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May 27, 2025 – The Next Chapter

David and I (Susan Corley) started D and S Corley Limited 63 years ago with the goal of creating better images. We could not then have imagined the adventures which laid ahead. In the years since, we have built cameras and other imaging equipment, and have led in the production of slides, filmstrips, multi-image products, and the test materials used in the calibration of video systems around the world.

As this will be our final DSC LabLetter, we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous support that you have provided us and to thank you, our loyal customers, for all of your ideas and inspirations. (For those who are interested, we have included a list of some DSC milestones to the end of this LabLetter.) In particular, we would like to thank: the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for assisting us to develop, in the 1960’s, our first television alignment materials; the leading camera manufacturers for working with us to enhance our test charts; and the camera operators and other video professionals for their many helpful suggestions.

Closer to home, we would like to thank all of the employees (including our son, our daughter, Patricia, and our grandson, Matthew) who have worked with us to advance DSC’s mission. The support of Debbie and Kim, both of whom have been with us for more than the past twenty years, and Ali, Elizabeth and Alan, has been particularly critical to the success of the business in recent years. We would also like to thank our son Richard, who worked at DSC in the 1970’s and 80’s and has, for the past year, returned to manage DSC and to lead its transition to its next chapter.

While we are sad to be stepping away from the business, we are delighted that Matt Conrad, an experienced digital imaging technician and imaging workflow specialist, and his colleagues at Spectral Arts & Science, of Los Angeles, California, have acquired DSC Laboratories and will be continuing its mission in the years to come. While this is the end of a chapter for D and S Corley Limited, it is the start of an exciting new chapter for DSC Laboratories and Spectral Arts & Science. We can’t wait to see what comes next!

For the next few days, until May 31, 2025, D and S Corley Limited will continue to operate DSC Laboratories and will fulfil orders received during that period, to the extent it is able. Beginning on June 1, 2025, Spectral Arts & Science will ramp up production to handle any unfulfilled orders and new orders received after that date. There are no plans, at this time, to make any changes to the DSC product line or pricing, and those purchasing through our online store or dealers may continue to do so. The principal changes relate to the relocation of the DSC manufacturing facilities from Mississauga, Canada, to Los Angeles, California, and to the use of U.S. dollar pricing for all orders.

With no further ado, I am pleased to introduce Matt Conrad, the incoming President of DSC Laboratories, and, once again, to thank all of you for your support.

Yours very truly,

D AND S CORLEY LIMITED

Susan Corley

President

David and Susan’s dedication to quality and innovation has set the standard for DSC Labs—professionals around the world rely on the precision and consistency built into every product. I’m humbled and excited to carry forward that legacy. I’ve spent my career in television, feature films, commercials and live events, always seeking practical solutions to real-world problems. Along the way, I’ve developed tools, workflows and products that made a real difference on set. My hands-on experience, a bit of business success and a lifelong passion for learning have led me to this moment, and I’m honored to advance DSC Labs’ products and message into the future.

I look forward to speaking with you, understanding the solutions you rely on and hearing what you’d like to see next.

SPECTRAL ARTS & SCIENCE

Matt Conrad

President

 

