the red emulsion layer is adequately viewed by light  320   d  transmitted through the film  106 . In addition, the cost of the scanning station  300   c  is minimized through the use of a single sensor system  304   c.    
     In the preferred embodiment of the scanning station  300   c,  the light  320   c  comprises blue light, and light  320   d  comprises red, green, and infrared light. The blue light  320   c  interacts with the yellow dye image and silver in the blue emulsion layer of the film  106 . The sensor system  304   c  measures the light  320   c  from the film  106  and produces a blue-silver record. The red and green light  320   d  interacts with the cyan and magenta dye images, respectively, as well as the silver in the film  106 . The infrared light  320   d  interacts with the silver, but does not interact with the dye clouds within the film  106 . As discussed previously, the silver contained within the film  106  may comprise silver grains, silver halide, or both. The red, green, and infrared light  320   d  transmitted through the film  106  is measured by the sensor system  304   c,  which produces a red-silver, green-silver, and silver record. The blue-silver, red-silver, green-silver, and silver records form the sensor data  116   c  that is communicated to the data processing system  102 . The data processing system  102  utilizes the silver record to facilitate removal of the silver component from the red, green, and blue records. 
     In another embodiment, the light  320   c  comprises blue light and infrared light, and light  320   d  comprises red, green, and infrared light. As discussed previously, the blue light  320   c  mainly interacts with the yellow dye image and silver within the blue emulsion layer of the film  106 . The infrared light  320   c  interacts with mainly the silver in the blue emulsion layer of the film  106 . The sensor system  304   c  measures the blue and infrared light  320   c  from the film  106  and produces a blue-silver record and a front side silver record, respectively. The red, green, and infrared light  320   d  interact with the film  106  and are measured by the sensor system  304   c  to produce red-silver, green-silver and transmitted-silver records as discussed above. The blue-silver, red-silver, green-silver, and both silver records form the sensor data  116   c  that is communicated to the data processing system  102 . In this embodiment, the data processing system  102  utilizes the front side silver record of the blue emulsion layer to facilitate removal of the silver component from the blue-silver record, and the transmission-silver record is utilized to facilitate removal of the silver component from the red and green records. 
     Although the scanning station  300   c  is described in terms of specific colors and color combinations of light  320   c  and light  320   d,  the light  320   c  and light  320   d  may comprise other suitable colors and color combinations of light without departing from the scope of the invention. For example light  320   c  may comprise non-blue light, infrared light, broadband white light, or any other suitable light. Likewise, light  320   d  may include blue light, broadband white light, or another other suitable light. Scanning station  300   c  may also comprise other suitable embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although the scanning station  300   c  is illustrated with two lighting systems  302  and a single sensor system  304 , the scanning station  300   c  could be configured with a single lighting system  302  and two sensor systems  304 , wherein one sensor system measures light  320  reflected from the film  106  and the second sensory system  304  measures light  320  transmitted through the film  106 . In addition, as discussed above, the scanning station  300  may comprise a single lighting system that illuminates the film  106  with light  320   c  and light  320   d.    
     FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram illustrating a scanning station  300   d  having a reflection-transmission-reflection architecture. In this embodiment, the scanning station  300   d  comprises a first lighting system  302   e,  a second lighting system  302   f,  a first sensor system  304   e,  and a second sensor system  304   f.  In the embodiment illustrated, the lighting system  302   e  operates to illuminate the front side of the film  106  with light  320   e,  and the second lighting system  302   f  operates to illuminate the back side of the film  106  with light  320   f.  The first sensor system  304   e  operates to measure the light  320   e  reflected from the film  106  and the light  320   f  transmitted through the film  106 , and the second sensor system  304   f  operates to measure the light  320   f  reflected from the film  106  and the light  320   e  transmitted through the film  106 . Based on the measurements of the light  320   e  and  320   f,  the sensor systems  304   e,    304   f  produce sensor data  116   ef  that is communicated to the data processing system  102 . Lighting systems  302   e,    302   f  are similar to lighting systems  302 , and sensor systems  304   e,    304   f  are similar to the sensor system  304 . Although scanning station  300   d  is illustrated with lighting systems  302   e,    302   f,  and sensor systems,  304   e,    304   f,  a single lighting system and/or sensory system, respectively, may be used to produce light that is directed through a system of mirrors, shutters, filters, and the like, to illuminate the film  106  with the frontside of the film  106  with light  320   e  and illuminate the backside of the film  106  with light  320   f.    
