A Tutorial Paper: Motion-Picture Film — Its Size and Dimensional Characteristics

The dimensions of motion-picture film and the shapes of perforations have followed a logical development over 30 or more years. Traced here is some of this history, so that we can better understand why the American Standards Association recognizes certain standards today. For example, the need for accurate printing processes has led to the introduction of dimensional standards with close tolerances. Improvements in the plastics of which film supports are made, coupled with the use of continuous printers, have led to the introduction of standards which discriminate between products differing only by 0.2% in one dimension, since that small difference is recognized as an important matter in the economical attainment of good quality in printing. Other industry demands have been met over the years: e.g., today's CS perforation (introduced to meet the needs of the CinemaScope development in wide-screen presentation) gives more available area for soundtracks. Also, the 16mm film used today is manufactured slightly narrower than that of earlier years because of improved dimensional stability of the base. Furthermore, the needs of other processes involving films with widths varying from 8mm to 70mm have been recognized in various new standards. It is expected that there will be further changes as the industry develops.

Print ISSN

0361-4573

Published

1965-01

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J08310