Re: Technicolor

[TimMaf@xxxxxxx]

>Do you know, Bob, why the studios moves away from technicolor and started
>using the eastman films? I have heard that many of the DPs and directors
>considered technicolor a process which yielded fiarly "theatrical" results
>and was difficult to light and do make-up for. I also understand the
>technicolor process is more expensive...

I know that it is a bit off the subject but the stability of
our images is of interest. 

Technicolor IB prints died for economic reasons. Yes, 
the three strip cameras were a problem but the 
development of single strip film by Ansco (which I 
think eventually became GAF--how's that for a VM 
tie-in) and Kodak was the biggest threat.
However, by the early '50's Technicolor had worked out
a process to extract the 3 B&W printing strips needed to 
make the matrix for making the IB Technicolor print 
(think of it like a dye transfer print).

Obviously expensive, the releasing pattern of the times
made it difficult to justify and the first "Godfather"
was supposedly the last film IB printed in this country.
While having seperation negs is great for preservation
the IB prints themselves are also very durable. From what I've
read part of the reason Kodachrome is so durable is that
like Technicolor the dyes are added to the film during
processing. E-6 has dye couplers built into the film
which turn into dyes upon developing. Something in that
structure contributes a shorter lifespan for E-6.

A couple of interesting notes: Disney until they moved into
computer coloring of their movies (late '80's) used an 
intersting variation by shooting a frame 3 or more times 
on the same strip of film through different filters. Same 
idea but only one roll of film was needed. Also, the IB print 
may be back not only because preservation minded people
like Spielberg want it but the current practice of opening
a film in hundreds of theaters makes it economic again.
Finally, as a warning to those whose shoot the stuff, 
"Star Wars" which is only 19 years old is currently being
RESTORED and saved from fading. The guide for this is a single 
IB print that Lucas somehow had made.

Sorry for the digression, now back to your regular 3-D programming.

Tim Maffia
Seattle


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