Motion Picture Film Re-spools

[P3D John Ker <dektol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Photographic Processors such as Red Tag, Seattle Filmworks etc. offer
release prints which become slides when mounted.  If you wish several sets
of slides all identical to give several people,  this service becomes very
interesting, especially if you can live with decreased color saturation and
increased grain.

The problem with having motion picture film in short length 35mm film
canisters for use in consumer cameras is that the film will cause serious
problems for the average photo finishing lab.  The back of the motion
picture films is coated with silica dioxide to provide lubrication and
protection as the film passes through the camera at 24 frames a second or
faster.  This coating turnes to jelly and clogs the filters and throws off
the color balance of the chemistry in most processing units.  The processors
used for motion picture films have special removers to take care of this
"extra" layer.  This film is one of the still photo finisher's nightmares.
It is common for a few rolls of this film going through the processor to
cause the operator to have to dump re-mix and change chemistry and filters,
a very expensive problem.  This problem is very acute when the photographer
re-spools his own and puts the film in unmarked containers.  If you value
your photo-finisher.... don't ask!

John Ker
Photography Instructor
dektol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx



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