A Study of Flicker in 16-mm Picture Projection

E. E. Masterson, E. W. Kellogg

It seems to be generally accepted opinion that three-blade shutters must be employed to control flicker properly in the projection of 16-mm pictures, even though the machine is not required to operate at less than 24 pictures per second. There is little complaint of the flicker in theater projection, where two-blade shutters are practically universal. Why then should it be necessary to make a large sacrifice in screen brightness by using three-blade shutters when projecting 16-mm pictures? Less control of the conditions of projection is probably the most important of the valid objections. However, the opinion that two-blade shutters are not to be considered is based in part upon misleading tests, and the writers hold that for many applications single-speed machines should be given the benefit of the greater luminous efficiency possible with two-blade shutters. — The paper discusses the various factors that bear on flicker, and reports a number of experimental studies.

Print ISSN
Published
1942-10
Content type
Original Research
DOI
10.5594/J14303