     This embodiment of the scanning station  300   d  expands upon the positive characteristics of the transmission-reflection architecture of scanning station  300   c.  For example, as discussed in reference to FIG. 4C, the blue emulsion layer is viewed better by light  320   e  reflected from the film  106  and the green emulsion layer is viewed better by light  320   e  or  320   f  transmitted through the film  106 . Second sensor system  304   f  allows viewing of the red emulsion layer by light  320   f  reflected from the film  106 , which generally produces better results than viewing the red emulsion layer by light  320   e  or light  320   f  transmitted through the film  106 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the scanning station  300   d,  the sensor systems  304   e,    304   f  include a trilinear array of filtered detectors, and the light  320   e  and the light  320   f  comprises broadband white light and infrared light. The trilinear array operates to simultaneously measure the individual red, green, and blue components of the broadband white light  320   e,    320   f.  The infrared light is measured separately and can be measured through each filtered detector  310  of the sensor systems  304   e,    304   f.  The broadband white light  320   e,    320   f  interacts with the silver and magenta, cyan, and yellow color dyes in the film  106 , respectively, and the infrared light  320   e,    320   f  interacts with the silver within the film  106 . The reflected white light  320   e  measured by the first sensor system  304   e  includes information corresponding to the yellow dye image and the silver in the blue emulsion layer of the film  106 . In particular, the blue component of the broadband white light  320   e  measured by the blue detector of the sensor system  304   e  corresponds to the yellow dye image, and the non-blue components of the broadband white light  320   e  measured by the red and green detectors corresponds to the red and green dye images and all the silver within the emulsion layers of the film  106 . Similarly, the red component of the broadband white light  320   f  measured by the red detector of the sensor system  304   f  corresponds largely to the cyan dye image, and the non-red components of the broadband white light  320   e  measured by the blue and green detectors corresponds to the yellow and magenta dye images and all the silver within the emulsion layers of the film  106 . The white light  320   e,    320   f  transmitted through the film  106  interacts with each color dye image and silver within the film  106 , and the red, green, and blue light components are measured by the red, green, and blue detectors of the sensor systems  304   e,    304   f  to produce individual red, green and blue light records that include the silver record. The infrared light  320   e  reflected from the film  106  and measured by the sensor system  304   e  corresponds largely to the silver in the blue emulsion layer of the film  106 , and the infrared light  320   f  reflected from the film  106  and measured by the sensor system  304   f  largely corresponds to the silver in the red emulsion layer of the film  106 . The infrared light  320   e,    320   f  transmitted through the film  106  measured by the sensor systems  304   e,    304   f  corresponds to the silver in the red, green, and blue emulsion layers of the film  106 . The individual measurements of the sensor systems  304   e,    304   f  are communicated to the data processing system  102  as sensor data  116   ef.  The data processing system  102  processes the sensor data  116   ef  and constructs the digital image  108  using the various sensor system measurements. For example, the blue signal value for each pixel can be calculated using the blue detector data from the reflected light  320   e  and the blue detector data from the transmitted light  320   f,  as modified by non-blue detector data from the reflected light  320   e,  and the non-blue detector data from the transmitted light  320   e  or  320   f.  The red and green signal values for each pixel can be similarly calculated using the various measurements. 
