CS-LITE+ SpectraCOLOR™ Light Source

For scanning negatives and positives with digital cameras

The CS-LITE+ SpectraColor Light Source with CS-LiteMask from CineStill Film is a compact LED panel designed for use with your digital camera. It scans 35mm and medium format color or black-and-white negative films, as well as all types of transparent films. SpectraColor lighting technology adapts the unique dyes of analog film to a digital sensor.

Key features

• LED panel for digital film scanning
• 5.9 x 3.8" scan area
• 5V USB power cable with dimmer
• SpectraColor light adapts to film colors
• Color calibration sheets
• CS-LiteBrite+ sheets intensify the light

CineStill Film CS-LITE+ Overview

SpectraColor lighting technology

This proprietary technology was developed to precisely match the unique spectral dye density curves of color negative film to the RAW workflow of digital photography, simplifying the scanning of your film while preserving the natural colors and beauty of the film. The CS-LITE+ uses ultra-bright narrowband LEDs, and the narrowband light is then converted and shaped into separate ultra-narrowband multispectral wavelengths that are specifically calibrated to convert the color layers of the film into the three color channels of a digital RAW file.

CS-LiteBrite+ Light Enhancement Sheets

The two light enhancement sheets help you get more out of your film scanning equipment by improving your light source. The foils increase the output brightness, make it more directional and uniform, and help reduce stray light. They can be cut to the desired size, are easy to apply thanks to their self-adhesive surface, and can even be layered on top of each other for even greater amplification.

CS-LiteMask

The included CS-LiteMask set is a 2-piece universal film carrier mask set that can be combined with existing film carriers from manufacturers such as Negative Supply, VALOI, Lomography, and others. Covering the edges of the film carrier helps to prevent stray light, reduce unwanted glare, and ensure uniformity across the entire scan area.

Further details

• 5V/1.6A USB power supply LED light panel
• USB power cable with integrated dimmer
• 1/4" 20 thread mount
• Cool operation without internal fan

The CineStill CS-LITE+ is a universal, compact light source designed specifically for archival film scanning with any digital camera. Balanced light output with optimized color differentiation, calibrated specifically for film!

Most light sources currently available for film scanning are not designed for this purpose and often deliver inadequate results even at high CRI – due to a lack of control and a generic design. The CS-LITE+ uses ultra-bright single-band LEDs powered by a standard 5V/1.5A USB power supply. Using proprietary SpectraCOLOR™ technology developed over many years, the narrow-band light is converted into separate, ultra-narrowband multispectral wavelengths – something that is not possible with conventional LED technology. These are specifically calibrated to cleanly transfer the color layers of film into the three color channels of a digital RAW file—without color contamination or crosstalk—and work with any standard Bayer (or similar) three-color sensor.

This allows your digital sensor to see negative film as it was originally intended – for the purest, most accurate film-to-digital conversion possible.

The CS-LITE+ can be set up in three different modes using the included CS-LiteBrite+ light collimation foils and two different color calibration foils.

CS-LITE+ color modes

Color Negative Mode (color negative calibration sheet, blue)

This mode reduces the orange mask present in color negatives, enabling more neutral scans with superior color differentiation and less noise. The latter is often caused by excessive amplification when the color temperature in the RAW file is lowered below 2800K.

Application:

Place the included blue color negative calibration sheet under the two CS-LiteBrite+ sheets (remove the protective film from both sides). Align the recessed corner to the top right.

Cool/White Light Mode

Maximum brightness for black-and-white film digitization

Standard cool white light for scanning black-and-white negatives.

Application:

Place the two CS-LiteBrite+ foils directly on the light source (remove protective foils) and align the recessed corner at the top right.

This mode can also be used to scan color negatives if the processing workflow is designed for white light scans. It can also be helpful for slides that were taken under incandescent light.

Warm Light Mode (color positive calibration sheet, yellow)

Slide film is designed to be viewed with a tungsten-balanced backlight.

Application:

Place the enclosed yellow color positive calibration sheet under the two CS-LiteBrite+ sheets (remove protective films) and align the top right corner.

This mode produces particularly rich tones and improved color differentiation, which offers more control during post-processing.

Included accessories:

CS-LiteBrite+ & color negative calibration film

These interchangeable prismatic, light-enhancing films—combined with the blue calibration film—help reduce the orange mask of color negative film. At the same time, they balance the light for optimal results with a digital sensor and increase directional light output, reduce stray light, and improve diffusion uniformity.

CS-LiteMask – Universal Carrier Mask

Use your favorite film holder with the CS-LITE+ without annoying stray light.

Stray light increases the risk of reflections and color contamination when scanning your film.

Features