Including WhiBal in color negative

[John Collins]

Would it be useful to include a WhiBal card in a color negative to set the color balance? I'm aware that a custom profile can be made to overcome the orange base of the film and to get within striking distance of color balance (I'm using an Imacon 848), but I'm curious about using a WhiBal card on the edge of the negative for reference. Any thoughts?

[Mark D Segal]

I see no reason why not. By measuring the file values off the card you should see whether the conversion from negative to positive has at least preserved neutrality where it should be neutral. It would not necessarily tell you, however, whether any non-neutrality would be due to improper correction of the orange mask, versus any of the other usual culprits affecting colour balance.