Amateur Cine World (April 1936)

Maring Enlarged STILLS from AKING still enlargeMees from _ sub-standard cine film through the projector is never an easy task and great care must be taken if a reasonably high standard is to be expected. Stills have a great attraction for cine users for as most of you will have already discovered it is often only with the cine camera that we are able to catch those perfectly natural and characteristic portraits of our friends, whilst in other cases, too, there are times when an enlarged paper print is invaluable. However, as I have written so often before in these articles, a far greater degree of care is necessary when using 8mm. film than is necessary with the larger sizes. I fear that.you may think it impossible to get good results on 8mm., so let me set your minds at rest. In all processes 8mm. film requires more careful treatment than do its larger brothers, but, in saying ‘more careful,’ I mean just that and not at all necessarily ‘more skilful’. People who are naturally clumsy (and I am sure that you are not) should not attempt to use 8mm. film at all. Overcoming the Difficulties The difficulties to be encountered in enlarging from 8mm. film are: the small frame size (once more); the naturally greater degree of enlargement of small blemishes and grain; perfect focus; and finally, high powered lamps and heat. In regard to the first two points there is little that can be said here concerning them except that it is useless to attempt to enlarge a very grainy frame and that in every case only a frame quite clear of blemishes should be selected for enlargement. In regard to focus, you oe E7/m Detail from Ce. nm. are in most cases film, by E. J. entirely in the artin, in our manufacturer’s se amily Film” hands, though omretition. some lenses may be very considerably improved in this respect by attaching a piece of black paper with a hole in the centre to the front of the lens mount so as to produce a stopping down effect. The best position and degree of stopping down can only be ascertained by experiment and it is impossible to give any further data. High powered lamps produce three difficulties, the first of which is, of course, the heat generated. This tends to buckle the film when a still picture is projected and apart from the slight but undesirable damage to the film tends to throw the frame out of focus in parts. The only means of dealing with this without alteration to the projector is to place a length of matt leader film in the gate with the shot to This is the sixth article in our series on the technique of 8mm. moviemaking. The first five which appeared in the October and November (1935) and January, February and March issues of “Amateur Cine,”’ dealt with editing, splicing, projecting, cleaning and overhauling and projection accessories. By ERIC F. IMPEY (Author of ‘‘ The Handbook of 8mm. Cinematography ’’) be enlarged, the leader strip being glossy side against the glossy side of the picture film and between the picture and the lamp. In this way the heat will be absorbed by the matt film. Use of Matt Leader Film The second point is that the still picture devices fitted on machines of high lamp power seldom throw a perfectly illuminated picture and often show a discernible shadow pattern on the screen. Matt leader film employed in the manner just mentioned has the effect of slightly redistributing the light. The third factor is the high power of the lamp itself, which reduces the required exposure to about one second or even less, with the result that there is no latitude in making your exposure. You will have observed that I have only dealt with enlarging through the projector and this has been done because in most cases it will be the only means available, but, should’ you have a miniature negative enlarger such as the Leitz Valoy, you will find it ideal for the work. Since all your films are on reversal stock it will be necessary to make a negative first of all and I am now going to give you details as to how to make an (Continued on next page) Enlargement made by the author by the method he describes.