     In another embodiment of the scanning station  300   d,  the sensor systems  304   e,    304   f  include a trilinear array of filtered detectors, and the light  320   e  and the light  320   f  comprises broadband white light. This embodiment of the scanning station  300   d  operates in a similar manner as discussed above, with the exception that infrared light is not measured or used to calculate the digital image  108 . Although the scanning station  300   d  is described in terms of a specific colors and color combinations of light  320   e  and light  320   f,  the light  320   e  and light  320   f  may comprise other suitable colors and color combinations of light without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, the scanning station  300   d  may comprise other suitable devices and systems without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 5A is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for developing and processing film. This method may be used in conjunction with one or more embodiments of the system  100  that includes a data processing system  102  and a film processing system  104  having a transport system  120 , a development system  122 , and a scanning system  124 . The development system  122  includes an applicator station  200  for applying a processing solution  204  to the film  106  and a development station  202 . The scanning system  124  comprises a single scanning station  300  operable to scan the film  106  with light  320  having a frequency (wavelength) within the visible light spectrum and produce sensor data  116  that is communicated to the data processing system  102 . The data processing system  102  processes the sensor data  116  to produce a digital image  108  that may be output to an output device  110 . 
     The method begins at step  500 , where the transport system  120  advances the film  106  to the applicator station  200 . Film  106  is generally fed from a conventional film cartridge and advanced by the transport system  120  through the various stations of the film processing system  104 . At step  502 , processing solution  204  is applied to the film  106 . The processing solution  204  initiates production of silver and at least one dye image within the film  106 . The processing solution  204  is generally applied as a thin coating onto the film  106 , which is absorbed by the film  106 . At step  504 , the film  106  is advanced through the development station  202  where the dye images and silver grains develop within the film  106 . The environmental conditions, such as the temperature and humidity, are generally controlled within development station  202 . This allows the film  106  to develop in a controlled and repeatable manner and provides the proper development time for the film  106 . At step  506 , the film  106  is scanned by the scanning system  124  using light  320  having at least one frequency within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e., visible light. The visible light interacts with at least one dye image within the film  106  and also the silver within the film  106 . In some embodiments, the light  320  used to scan the film  106  also includes infrared light. Infrared light interacts with the silver, but is substantially unaffected by the dye images within the film  106 . As discussed in reference to FIGS. 4A-4D, the film  106  can be scanned in a number of different ways embodied in a number of different architectures, each with their own advantages. Sensor data  116  is produced by the scanning system  124  and communicated to the data processing system  102 . At step  508 , the sensor data  116  is processed to produce the digital image  108 . The data processing system  102  includes image processing software  114  that processes the sensor data  116  to produce the digital image  108 . The digital image  108  represents the photographic image recorded on the film  106 . At step  510 , the digital image  108  is output to one or more output devices  110 , such as monitor  110   a,  printer  110   b,  network system  110   c,  storage device  110   d,  computer system  110   e,  and the like. 
     FIG. 5B is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for developing and processing film. This method may be used with one or more embodiments of the system  100  that includes the development system  122  having the halt station  222 . This method is similar to the method described in FIG. 5A, with the exception that development of the film  106  is substantially stopped by the halt station  222 . 
     The method begins at step  520 , where the transport system  120  advances the film  106  to the applicator station  200 . At step  522 , processing solution  204  is applied to the film  106 . The processing solution  204  initiates production of silver grains and at least one dye image within the film  106 . At step  524 , the film  106  is advanced through the development station  202  where the dye images and silver develop within the film  106 . At step  526 , the continued development of the film  106  is retarded or substantially stopped by the halt station  222 . Retarding or substantially stopping the continued development of the film  106  allows the film  106  to be scanned using visible light  320  without fogging the film  106  during the scanning process. For example, if the development of the film  106  is stopped, the film  106  can be exposed to visible light without negatively affecting the scanning process. The halt station  222  may comprise a number of embodiments. For example, the halt station  222  may apply a halt solution  224 , such as a bleach solution, fixer solution, blix solution, stop solution and the like. The halt solution  224  may also operate to stabilize the film  106 . The halt station  222  may also comprise a wiper, drying system, cooling system and the like. At step  528 , the film  106  is scanned by the scanning system  124  using light  320  having at least one frequency within the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e., visible light. At step  530 , the sensor data  116  is processed to produce the digital image  108 . At step  532 , the digital image  108  is output to one or more output devices  110 , such as monitor  110   a,  printer  110   b,  network system  110   c,  storage device  110   d,  computer system  110   e,  and the like. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.