Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers ( Volume: 41, Issue: 11, November 1943)

[ACTIVE]

Notes on the Application of Fine-Grain Film to 16-Mm Motion Pictures

Metadata

Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: J SMPE
Volume: 41, No. 11, pp. 374–388
Abstract: In September, 1939, J. A. Maurer reported in the Journal on “The Present Technical Status of 16-Mm Sound-Film” and in November, 1940, on “Commercial Motion Picture Production with 16-Mm Equipment.” The first paper compared the quality of direct 16-mm sound with that of reduction prints from 35-mm negatives; the second compared the graininess of prints by the reversal (intermediate fine-grain duplicate negative) fine-grain print method with reduction prints from 35-mm original negatives. The comparison appeared so favorable to direct 16-mm that the next step was obvious: to put the procedures into commercial use. Early experience with Dupont fine-grain materials in 1930 and 1931 left behind an elementary yet important consideration: if the expected improvements from the use of fine-grain materials and methods were to materialize, something more than the mere use of fine-grain materials was required. Muck in developer, fixer, and wash water must be reduced; films must be properly dried. Only with these elementary conditions satisfied could the quality be significantly improved. Dupont was the first manufacturer to offer fine-grain release print film to the 16-mm market; the experience with Dupont 605 was so satisfactory commercially that all ordinary positive materials were dropped entirely. Eastman 5203 was found to be the best duplicate negative material available; all other materials were dropped. For original negatives in 16-mm direct sound recording, Agfa 250, a high-resolving-power yellow-dye film, was the first satisfactory material on the market and remained without competitors for several years. With such excellent materials under accurate control, decidedly improved films were bound to result. It is interesting to note that these present-day materials have a resolving power of the order of 100 lines per mm; this is of the same general order as that of the materials that Dupont produced experimentally in 1931. While resolving power of this order is considered sufficient for better-grade present-day projectors, there is real need for pushing the quality standard still farther upward to 150 lines per mm. The techniques for the manufacture of such materials are fairly well known today; the big need is for Government contracts to call for such high-grade materials and for Government inspectors rigidly to reject inferior materials such as ordinary positive prints. The selection of the most suitable materials and the manner of determining the operating conditions for the machinery selected are described.
Publication Date: 1943-11-01
DOI: 10.5594/J09791
ISSN: Print: 0097-5834
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/J09791
Author(s): Wm. H. OffenhauserPrecision Film Laboratories, New York.
Copyright: © 1943 Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Inc.

Bibliographic Reference(s)

1 Offenhauser W. H. Jr. : “The 16-Mm Commercial Film Laboratory,” J. Soc. Mot. Pict. Eng. , XLI (Aug., 1943 ), p. 157 . EXTERNAL
10 Olson H. F. : “Extending the Range of Acoustic Reproducers,” Proc. Radio Club of Am. , Vol. 18 , No. 1 (Jan. 1941 ). EXTERNAL
2 Maurer J. A. : “The Present Technical Status of 16-Mm Sound-Film,” J. Soc. Mot. Pict. Eng. , XXXIII (Sept., 1939 ), p. 315 . EXTERNAL
3 Offenhauser W. H. Jr. Hargrove F. H. : “Some Industrial Applications of Current 16-Mm Sound Motion Picture Equipment,” J. Soc. Mot. Pict. Eng. , XXXIV (Feb., 1940 ), p. 156 . EXTERNAL
4 Report of the Committee on Non-Theatrical Equipment : “Recommended Procedure and Equipment Specifications for Educational 16-Mm Projection,” J. Soc. Mot. Pict. Eng. , XXXVII (July, 1941 ), p. 22 . EXTERNAL
5 Stephens R. E. , “Optical and Mechanical Characteristics of 16-Mm Motion Picture Projectors,” Bur. Stand. Circular C437 (June, 1942 ). EXTERNAL
6 Snyder W. F. , “Acoustic Performance of 16-Mm Sound Motion Picture Projectors,” Bur. Stand. Circular C439 (July, 1942 ). EXTERNAL
7 Offenhauser W. H. Jr. : “A Review of the Question of 16-Mm Emulsion Position,” J. Soc. Mot. Pict. Eng. , XXXIX (Aug., 1942 ), p. 130 . EXTERNAL
8 “Eastman Motion Picture Films for Professional Use,” Eastman Kodak Company ( Rochester, N. Y. ), 1942 . EXTERNAL
9 Maurer J. A. : “Commercial Motion Picture Production with 16-Mm Equipment,” J. Soc. Mot. Pict. Eng. , XXXV (Nov., 1940 ), p. 437 . EXTERNAL

Source Data (JSON)

Full registry record with provenance metadata. Open directly: /api/doc/10.5594-J09791.json

Reference Tree

Explore all references and references to this document, as a navigable tree.

Open Reference Tree

Reference this Doc

Plain text (ISO 690 compliant)

Preview:

Wm. H. Offenhauser; Notes on the Application of Fine-Grain Film to 16-Mm Motion Pictures, Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers ( Volume: 41, Issue: 11, November 1943); SMPTE, 1943. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/J09791

Snippet:

Wm. H. Offenhauser; Notes on the Application of Fine-Grain Film to 16-Mm Motion Pictures, Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers ( Volume: 41, Issue: 11, November 1943); SMPTE, 1943. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/J09791

HTML (ISO 690 compliant)

Preview:

Snippet:

<span class="citation">Wm. H. Offenhauser; <cite>Notes on the Application of Fine-Grain Film to 16-Mm Motion Pictures</cite>, Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers ( Volume: 41, Issue: 11, November 1943); SMPTE, 1943. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/J09791" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/J09791</a></span>

SMPTE's HTML Pub

Preview:

Snippet:

<li>
Wm. H. Offenhauser; <cite id="bib-10-5594-j09791">Notes on the Application of Fine-Grain Film to 16-Mm Motion Pictures</cite>, Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers ( Volume: 41, Issue: 11, November 1943); SMPTE, 1943
<span class="doi">10.5594/J09791</span>
</li>

Referenced By

History of Sound Motion Pictures [Active]