Home Movies (Jan-Dec 1941)

o Above are reproductions of strips clipped from "ponchromotized" 16mm film — positive film mode panchromatic by o simple dyeing process. Fig. 1 is o cloud scene filmed with a red filter. Fig. 2, on indoor shot filmed at f/2.7. Neither shot would hove been possible under existing conditions with straight positive film. /1.RE you one of the great fraternity of cinefilmers who process their own films, using low cost color-blind positive film for movie-making? If so, you’ve probably yearned for an inexpensive panchromatic film that could be used lavishly and without thought of cost. Well, such a film is here. In fact, it’s been here right along^ — ^the very positive film you have been using! Positive film can be “panchromatized” — made to produce panchromatic results; do all the things regular pan film will do — by subjecting it to a simple dyeing process before exposing it in your camera. The cost of dyeing this film, w'hich any amateur owning the simplest kind of home processing outfit can do himself, is but a mere 15c per hundred feet. The film will emerge from the dyeing process a full-fledged pan film, sensitive up to 700 milli HOME MOVIES FOR FEBRUARY Authored by John Wilhoit I 5 microns, which is well into the red and just falling short of the infra-red. It will have a speed rating j in the region of Weston 8 daylight and Weston 5 ' for Mazda. This is about equivalent to the speed of regular panchromatic films. Moreover, a stand I ard red filter may be used with this “panchromatized” film with excellent results, as evidenced by the reproduction of such a shot in Fig. 1. This ' scene was made in bright sunlight with a Wratten “A” filter at f/4.5 at standard 16 f.p.s. speed on , “panchromatized” positive film. ; Such film may be exposed indoors with equally i good results. Fig. 2 illustrates a scene I made with f “panchromatized” positive film, using a single No. |] 4 Photoflood lamp at a distance of nine feet from j the subject and with my camera set at f/2.7. Need 1 less to say, neither of these exposures could have 1 been made successfully under the same conditions | with straight positive film. Of course, you want to know how this “panchromatizing” process is done. First, the formula : Water (distilled) 60 parts Ethyl alcohol (94%) 40 parts , Pinacyanole dye stock solution 4 parts ! Ammonia 28% (stronger) 2 parts The stock solution of the dye is made with 94% ‘ alcohol — 1 part dye to 1000 parts alcohol. Pinacyanole dye is a highly concentrated blue, | obtainable in one-gram lots from Eastman Kodak Company, or from the W. M. Welch Manufacturing Company, Chicago. One gram is sufficient to make nine gallons of dye solution. This solution keeps well provided it is stored in dark bottles, tightly corked, and in a cool, dark place. I have no information as yet on the capacity of this dye solu > tion, but I’ve obtained uniform results so far after dyeing approximately 1000 feet of film in 2i/^ gal | Ions of solution. It is advisable, of course — as with J our processing chemicals — not to tax the dye solu j tion too far. i I had trouble finding a sufficient quantity of j • Continued on Page 86 \ ( Right) CHRISTMAS EVE In response to many requests, the Christmas scene which appeared in the December issue is enlarged and reproduced on the opposite page for those who wish it as a title background. Photo courtesy Genera! Elec. Co.