D and S Corley Limited / DSC Laboratories

Some 1962 to 2025 Milestones

• 1962 – David and Susan Corley set up in business to produce movies. That year they were recognized with a special award at the International Film Festival in New York.
• 1967 – DSC was awarded a Rosebowl for the best Canadian commercial. Disappointed with the appearance of their films on television, David began (in collaboration with the CBC) to work on television test materials and joined the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE).
• 1968 – David, with representatives of the CBC Engineering Headquarters, presented a paper entitled: “Color Telecine Alignment Slides” at the SMPTE conference in Washington (this paper was published in the SMPTE Journal, Vol: 78, Issue: 3, March 1969).
• 1972 – David built additional cameras and printers and the company expanded into the volume production of slide duplicates, and 16mm and 35mm filmstrips.
• 1974 – The company franchised its laboratory technology to MacMillan Films for operations in the U.K.
• 1978 – Richard Corley performed research into phosphor chromaticities and the development of a computerized ideal television system for use to design and calibrate (using a digital spectrophotometer) television test materials. This work resulted in the adoption of the EBU phosphor chromaticities as the design standard, and the calibration of test materials to multiple phosphor standards.
• 1980 – 1982 – Richard spoke at SMPTE conferences and published papers on colorimetry “Test Materials for the Alignment of Telecine Colorimetry” and “A New 16-mm Test Film for the Evaluation of Telecine Performance” in the SMPTE Journal (Vol: 90, Issue: 11, Nov. 1981) and the SMPTE Journal (Vol: 91, Issue: 4, April 1982).
• 1983 – Richard used digital production and measurement technologies to engineer the widely used “Fuzzies” soft-edged masks system.
• 1984 – DSC began to widely exhibit its products on a regular basis at NAB, Photokina, AMI, Dimensions and other conferences in North America, Europe and the UK. Patrica Corley led marketing efforts, including at trade shows and participating in industry associations and boards.
• 1986 – David was appointed a “Fellow” of the SMPTE in recognition of his contributions to the industry and the SMPTE.
• 1987 – DSC was awarded a Canada Award for Business Excellence.
• 1988 – DSC appointed dealers for its test materials and multi-image products around the world.
• 1989 – DSC moved into custom-built facilities at 3565 Nashua Drive in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
• 1991 – DSC developed a new, large format (8” X 10”) transmissive test pattern and Ambi illuminator.
• 1992 – David presented a paper entitled “An Engineering Approach to Better Images” at the 134^th SMPTE Technical Conference November 10-13,1992.
• 1994 – The Fuji Gold Medal was presented to David at the SMPTE Conference in Los Angeles.
• 1995 – David appointed to be a Governor of the SMPTE.
• 1996 – DSC developed a new 16:9 Ambi illuminator and Combi charts to be used with new high-definition cameras. DSC developed the dsclabs.com website.
• 1997 – David was appointed as SMPTE Director of Education.
• 1998 – David, together with Fred Benedikt and Robert Ross published “An Engineering Approach to Consistent Images: Control of Video and Film Image Quality in TV Production” in the SMPTE Journal (Vol: 107, Issue: 11, November 1998).
• 1999 – DSC developed, tested and released its CamAlign front lit charts.
• 2001 – David published “Using Reference Test Objects: From Camera Setup through Post-Production” in the SMPTE Journal (Vol: 110, Issue: 2, February 2001).
• 2003 – DSC developed, tested and released ChromaDuMonde front lit charts.
• 2004 – David and Shirley Li presented a paper entitled “Image Optimization in Digital Cinema, HD, SD and NTSC Engineering and Production Perspectives” at the February 2004 SMPTE Advanced Motion Imaging Conference and published “Controlling Image Quality in a Digital World – Engineering and Production Perspectives” in the SMPTE Journal (Volume: 113, Issue: 9, September 2004).
• 2009 – David, with Moss Scott and David Adams presented “Selecting Production Parameters to Ensure that Picture Quality Accommodates the Intended and Possible Future Imaging Systems” at the October 2009 SMPTE Conference in Los Angeles.
• 2010 – DSC developed 3-D test charts.
• 2011 – DSC developed the Xyla and Northern Lights patterns and was presented a Gemini award for outstanding technical achievement.
• 2012 – DSC developed a number of new patterns, including “Pocket”, “OneShot” and “CamBook” for introduction at NAB.
• 2013 – DSC developed a new Ambi illuminator and the ChromaMatch system.
• 2017 – David was awarded the Camera Origination and Imaging Medal by the SMPTE. (This award was established in 2012 to recognize significant technical achievements related to inventions or advances in imaging technology.)
• 2024 – DSC added Rec. 2020 colorimetry calibrations to the ChromaDuMonde vectorscope simulations.
• 2025 – DSC Laboratories transferred by D and S Corley to Spectral Arts & Science.

May 1, 2025 Update Re: DSC Laboratories Acquisition – LabLetter

We are writing to provide an update regarding the pending acquisition of DSC Laboratories by Spectral Arts & Science, of Los Angeles, California. The acquisition is set to be completed on June 1, 2025.

D and S Corley Limited (which founded DSC Laboratories) will continue, until May 31, 2025, to operate DSC Laboratories and will fulfil orders received during that period, to the extent it is able. After May 31, 2025, Spectral Arts & Science will ramp up production to handle any unfulfilled orders and new orders received after that date.

DSC Laboratories may continue to be reached on its website (www.dsclabs.com), by email (dsc@dsclabs.com), or by telephone ((905) 673-3211) both before and after the acquisition, but will be physically relocated to Los Angeles from and after June 1, 2025.

Spectral Arts & Science combines deep expertise in camera technology and manufacturing with industry collaboration and client feedback. It is led by Matt Conrad, an experienced digital imaging technician and imaging workflow specialist. Matt’s experience includes work on Oscar®- and Emmy®-winning features, television series, and some of the most widely viewed live events. His expertise in designing advanced image pipelines will ensure that DSC products continue to meet—and exceed—the demands of modern production. Spectral Arts & Science is committed to advancing DSC’s tradition of delivering “better images through research.”
DSC products may be ordered online at the links below.DSC products may be ordered from our online store.

All the best,
DSC Laboratories