How Kodak's Shirley Cards Set Photography's Skin-Tone Standard

**interested_observer** · 11-14-2014, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Jersson Garcia works at Richard Photo Lab in Hollywood. He's 31 years old, and he's got a total crush on Shirley.

"Beautiful skin tones, beautiful eyes, great hair," he sighs. "She's gorgeous."

Garcia is holding a 4-by-6-inch photo of an ivory-faced brunette wearing a lacy, white, off-the-shoulders top. She has red lipstick and silver earrings, and the photo appears to have been taken sometime in the 1970s or '80s.

For many years, this "Shirley" card — named for the original model, who was an employee of Kodak — was used by photo labs to calibrate skin tones, shadows and light during the printing process.

How Kodak's Shirley Cards Set Photography's Skin-Tone Standard : NPR

6BQ5 · 11-14-2014, 11:50 AM

Ahhh, I think everyone has fallen in love with a Shirley.

**qblade** · 11-14-2014, 09:33 PM

That's a great story, and I can see why he's fallen in love with Shirley - she is gorgeous.

11-14-2014, 09:17 AM	#1
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	How Kodak's Shirley Cards Set Photography's Skin-Tone Standard Quote: Jersson Garcia works at Richard Photo Lab in Hollywood. He's 31 years old, and he's got a total crush on Shirley. "Beautiful skin tones, beautiful eyes, great hair," he sighs. "She's gorgeous." Garcia is holding a 4-by-6-inch photo of an ivory-faced brunette wearing a lacy, white, off-the-shoulders top. She has red lipstick and silver earrings, and the photo appears to have been taken sometime in the 1970s or '80s. For many years, this "Shirley" card — named for the original model, who was an employee of Kodak — was used by photo labs to calibrate skin tones, shadows and light during the printing process. How Kodak's Shirley Cards Set Photography's Skin-Tone Standard : NPR

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11-14-2014, 11:50 AM	#2
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	Ahhh, I think everyone has fallen in love with a Shirley.

11-14-2014, 09:33 PM	#3
qblade Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Edina, MN Posts: 258	That's a great story, and I can see why he's fallen in love with Shirley - she is gorgeous.