Digital Image Correction and Enhancement (ICE) was developed by the company Applied Science Fiction, which licenses their products to other manufacturers that build and market the technology, according to the website Computer User. Because Digital ICE technology has three distinct functions, scratches, fading, and image density can all be removed effortlessly.
Scratches
Blue, green and red data is gathered through the appropriate channels (RGB) during the typical scanning process according to the computeruser.com website. Adding a fourth "D" channel, Digital ICE technology uses information about the location and nature of near-surface and surface defects, such as scratches, to enhance the image during the actual scanning process, thus producing a clearer end-product.
Fading
Digital Reconstruction of Color (ROC) is another function of the Digital ICE technology, according to the website computeruser.com. Humidity, exposure to light and the temperature of storage conditions can fade the dyes in color film over time. Fading is not a uniform process and can affect midtones, shadows and highlights in different ratios. Digital ROC identifies "clues" in the digital document created by scanning the faded film or print using proprietary algorithms to reconstruct and automatically restore the original colors.
Graininess
Digital Grain Equalization Management (GEM) is the third function of the Digital ICE technology, according to the website computeruser.com. Using another set of proprietary algorithms Digital GEM reads the grain of the scanned film or image to extract image sharpness, quality and color data and corrects these imperfections with the end result a clearer, sharper document.
Process
Different from other software because it does not alter the original composition by blurring or softening the image, Digital ICE technology is built into the scanner itself according to the Kodak website. Therefore, as the scanner processes the image with Digital ICE technology an authentic, clear image appears that is intended to be an improvement on the original picture.
Scanners
Flatbed and film scanners are both compatible with Digital ICE technology and the Digital ROC function, according to the computeruser.com website. However, the Digital GEM function of the Digital ICE technology is only compatible with film scanners. A combination of all three technologies is available in the Digital ICE3 imaging suite.
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