Moving Images FilmMoving Images Film

Amy Timshel and Amy Timshel and

Aubrey IglesiasAubrey Iglesias

LI 827LI 827

The FormatThe Format

Moving images filmMoving images filmCelluloid filmCelluloid film

““Nitrate film” - Cellulose nitrateNitrate film” - Cellulose nitrate

““Acetate film” or “safety film” - Cellulose Acetate film” or “safety film” - Cellulose acetateacetate

Polyester film - polyethylene teraphalate Polyester film - polyethylene teraphalate

From “The History of the Discovery of From “The History of the Discovery of Cinematography”Cinematography”

www.precinemahistory.netwww.precinemahistory.net

History of the formatHistory of the format

Early 1800sEarly 1800s Development of silver bromide, a light-Development of silver bromide, a light-

sensitive emulsion sensitive emulsion Used on metal, leather, wood, canvasUsed on metal, leather, wood, canvasSearch begins for a clear, flexible, Search begins for a clear, flexible,

lightweight baselightweight base

1860s1860s Development of plastic material called Development of plastic material called

celluloidcelluloid

Invention of Celluloid FilmInvention of Celluloid FilmEastman Kodak

vs.

Reverend Hannibal Goodwin

HistoryHistory

1880s-1890s1880s-1890sEastman Kodak and Hannibal Eastman Kodak and Hannibal

Goodwin, an amateur inventor, fight Goodwin, an amateur inventor, fight over patent for celluloid film. Goodwin over patent for celluloid film. Goodwin wins the bragging rights, Kodak wins wins the bragging rights, Kodak wins the marketplace.the marketplace.

1900s-1950s1900s-1950sNitrate film used for creating motion Nitrate film used for creating motion

picturespictures

HistoryHistory

1900s-1930s1900s-1930s Color added to films by hand-tinting or Color added to films by hand-tinting or

using color filters using color filters 1930s1930s Film color achieved by use of different Film color achieved by use of different

chemicals in emulsion chemicals in emulsion 1960s1960s Nitrate film replaced with acetate filmNitrate film replaced with acetate film

Less flammableLess flammable Believed to be more chemically stable, but not Believed to be more chemically stable, but not

truetrue

HistoryHistory

Polyester filmPolyester filmDeveloped in the fifties and sixties, but Developed in the fifties and sixties, but

not widely used until the ninetiesnot widely used until the ninetiesUsed for duplicates and release prints, Used for duplicates and release prints,

not for original camera stock.not for original camera stock.Less prone to chemical decompositionLess prone to chemical decomposition

Composition / constructionComposition / construction

“Motion picture film is an artifact that consists of a transparent plastic base on which a photographic emulsion has been coated. Both plastic base and emulsion are subject to degradation and it is impossible to separate them from one another.”

~ Read and Meyer, Restoration of Motion Picture Film

Life expectancyLife expectancy

Dependent on storage conditions Dependent on storage conditions

May last from a few months to May last from a few months to several hundred yearsseveral hundred years

Limited history of format means Limited history of format means furthest range is unknownfurthest range is unknown

Factors contributing to Factors contributing to deteriorationdeterioration

Heat – high temperatures accelerate Heat – high temperatures accelerate decomposition and warpingdecomposition and warping

Moisture – pulls acids out of film base Moisture – pulls acids out of film base and into the airand into the air

Mishandling – scratches on emulsion Mishandling – scratches on emulsion and tearing of baseand tearing of base

DeteriorationDeterioration

““The original artifact The original artifact can be repaired can be repaired and cleaned, but and cleaned, but the process of self-the process of self-destruction cannot destruction cannot be stopped.”be stopped.”

~ Read and Meyer, Restoration of Motion Picture Film

DeteriorationDeterioration

Unless stored properly, film begins to Unless stored properly, film begins to warp and shrinkwarp and shrink

Color film starts to fadeColor film starts to fadeAcids eat away at film base and Acids eat away at film base and

emulsion, corrupting the image, emulsion, corrupting the image, rusting the film canrusting the film can

Nitrate film eventually turns to dustNitrate film eventually turns to dustAcetate film becomes sticky and Acetate film becomes sticky and

develops a strong vinegar odordevelops a strong vinegar odor

Color fadingColor fading

Chemicals in the Chemicals in the cyan and yellow cyan and yellow emulsions emulsions deteriorate more deteriorate more quickly, which quickly, which often leaves a film often leaves a film with a pinkish cast.with a pinkish cast.

Handling considerationsHandling considerations

Clean work surface Clean work surface and cotton glovesand cotton gloves Step 1: Opening Step 1: Opening

cancan

Step 2: Using Step 2: Using rewindsrewinds

Step 3: ViewingStep 3: Viewing

Storage considerationsStorage considerations

Too dry—brittleness & Too dry—brittleness & shrinkingshrinking

Too much moisture and heat Too much moisture and heat —accelerates chemical —accelerates chemical deterioration & molddeterioration & mold

Storage conditionsStorage conditions

Appropriate storage Appropriate storage enclosuresenclosures

Ideal temperature: as low Ideal temperature: as low as possibleas possible

Ideal average relative Ideal average relative humidity: 20%-30%humidity: 20%-30%

Film in lower picture is Film in lower picture is older than top, but has older than top, but has been stored in cool, dry been stored in cool, dry conditionsconditions

TreatmentTreatment

Film cleanser for mold, mildew, Film cleanser for mold, mildew, fungifungi

Repair splicesRepair splices

Wet-gate printing for scratchesWet-gate printing for scratches

Digital image restorationDigital image restoration

Re-dimensioningRe-dimensioning

Digital image restorationDigital image restoration

Reformatting options Reformatting options 

Film-to-film duplicationFilm-to-film duplication

VHS videotape, digital videotape, VHS videotape, digital videotape, digitizationdigitization

Exhibition / loan Exhibition / loan considerationsconsiderations

Limited projectingLimited projecting

Access copiesAccess copiesPublic access increases awareness Public access increases awareness

and support for preservationand support for preservation

Image CreditsImage Credits Slide 5: Slide 5:

Plume House and Goodwin- Blog L Craig Schoonmaker Plume House and Goodwin- Blog L Craig Schoonmaker newarkusa.blogspot. newarkusa.blogspot. com/2007_02_01_archive.htmlcom/2007_02_01_archive.html

Eastman - Eastman - www.history.rochester.edu www.history.rochester.edu Kodak building - Kodak building - www.bridgeandtunnelclub.comwww.bridgeandtunnelclub.com

Slide 9:Slide 9: Film reel - Blog of A.M. Carter Film reel - Blog of A.M. Carter www.roundaboutmidnight.comwww.roundaboutmidnight.com

Slide 12:Slide 12: Decomposing film - Society for Cinephiles / Cinecon Decomposing film - Society for Cinephiles / Cinecon

www.cinecon.org/ cinecon_filmpreservation.htmlwww.cinecon.org/ cinecon_filmpreservation.html

Slide 15:Slide 15: White gloves - Print File Archival Products - White gloves - Print File Archival Products - www.pfile.comwww.pfile.com

Slide 17:Slide 17: Nitrate film in good and bad condition – Nitrate film in good and bad condition – www.filmpreservation.orgwww.filmpreservation.org

Slide 19:Slide 19: Restored film - Der digitale Filmrestaurationsprozess - Restored film - Der digitale Filmrestaurationsprozess - www.vcpc.univie.ac.atwww.vcpc.univie.ac.at