Home Movies and Home Talkies (Jun 1933-May 1934)

100 HOME MOVIES & HOME TALKIES HOME PROCESSINC OF 16-MM. NEC-POS; CINE FILM By ''RIVERSIDE'' l.-HANDLING THE FILM EDITOR'S NOTE : In the series of articles of which this is the first, the processing of 16-mm. negative-positive film will be treated. Later articles will deal with 9i and 16-mm. Reversal stock Introduction THIS is the first of three articles on the processing of neg.-pos. sub-standard cine film, based on continuous experience during eighteen months of production and other film by the Riverside Film Fans. Results obtained by the described technique are quite definite and should be readily repeatable by anyone taking similar care. The procedure is for neg.-pos. stock and home printing, this scheme — adopted from professional work — being preferable for serious amateur work in film making, as the master negative is never exposed to damage in a pi-ojector or by false cutting. Moreover, a continuous print greatly reduces liability to breakage in projection. The routine to be outlined therefore covers developing, fixing, washing, drying, printing, test exposures for speed, contrast, and printing light, chemical fades and lap dissolves. Of the two methods of handling the film, the reel and tank, the former is more suitable for small quantities of film, as only a small quantity of developer is required. This must be discanled after use, because of oxidation. The tank method is probably always'^better when more than 100 feet per ' -w^ek > are to be processed, as obtainsiin most clubs. The procedure for the > reel method is simply that recently described in these pages for 9|-mm. stock, suitably magnified. Drying Frame (IVhite Wood) 26' fl /S* Lath 5r/F/=-£rvef?s^ i ^/B HOLE '''b'O/Am: \ Wood k,^ Film Fig. 2.. Df?YiNG F/^iqme \x^/4' Apparatus The apparatus recjuired for the tank method is as follows : One (or more) frames, FF, for the film. One support, FFS, for film frame. One frame, DF, for drying the film. One support, DFS, for drying frame. Three tanks, D for developer, H for hypo, W for washing. One rack, R, for holding the tanks. FF is dimensioned in Fig. 1, with a corner detailed in the centre. This it & * /-Sscriofv. qi ' r^ /i/9/V OF I'x/^z'De/ii. ^ ^ U Fc3 T^r fiNO ^/^CK must be made very rigid in oak or teak, the corners being dowelled with red-lead and size. Copper staples locate the film; these -must project sufficiently to hold the film when slack in the liquid. It is also necessary to weight down FF in the dense hj'po by lead-filled holes, which is a better scheme than clips or weights on the top of the tanks, as these may fail and ruin the film. FF takes about 110 feet of film comfortably. The ends of the film are fixed with ch-awing-pins on to the end slats of FF or to the inside of the side pieces ; likewise on DF. On the sides, recessed casementpins act as trunnions in brass bearings on FI S when winding the film on and off FF. FFS is also shown in Fig. 1 ; DFS is identical, except that it need not be so wide as FFS. Cross P/ECBs/SXoNO^r-^-^ /7<y./ F/iM F)?f>M£ o/v Supfio/er DF consists of two of the frames dimensioned in Fig. 2, cross-jointed at the piercing by the centre |-inch mild-steel rod, on which it swings through bearings on DFS. One frame of DF has its two film-rods moimted on springs as indicated in Fig. 2 ; this is to take up the contraction of the drying film without stretching. The kink in the film in going over a rod vanishes after a few windings on standard reels. For drying, DF is blown round by hot air directed by a fan from an electric fire on to the film. D, H, and W are mounted on a substantial rack, R, Fig. 3. The tanks are equal, except that W can be conveniently made to take two FF by tiie insertion of side fillets, shown in the centre, and iiKtciisinL' the distance between the platc-L^ln--. >nles. W and H have plywood gusset reinforcement, while D is completely covered with ply^vood to keep out the light and thus reduce fogging and oxidation. Each tank has a spigot, wood or rubber, at a lower corner. By wedging up the diagonal corner, a thorough wash-out with a rubbertube is possible as well as the normal reftioval of liquid. The developer (2.5 gallons) is siphoned from a corked earthenware jar into the top of D, and taken from the lower cock through a chemical rubber tube, provided with a suitable clip, to minimise contact with the air and oxidation. R must be high enough for a pail to receive wash-out water. W is fed with fresh water from the tap through a rubber tube and a leadtube fixed to the fillet. ' The waste water is taken from the bottom through a 1-inch pipe, with an upper opening to prevent siphoning, as shown. The exact level of the water is determined by the flow jDermitted from the supply and must, of course, adequately cover the film when immersed. To avoid leaks, the tanks must be treated with red-lead and size during construction. The next article describes the routine of development and the chemicals used.