Journal of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers (1930-1949)

(a) The sound volume on the projector may be turned down and a commentary may then be supplied by the operator. This method is often used in schools with reasonable effectiveness but in the hands of an inexperienced person the results can be disastrous. (b) Subtitles may be added to existing prints, which have completed domestic distribution, by means of an etching process. If additional prints are required, subtitles may be printed from mattes. Choice of either of these methods depends upon the volume of prints required. (c) For prestige purposes and/or commercial distribution completely new sound tracks may be prepared which will permit the film to be presented as a standard composite print. Current developments in magnetic striping of existing and new prints suggests a further method of presenting this type of version. Perhaps it is in order to discuss methods (b) and (c) more fully. Etched Subtitles In this process, subtitles giving the essential text required to explain the action of the visuals are added to the lower one-third to one-quarter of several frames of each scene by means of these steps: (a) The print embossing plates which provide a relief image of the text type are made. One European process permits direct typing on the film and thus obviates the need of individual type plates. (b) The print to be subtitled is coated with a bleach-resistant material such as paraffin wax. (c) At the desired places throughout each reel the printing plate is hotpressed on the coated film so that the type image penetrates to the emulsion surface. (d) The film is then run through a bleach and clearing bath during which the image in the type areas is completely removed. (e) The wax coating is removed with suitable solvent and the subtitles appear on the completed print as white letters. Matte Printed Subtitles In this process a text similar to that described above is applied during the release printing operations as follows: (a) Individual title cards bearing the text for each scene are prepared and shot on the animation stand. If more than one set of mattes is required, black letters on a white background may be used to provide a printing negative. (b) The negative titles are now printed on positive stock to provide black letters against a clear base. (c) The subtitle printing matte is synchronized with the release printing picture negative and both of these films are run through the printer in contact with the positive raw stock. The text appears as white letters against the picture background. This is a deliberate simplification of the preceding process which involves much more consideration of negative and positive print densities in the subtitle areas than is indicated here. Dubbing Most of the foreign language dubbing is presently done in Europe where considerable skills in translating and recording lip-synchronized dialogue have been developed over many years. The advantages of this arrangement are: (a) Translations may be obtained which contain the current idioms of the area in question and which avoid offensive reference to controversial questions involving the national, political or religious beliefs of the country concerned. (b) A relatively large number of translators and actors are available who have a detailed knowledge of the English language and who are trained to inject the proper feeling and authenticity into the characterizations. (c) Most distributing firms have funds frozen in various foreign countries and July 1952 Journal of the SMPTE Vol. 59