International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1951)

New Eastman Identification System for Safety Film PROPER identification of nitrate and safety film, of course, is of paramount importance if accidents are to be prevented. The only safe practice is to assume that all 35-mm motion picture film is nitrate unless demonstrated otherwise. A safe, simple, foolproof method for identifying nitrate and safety film correctly is not as easy as it might seem. For many years film manufacturers have printed the words "NITRATE FILM" at frequent intervals along the edge of film made on nitrate base, and the words "SAFETY FILM" along the edge of film made on safety base. This has usually been done by a latent image exposure at the time of slitting or perforating, and The circulation side-by-side of both nitrate and acetate (safety) release prints has imposed severe demands upon the resources of the film manufacturer, the laboratory, the exchanges — and last, but by no means least, upon the projectionist who must deliver the sum total of industry effort, from story conception down through the manifold stages to the delivery of the finished product to the paying patron at the theater box-office. Ever responsive to the requirements of the man who keeps the theater going, (Mr. Projectionist), Eastman Kodak Company has developed a system of print identification which should go far to ease the burden of projectionists, who utilize its product to translate a narrow ribbon of film into the dollars which provide the economic sinews for the world-wide operation of motion picture theaters. This article was prepared and is copyright by Eastman Kodak Company. when a nitrate positive is printed from a safety master and a safety duplicating negative. The nitrate print carries not only its own identifying name in black but the words "SAFETY FILM" in white FIG. 1. A print on nitrate stock showing conflicting identifications printed through from a safety master positive and a safety duplicating negative. the identification is visible only after processing. This identification system was adequate as long as only nitrate film was used for professional 35-mm theater productions. Now that both nitrate and safety films are in general use, there is the danger of misidentification caused by printing through from a safety negative onto a nitrate print, or vice versa. Figure 1 illustrates what can happen printed through from the safety duplicating negative, and the same in black printed through from the safety master positive. Obliteration of Markings The original identifying name on a piece of film usually appears sharper than one resulting from a second generation print, but there is still a real danger of misidentification. In Fig. 2 is the re production of a portion of a print on safety film which was found in the trade. A sample had to be burned to establish the identity of the base. Both black-andwhite and color prints have also been seen frequently with a flash along the edge which virtually obliterates the nitrate or safety identification. Additional limitations to this system of film identification are the fact that it is invisible in the raw stock and that every individual spliced strip of processed film in a roll must be examined. It is thus apparent that the existing system of nitrate and safety base identification is entirely inadequate. Eastman Kodak Company has given a great deal of thought to this problem in recent years because of its importance in fire prevention. Many ideas have been suggested and it has finally been concluded that two separate identification systems for safety film are necessary. Two such systems are now being put in practice as follows: Distinctive, Visible Frame-Line Printing A scheme has been devised by which identification of the base can be combined with visible frame-line printing as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Eastman Nitrate Motion Picture Positive, Sound Recording, and Duplicating films carry a width ! . 1 I 1 I 1 1 ' 1 ■ 1 SATETY FILM 3 *: r'~ ' ■ fc- : " j FIG. 2. A portion of a print on safety film stock found in a film exchange. Note confusion of identifying names. The correct identity can be established by the presence of the safety frame-line mark. (See Fig. 3.) 12 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST March 1951