During the last few decades a variety of technical solutions have come into use for the preservation and presentation of applied colours. This paper is going to analyse comprehensively the advantages and disadvantages of every method that has been available so far (photochemical: internegative, Desmet, chemical dye; digital: scan in colour, scan in b&w) by comparing results deriving from a single nitrate element of Die ideale Filmerzeugung (The Ideal Film Production, 1914), concluding with a digital colour reproduction process of Die Stadt ohne Juden (The City without Jews, 1924) as a pragmatic and authentic solution for archival restorations.